I admit that I am ashamed of the Gospel sometimes. I know I’m not supposed to be, but I am. I think our reading in 1 Corinthians hits the nail on the head regarding why.
18 The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. 19As the Scriptures say,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise
and discard the intelligence of the intelligent.”[e]20 So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. 21 Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. 22 It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. 23 So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense. (1 Corinthians 1: 18-23, NLT, bold added)
I am an engineer and I work with mostly engineers. This is not a very Christian bunch as a whole. For the most part, this is a smart bunch of folks. And this smart bunch of folks generally see the message of the cross as foolish nonsense, just like Paul says. But while I admit that I sometimes have doubts or struggle, for the most part I think the world makes the most sense through the lens of the Christian worldview. Sometimes I’m baffled at how the smartest people just don’t see it that way. How can this be?
When I read 1 Corinthians I am reminded that we will seem foolish to “those who are headed for destruction”. I am reminded of what true wisdom is. I am encouraged.
Lord, help me to get over this embarrasment I sometimes feel over my faith. Remind me that you truly are the way, the truth and the life.
Sue
Sixty-six books in a year 