“During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.” George Orwell


Saturday, August 21, 2004

1 Corinthians 1: 18-30

From the New International Version, 1 Corinthians 1: 18-30.

"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 God. For it is written,

'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate'

Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser thn man's wisdom, and the weakness of god is stronger than man's strength.

Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to same the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things - the things that are not- to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God - that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written; 'Let him who boasts boast in the lord."

The passage says, "not many of you were wise by human standards." This implies that there is at least one other standard by which one might be considered wise. And those who are not considered wise by human standards might be considered wise by that other standard. How might this other standard be applied?

"It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus..." It is not because of anything about you, other than the fact that you have acknowledged him as your Lord. People with cognitive disability will also acknowledge him as Lord if given the opportunity. There is nothing about them which should prohibit that opportunity. Remember, "God chose the foolish things of the world," "the weak things of the world," "the lowly things of the world," in a nutshell, "the things that are not."

What/Who has your church chosen?

McNair

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