Foolishness...

For the past month I have been teaching out of 1 Corinthians in the Sr. high Sunday school class. Corinth was a Greek city and the Christian church there was relatively new and by apostolic standards, immature. Much like modern church people, the Corinthians were smart. They knew how the world worked and spent much of their time indulging in modern activities. Their lives were well ordered and everything had it's place, including their faith. They seemed wise and well rounded, however they were having difficulty identifying a solid purpose for the church. Some really liked Paul, others really liked Peter. Still others enjoyed Apollos (the Corinthian church leader). The NIV says they, "had a wrong conception of the Christian message."

So Paul, while in Ephesus, received news about their squabbling, their overall division, and general attitude. The letter itself is long and covers a multitude of issues. But, in chapter 4 Paul makes a clear distinction between the Corinthian "believers" and the apostles. Before he makes this distinction, he writes this:

"Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a fool so that he may become wise." -1 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV)

This made me think... How foolish am I? On the contrary, I think I am a pretty smart guy. I know how the world works, my life seems relatively well-ordered and often times so does my faith. Then Paul shows up and basically says "Don't fool yourself. Don't think that you can be wise merely by being up-to-date with the times. Be God's fool - that's the path to true wisdom. What the world calls smart, God calls stupid." -1 Corinthians 3:18-19 (The Message Bible)

PAUL EXPLAINS THE THE DIFFERENCE

"It seems to me that God has put us who bear his Message on stage in a theater in which no one wants to buy a ticket. We're something everyone stands around and stares at, like an accident in the street. We're the Messiah's misfits (Meaning the Apostles). You might be sure of yourselves, but we live in the midst of frailties and uncertainties. You (meaning the Corinthians) might be well-thought-of by others, but we're mostly kicked around. Much of the time we don't have enough to eat, we wear patched and threadbare clothes, we get doors slammed in our faces, and we pick up odd jobs anywhere we can to eke out a living. When they call us names, we say, "God bless you."" When they spread rumors about us, we put in a good word for them. We're treated like garbage, potato peelings from the culture's kitchen. And it's not getting any better." -1 Corinthians 4:9-13 (The Message Bible)

SO, I HAVE TO ASK MYSELF...

Am I foolish? Am I ever called a name? Am I stared at? Am I viewed as one of the Messiah's Misfits? Am I kicked around? Do I ever go without anything? Do I ever bless my enemies?

ASK YOURSELF...
How does the world perceive your faith? What does it take for others to notice?

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of G0d. -1 Corinthians 1:18