A few years ago, I was at a party for a friend from school.  At this party someone found out that I was a Christian.  They were quite shocked to learn that since leaving school I had become a Christian.  They said to me ‘I use to think you were really smart but know that I know you are a Christian I am not so sure.’  To them me being a Christian was complete foolishness and a waste of time.  I was a bit flabbergasted and didn’t quite know how to respond.  I wanted to sound really smart and prove to him that I wasn’t foolish or wasting my life. If only the words of 1 Corinthians 1: 18 – 25 had been fresher in my mind. 

The person at the party was demonstrating a point that Paul knew to be true. The world or worldly wisdom is about seeking God on your own terms or as we find throughout our culture an attempt to have an understanding of the world without God at all.  Of course, then by these standards Christianity seems foolish. It seems foolish because we follow and serve a man who suffered the most humiliating death that the Romans were capable of. This doesn’t seem to be a wise way to live at all or a wise God to worship.   But Paul shows us that through the cross we don’t see foolishness but the power of God.  We see a God who has the power to save those who are perishing and bring them into a relationship with Himself.  We see the power of God who has conquered sin and death.  We see a wisdom that never ends and never fails.  This God is more powerful and wiser than any human philosophy. 

We are currently in a cultural moment where the definition of wisdom or wise living is begin flipped on its head.  What a comfort to know that God’s wisdom is not subject to change. He is Himself yesterday, today and tomorrow.  Sometimes it may feel like following Jesus is a foolish act. People will think we are foolish. We need to pray for those who are perishing that they too may come to know the power and wisdom of God and be saved.  We need to resist the temptation to win them over based on our own intellect and cleverness and instead trust in God’s power and wisdom and tell them the old, old story – what God achieved at the cross for them through Jesus.   

Gracious God and loving Heavenly Father, thank you that in the Cross you demonstrate your power and wisdom.  Please help us not be swept up in the fleeting philosophies of the world but to keep our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus Christ and him crucified.  

Caitlin Orr is a member of the EQUIP Committee. She is currently on maternity leave from her position as an assistant minister at South Head Anglican Parish. While on leave she is still trying to do what she loves: evangelism and exploring ways to connect with community. Caitlin is married to Lachlan who works for City Bible Forum in Sydney.