Church matters: Weak Fools

1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5 ESV

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,

"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart."

Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? 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, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 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, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Rev. Dwight Yoo

What mattered to the Corinthians

The city of  Corinth had a reputation for riches and worldliness. It was like Las Vegas and New York. They were concerned about image and reputation. People were about being self-sufficient and working hard. They were  proud of their philosophical history, being wise.

This concern about image and reputation lead to the rise of factions. People started saying they followed different people, Paul or Apollo. They divided the church.

What really matters

The church has forgotten the gospel. This is what really matters. The gospel acts as a rebuke to the world. "has God not made foolish the wisdom of the wise" But this applies just as much to us. We are also caught up in promoting ourselves.  This applies even to pastors and their sermons.

There is a spirit of self-reliance and self-sufficiency. It is not just a Corinthian thing, not just a 2012 thing; it is a human thing. We want glory for ourselves. So we look at the gospel and find the complete opposite. We find a humiliating and embarrassing way of salvation. Jews were looking for a messiah of power and might.  Greeks were looking for a glorious God. And they find a Jesus who submits himself to a shameful death. God is saying that His weakness is still stronger than man's strength. God picks the weak, the lowly, the despised.  This shows the world that reputation, wisdom, and image count for nothing in the kingdom of God.

What a church that matters looks like

1. A church that accepts looking foolish.

The church looks foolish to the world when it is preaching the gospel properly.

2. A unity in diversity.

The church should have a diversity of race, culture, socio-economic, status... What binds us is salvation though grace, a gift from God. We are unable to boast.

3.  Be willing to speak of our weakness

In true community, we are ready to speak of our weakness.  It is only in our willing vulnerability that true community, true accountability happens.We no longer need to hide.

4. Boast in weakness to show God's greatness.

The church speaks of weakness rather than our own strength. This gives glory to God.