More Wisdom and Foolishness

1 Corinthians 1:27-31 (NRSV)

But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, in order that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

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But what a fool believes he sees
No wise man has the power to reason away
What seems to be
Is always better than nothing
There's nothing at all
But what a fool believes he sees

"What a Fool Believes" written by Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins and recorded by The Doobie Brothers from "Minute by Minute"

What a fool believes no wise man has the power to reason away. The wisdom of this world is rooted in what we see. "I'll believe it when I see it" has become the cry of a new generation. So much is this so that many won't believe the most obvious of truth without seeing it through the wisdom of their own eyes.

If the mysteries of our own world, like if the light goes off when you close the fridge, if these are questioned constantly, the mysteries of the eternal are well beyond our understanding. Yet, we seek to understand, we seek to see it with our own eyes.

Paul writes, "Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles." There is no human sense to be made, no earthly wisdom to come from the wisdom of Christ crucified. Yet, "God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe."

"What a Fool Believes" is that love is real if only in the mind of the fool. The sentimental fool don't see, tryin' hard to recreate, what had yet to be created. Yes, maybe the man is delusional, but what if he is not? What if this is a love that may be real one day?

Casey, mighty Casey at the bat struck out. But he swung at the pitch. He went down swinging.

The fool for Christ has hope, not optimism. Optimism is based on what is possible for people. True hope is based on what God does with people. The hope of transformation, the hope of redemption. This is the foolishness of Christ crucified. Frankly, it's better than all the wisdom found on earth.

Wisdom-It's not What We Know It's Who God Is

Thanks to Walt for the tune suggestion.


1Corinthians 1:21b-22, 27-29 (NRSV)

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.

But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no onec might boast in the presence of God.

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But he knew, he knew more than me or you
No one could see his view
Oh, where was he going to

And he tried
But before he could tell us he died
When he left us the people cried

Oh, where was he going to?

Portrait (He Knew), by Kerry Livgren, from "Point of Know Return" by Kansas

I am a Presbyterian and traditionally Presbyterians are known for learned clergy. If it were up to my seminary professors alone, this would never change. Seminary teaches scripture, language-Hebrew and Greek, history, liturgy, theology, ministry, mission, evangelism, worship, and a litany of things that would take 2,000 years to learn.

Yet, there is one thing we all leave knowing in one way or another. We really don't know much. When asked how I was feeling, I used to answer, "young and stupid." Now I am almost 30 years older than when I started saying that. Seminary minded new depths of my ignorance. Parish ministry has taught me that I may have every good ministerial tool in my toolbox, but parish ministry can be like trying to being a jet mechanic trying to keep a plane in the air...at 38,000 feet-moving into a thunderstorm.

I long for the days when I thought I was young and stupid.

The joy is I get to remember that I don't need to know all of the answers as long as I know where to seek the answers. He knew, he knew more than me or you, no one could see his view. His wisdom is our folly--and right back at you.

Jesus shared his widsom, the wisdom of God with a creation that could not understand it. He knew we would not be able to get it. Yet he tried, but before he could tell us he died. When he left us the people cried. Do I understand now? Oh no.

Then if we understood, we wouldn't need the Holy Spirit. The Lord knew we would need the Spirit to be with us and show us what we did not understand. Whether it takes one time, seventy-seven times, or seventy-seven plus one times, God is patient and loving and kind.

God knows, and by God's wisdom we can remember it's not what we know, it's who God is.