Thursday, November 17, 2005
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men!
I don’t know what to say about why I am writing about this, but these scriptures have been on my mind for some time. I believe they have some answers to why there are so many new church movements and churches that keep trying to find new ways to try to convert those who are ‘lost’ and why the church in some ways seems to have this idea that we need worldly wisdom and dynamic preaching to keep those who are professed believers from falling away.
Please read the following verses and I will comment further below.
1 Corinthians 1:25-31, 2:1-8
25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27but 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, 28and 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, 29so that no man may boast before God. 30But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 31so that, just as it is written, "LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD." 1And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 3I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, 4and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. 6Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; 7but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; 8the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;(NASB)
I believe the Holy Spirit speaking through Paul is telling us that using persuasive words of wisdom by 'trained' superior speakers can lead most to a faith based on mans ability and not the power of God by the Spirit. Faith based on persuasive words of wisdom is most likely why we have churches that have to keep coming up with something new to keep the fold interested and why those that attend are really not concerned about sin in their lives and how it effects their relationship to God, they haven’t seen or experienced the power of God in Jesus Christ and Him crucified. A faith based on mans ability will always depend on mans ability to keep it. True faith does “not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God”.
Why do we think we have to add to the gospel words of wisdom from man? I believe it’s because of the age old problem since we discovered that we were naked after the fall. We ‘worked’ and sewed fig leaves together thinking that we could make ourselves presentable to God and He removed them and put skins on us from an animal that He ‘worked’ to make. We think we can or have to do something on our own to get the God of Glory to accept us, we couldn’t then and we can’t now. We try to use our persuasive words of wisdom to tell people about the gospel thinking God will really be pleased with us because we brought someone into the Kingdom by OUR wise counsel.
I think God is telling us in these scriptures that if we get rid of the wisdom that comes from self and determine to know nothing but Jesus Christ and Him crucified then His Spirit and power will draw people to Jesus and we can then boast in the Lord for being a part of it. True faith that rest on the power of God doesn’t need the latest program created from mans wisdom to keep us serving the LORD. A person with true faith only needs his/her heart strengthen by grace(Hebrews 13:9)to keep serving the LORD.
I will comment another time on why I think many who are true believers never reach maturity in today’s church.
I would like for all who read this to leave your comments and let me know what you think good or bad.
Grace & Peace
Please read the following verses and I will comment further below.
1 Corinthians 1:25-31, 2:1-8
25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27but 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, 28and 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, 29so that no man may boast before God. 30But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 31so that, just as it is written, "LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD." 1And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 3I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, 4and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. 6Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; 7but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; 8the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;(NASB)
I believe the Holy Spirit speaking through Paul is telling us that using persuasive words of wisdom by 'trained' superior speakers can lead most to a faith based on mans ability and not the power of God by the Spirit. Faith based on persuasive words of wisdom is most likely why we have churches that have to keep coming up with something new to keep the fold interested and why those that attend are really not concerned about sin in their lives and how it effects their relationship to God, they haven’t seen or experienced the power of God in Jesus Christ and Him crucified. A faith based on mans ability will always depend on mans ability to keep it. True faith does “not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God”.
Why do we think we have to add to the gospel words of wisdom from man? I believe it’s because of the age old problem since we discovered that we were naked after the fall. We ‘worked’ and sewed fig leaves together thinking that we could make ourselves presentable to God and He removed them and put skins on us from an animal that He ‘worked’ to make. We think we can or have to do something on our own to get the God of Glory to accept us, we couldn’t then and we can’t now. We try to use our persuasive words of wisdom to tell people about the gospel thinking God will really be pleased with us because we brought someone into the Kingdom by OUR wise counsel.
I think God is telling us in these scriptures that if we get rid of the wisdom that comes from self and determine to know nothing but Jesus Christ and Him crucified then His Spirit and power will draw people to Jesus and we can then boast in the Lord for being a part of it. True faith that rest on the power of God doesn’t need the latest program created from mans wisdom to keep us serving the LORD. A person with true faith only needs his/her heart strengthen by grace(Hebrews 13:9)to keep serving the LORD.
I will comment another time on why I think many who are true believers never reach maturity in today’s church.
I would like for all who read this to leave your comments and let me know what you think good or bad.
Grace & Peace
Comments:
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If we understood it all, there would be no need for faith.
The understanding we have is given by God but we only have very limited understand. We should share it but not use it to persuade others by boasting in our own understanding, that we have all the truth and the wisdom. That's pride and we all know where that leads to:-)
Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
By God's grace we only have a tiny part of truth and understanding.
But His Word should come far above men's.
God's Grace.
The understanding we have is given by God but we only have very limited understand. We should share it but not use it to persuade others by boasting in our own understanding, that we have all the truth and the wisdom. That's pride and we all know where that leads to:-)
Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
By God's grace we only have a tiny part of truth and understanding.
But His Word should come far above men's.
God's Grace.
what if we didn't have church buildings or sermons or a head pastor. what if we were just a body of people who loved God and got together in each other's houses regularly and loved each other and invited others to these celebrations and loved them. what if we were a body of people that was known for its overwhelming love for everyone. love is what should draw others to christ. if christians loved as jesus did, and stopped being selective on who they would love and how they would love, i think the world would be transformed.
I agree. Only ignorance would lead us to try and make the foolishness of preaching appear to be anything more than that. The power is in His word, not ours. We can only be thankful to be used in planting the seed. Another might water but God gives the increase. I do appreciate those who are educated as well, but not because of their education but rather how they use it.
It's good to see you post and I've missed your wisdom around my place. ;-)
It's good to see you post and I've missed your wisdom around my place. ;-)
You can read my blog too. Better yet I could read yours! (grin)
I hope your holidays were blessed and I look forward to reading your wisdom again soon. ;-)
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I hope your holidays were blessed and I look forward to reading your wisdom again soon. ;-)
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