the wisdom of the world

How does the world view Christians? Let me warn you, God is not well received in the midst of sinful man.

In fact, in 1 Corinthians, Paul tells us that followers of Jesus are viewed by the world as foolish, weak and despised. That can be hard for us to accept.

Those who reject Jesus consider the message of the cross as asinine and ridiculous. They are convinced that individuals who promote the Gospel must have a serious lack of reality and poor sense of judgment.

But Paul writes this:

For the message of the cross is foolishness 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; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

I think about this a lot when people approach me with an agenda to argue against my faith and my qualification to minister to others. Some of these "intellectuals" have received more degrees than I can count on both hands. They are usually well educated, well spoken, well bred, well traveled and well incomed. For little old me, it can be, well... intimidating!

But the truth of the matter is clear in God's word. When men demand God to jump through hoops to provide signs and evidence confirming WHO HE IS; and when they require such proof within their own expected parameters outside of scripture... these men have already decided to disbelieve and reject our Savior. They are already looking away from their Creator's Truth and His Eternal Word and trying to come up with their own answers. They seek wisdom where wisdom does not exist. As such, their conclusions can only result in haughty verdicts that attempt to discredit The Almighty God and shame those who follow Him.

Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles... but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.

For me, this really took the load off in trying to "convince" a scoffing unbeliever. It secured my identity as a loving ambassador to the great I AM. My job is to boldly promote my Savior in all my words and deeds. My job is not to convince, but to share His message with anyone willing to listen. God will do the rest through the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

So lovely DW's, go into all the world and preach the GOOD NEWS. Let God's Word be your defense in all matters and do not be dismayed or discouraged by those who reject our Lord with the wisdom of this earth. Minister to the lost. God will handle the rest.

Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord!

Blessings!

~Victoria

© 2009 The Devoted Woman | Victoria Anderson