foolish enough?

***I know this post is crazy-long.  It shares some ideas that for me are proving to be crazy-transforming.  I hope it's worth the read***

For the Word of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,

but to those who are being saved, it is the power of God.

I will destroy the wisdom of the wise

The cleverness of the clever I will set aside.

Where is the wise man?

Where is the great debater?  

Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

The world through its wisdom did not come to know God,

so God was well-pleased through the foolishness 

of the message preached to save those who believe.

Jews ask for signs, Greeks search for wisdom;

but we preach Christ crucified,

to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,

but to to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks,

Christ the power and wisdom of God.

Consider your calling brethren,

that there were not many wise, not many mighty, 

not many nobel according to the flesh,

but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise,

and God has chosen the weak things of the world 

to shame the things which are strong;

the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen,

the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are,

so that no man may boast before God.

By His doing you are in Christ Jesus 

who became to us wisdom from God,

and righteousness and sanctification and redemption,

so that, just as it is written,

Let Him who boasts, boast in the Lord.
1 Cor. 1:18-31

Oh my.  The Lord is deeply convicting my heart with this message.  

As we have sought, planned and worked to train men and women in the Gospel, have we often used the wisdom of this world as the method over the foolishness of the cross?

Are we producing world-wise pastors, or foolish ones--The ones that pass by money, power, position and authority to preach Christ crucified, to serve, to pour out, to boast in nothing but the Lord?


Am I a world-wise missionary or a foolish one--One that is directing and commanding those around me or one who is washing their dusty spotted feet? One with education and experience and opportunity who is always sharing and telling or one who is listening to those who cannot write their names?  One who is seeking the approval and favor of men or one who is following His example, however foolish, bizarre or ridiculous that may seem?

Am I working to disciple men and women and children-- not just at school, but at home and in the community--in the foolishness of the cross, the power of God?  


If God is choosing the weak thing, the base things, the despised things... am I?  

It's so easy to just go with what "makes sense!"  It makes sense to expand, go bigger, go better.  It makes sense to get better things, to pursue more titles, to "improve".  It makes sense to do whatever you can to be favored and "wise", right?  There might not even be anything wrong with these things, depending on the motivation, I suppose.

And besides, who wants to be seen as foolish?  We all spend so much of our time wanting and trying to be seen as impressive, as accomplished, as important...as people other people want to be like and around.  


But it is through the foolishness of the message preached that we are saved...that the God of the heavens would come as a human baby and innocent, be killed for my sin, while I was still His enemy, 2000 years later.  


Consider your calling, Stacey!  God has chosen the foolish, weak, base and despised things of the world to shame the wise and strong.  What are you choosing?  When you're looking for the "best", what standards are you using?  World-best? or His?


And why has He chosen these things?  That no one should boast.  That I shouldn't feel good about ANYTHING that is within me that is not Him.  That I have nothing to be proud of except for my God and God in others.  That I have nothing to congratulate myself with other than what He has done.


That I might boast only in the Lord.


Is it foolish and ridiculous to turn the other cheek when someone slaps us? Insane to give someone who takes our coat our shirt, too?  Reckless to give away 10 or 20 or 50% of our income when we desperately need it ourselves?  Crazy to love the grouchy lady at Wal-Mart more than ourselves?    


Is it irrational to not defend ourselves when we know the other person is wrong?  Daft to speak the truth in love when it'd be far easier to keep our head down? Completely idiotic to forgive our enemies?  


Imprudent to share the Gospel with a friend that we know will think we're nuts?  Irresponsible to give Him our children, our marriages, our concerns and ourselves instead of laying awake worrying or taking things into our own hands?  Ludicrous to stay with your spouse when their list of wrongs is unending?


"Choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin"  Heb. 11:25...like Moses?


Choosing prison instead of a great offer... like Joseph?


Choosing certain death over infidelity to God...like Shadrach?


"All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" 2 Tim. 3:12...like Paul?


Willingly laying down our lives for others...like Christ?




Read that passage again with me...use it as a lens for our hearts, our lives, our work...help me to pray and to be bold to choose and to pursue that which furthers HIS doing, however foolish it feels, whatever it means.