19 May 2005

Moving along in 1 Corinthians.

Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided through the foolishness of our proclamation , to save those who believe (1 Cor. 1:20-21). For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength. (1 Cor. 1:22-25)

I think it may help to drop off the word Jews and Greeks and use something like "religious" and "secular." In other words, the followers of Jesus are not going to considered in good light by any of the battling powers of the day. Religious people, who want the world to be run by rules and have a view of life that is restrictive to an "us and them" who can be clearly defined as a "Good and Bad." Secular folks simply dismiss anyone who speaks of a power that does not fit into the way things are run "in the real world." For example, some religious folks today have a limited definition of what it is to do God's will. These definitions rarely have a tolerance for the unlimited grace of God. Rather, they want things to be cut and dry...people to be either this or that. To not speak in their limited tongues is to be "unfaithful." On the other hand, I listen to some people in the media and they immediately write of anything that comes from a "religious" source. Not only do they turn off the limited view of religious legalists, they also look at the way of Jesus and find it quaint but not helpful. We have a news that is powerful and yet rejected by just about everyone. Unless of course the news has been changed to fit what the Religious and the Secular people want it to be.

Connection: How does your understanding of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus inform how you listen to the voices of our day? How do you speak up with this alien voice when it is such a minority vision? What would help you stand on that solid rock of God's grace?

Within the power of you love, O God, there is life that places us within a new avenue of life that will invite us to move in opposition to the many voices of our world. We ask that you continue to inspire us with words of hope and visions of life that is free within your gracious Reign. Amen.