Lent 3: Epistle, 1 Corinthians 1:18-31                           

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Lots of people like to talk. Nearly as many like to hear themselves talk. It’s probably safe to say that it has always been that way. The human race hasn’t changed much since the fruit was sampled against clear warning. Speakers come and go and so do messages. We all would recognize that with the advent of “social media” that the freedom to speak has been expanded while the messages “allowed” have become more and more restricted. But thanks be to God, in our epistle lesson this week, Paul doesn’t curb his message. Not even a little bit.

Paul begins our reading with an admission: “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing” (1:18a). We scratch our heads often don’t we? Wondering why the world doesn’t just hop on board with the message of the gospel of Christ. Who are those to whom the message is foolish? Paul makes it clear: those who are perishing. Apparently in the darkness of the human soul, potential drowning doesn’t guarantee reaching out for an offered life preserver. Sad.

I’m convinced that part of the issue is the package in which the message comes. Not the method, mind you but the human delivery system. Hear the apostle, “Brothers and sisters, 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” (v. 26). Then he continues: “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him” (vv. 27-29).

So the message is “questionable” and the messengers are pretty much losers. What chance does the message of Christ crucified have against the world’s slick and fluid wisdom? It will succeed simply and fully because God is behind it. You see, the church invariably gets off track by trying to be attractive, hip, and relevant. GOD IS RELEVANT. God is … God.  His Word is his speech so it trumps the best of the weak and temporary fads of those who reject his wisdom. And while he impeccably sets his wisdom against mankind’s foolishness, he yearns at the same time that they all would recognize their folly and embrace him who is our wisdom, righteousness, holiness and redemption, Jesus his Son. 

God’s Word and the world’s pitiful ploys to correct their own most grievous faults will never mesh. God and his Word are the way. Jesus is the way. His foolishness has opened eternity. His fools will win the day. By God’s choice