Christians are often thought by those in the world to be
somewhat simple and foolish. While others chase after what “science” tells
them, or search for some new and novel way of thinking, or pursue new combinations
of ideas no one else ever thought of, Christians rest in a faith that is
thousands of years old. While every generation finds new ways to apply the
truths of the Bible to their contemporary lives, and seeks new ways to present
the eternal truths of God to those around them, the core elements of the
Christian faith do not change.
Or perhaps I should say those truths should not change. There are many who call themselves “Christians”
who have abandoned the Word of God, orthodox teaching, and even Jesus Christ as
the incarnate Son of God. They prefer the acclaim and appreciation of those in
their world to the approval of the God who wrote Scripture. Many would rather
follow the current thoughts of a sinful world than be thought of as “narrow-minded”
or “old-fashioned” in their faith.
To our world, the truth of God is seen as foolishness. Paul
encountered this already when he wrote to the Corinthians about AD 54-55.
Christianity was only about 20 years old when it was attacked for its “foolish”
teaching about the cross of Christ. To the cultured Greco-Roman world, a dead
criminal could hardly be considered any kind of a god, much less the ultimate
God above all gods. The wisdom of the Greek philosophers didn’t have any place
for a teaching such as this.
Sadly, our own world thinks of Jesus in much the same
way. The death of Jesus is accepted, but the Resurrection is not. Thus the
cross is just the way a good man and great teacher died. The idea that Jesus
was and is truly God is rejected out of hand. The world wants to put Jesus in a
box which people can understand, and make him into something with which we are
familiar, rather than accepting Him for who He really is.
Even inside of the church, people try to make Jesus
acceptable to the world. A recent controversy involving a prominent evangelical
college found a professor at the school claiming that Christians and Muslims
worship the same God. She overlooked the fact that Muslims reject the divinity
of Jesus, and so do not worship Him as God. Sadly, other teachers at the school
sided with her, and urged she be kept on the faculty! To them, it was more
important to be seen by those outside as tolerant and open-minded than to
remain true to Christ.
If we hold fast to the Bible, and to the Savior revealed
there, we will be seen by the world in a negative light. Our own intellect and
wisdom will be called into question. The questions we must answer is this: are
we more interested in pursuing human wisdom, or the wisdom of God? Do we want a
Jesus that the world applauds, or one who judges that world? Are we willing to
be thought fools by those who think they are wise, so that we might gain the
true wisdom that comes through Jesus Christ? The way you answer will show where
you believe wisdom lies.
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