The Foolishness of God

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. (1 Cor 1:23-25)

This weekend I have been compiling notes to go along with a video series prepared by Francis Chan. And as Chan's comments flow from biblical truth through the TV into my soul, the word that kept rising up in my mind is "paradox". Then, in reading 1 Cor 1 this morning, the paradox symphony hit its crescendo. Of all the biblical, God ordained paradoxes that exist, the cross is the ultimate.

Think about it:

• The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Why? Because true fear of God leads us to despair of self salvation and run to the cross.  
• Our righteous acts are but filthy rags. Why?  Because God's economy is fueled by love and grace and mercy and only in the cross do we see that our righteous acts have no value to save. 
• Pray for those who persecute you and if your enemy is hungry feed him. Why because agape love must extend beyond what is lovely and reach to that which is unlovely. This was done triumphantly on the cross.

So what do we do with this? Here are just a couple of personal things that the Holy Spirit is pressing into me.

Do I fully embrace the paradox of the cross? The just dying for the unjust. God's justice being satisfied for all of my sins, past present and future. My worthlessness being remade to something incredibly worthy (a whore becoming a cleansed and beautiful bride) I am able to add nothing, to earn nothing, coerce nothing to repay nothing to a God who has everything and a Savior who gave up everything to rescue me from my rebellion and my spiritual death and despair. And so much more

Do I fully grasp the paradox of the Christian life? Being a Christian is not simply acknowledging some truths. It is not simply accepting a label or checking a box on a form. It is not just being a follower of Jesus, like a duck in a long line of other ducks or a mule in a mule team in the Grand Canyon. It is a call to be an imitator (1 Cor 11:1).  It is a call to be a disciple and make disciples (Mt 28:18-20). It is call to give up what we cannot keep to receive what we cannot earn (Jim Elliot, Lk 9:23-25). It is the call to a narrow gate and a hard way (Mt 7:14). It is a call to give our lives so that the gospel may be proclaimed. (Phil 1:18,20-21). It is a call to know the love of Christ and be filled with all the fullness of God (Eph 3:19). And so much more.

To God Alone be the Glory

Don't Settle for Mediocre Preaching

"Preaching is more than regurgitating your favorite exegetical commentary, recasting the sermons of your favorite preachers, or reshaping notes from one of your favorite seminary classes. It is bringing the transforming truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ from a passage that has been properly understood, cogently and practically applied, and delivered with the engaging tenderness and passion of a person who has been broken and restored by the very truths he now stands to communicate. You simply cannot do this without proper preparation, meditation, confession, and worship."

The quote above is an excerpt from a blog post by Paul David Tripp. What he said resonated with me since I find myself facing these same challenges in my preaching but also as I encounter and sit under a lot of mediocre preaching. I used to think it was noble to withhold sermon critiques to "honor the pastor". Now I realize that I was simply enabling mediocre preaching and doing a disservice to the Church and the one preaching. 

Here's the challenge. For those of us who sit in the pew, we need to know our Bibles well enough and love our Savior deeply enough to expect and demand good preaching. And,we need have the courage to speak the truth in love to our dear pastor, if his preaching has fallen on a rocky shoal.

And, the for those of us who have the rare privilege of preaching God's Word to God's people, we must, as Tripp says, "not lose sight of the excellent One and the excellent grace we have been called to represent. We cannot let his splendor appear boring and his amazing grace appear ordinary." We must realize that, as inadequate as we may feel, we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God is making his appeal through us. Men, we have a high and holy calling. Let's not waste our lives rearranging deck chairs!

Tripp's entire post can be read here.

To God Alone be the Glory