God's Foolish Plan

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1 Corinthians 1:18-29 (October 31, 2004)

Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 1:27 “Instead, God deliberately chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose those who are powerless to shame those who are powerful.”

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What is the message of the cross? Why does this message (Christ crucified) sum up everything that Paul has to offer to the Jews and Gentiles in towns where he preaches (see 1 Corinthians 2:2)? And why does this message arouse such condemnation among Paul’s listeners? Paul writes that this message scandalizes the Jews and provokes laughter from Gentiles, who call it foolishness.

For centuries, the Jewish people had understood that God demanded a spotless and blameless sacrifice of blood to pay the penalty of sin. From the time that God killed an animal to make clothes for Adam and Eve as the fled the garden, animals (and sometimes children) have served to appease God’s demand for justice and righteousness. When the death angel came to bring death to human and animal firstborn males alike in Egypt, only the blood of lambs painted over the doors caused the angel to pass over the homes of the children of Israel.

The Christian message that God in Christ becomes the sacrifice for the sins of the world does not seem to follow this pattern. God is not weak. God is not mocked. Yet the Christian message of the gospel of Jesus Christ makes a weekly celebration of the most shocking indignity the world could heap upon any deity. It is scandal – the Greek word for stumbling block – and it is folly. And we haven’t even gotten to the part about rising from the dead!

Yet note how Paul does not argue that this Christian message is the opposite of human wisdom and power – but so far beyond them that it defies comprehension (vs. 25). We do not appropriate this message through debate or logic based on historical or religious precedent, but “through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe” (Romans 3:22) so that no one can boast (vs. 29).

Two questions follow this line of argument: (1) If faith comes from God alone, and if the dividing line between God’s wisdom and human folly (masquerading as wisdom) is God’s “calling” or “election”, then what is the point of any attempt to know and follow God (see verse 18)? (2) When the contemporary Christian understanding of the cross is a matter of pride (imagine wearing a miniature toilet around your neck), how does Paul suggest a recognition of the scandal of our faith might enable Christians to point ourselves and the world more clearly to God?

Questions for Reflection

	What are the aspects of the Christian faith and life that cause you embarrassment? Can you see God’s choice of the foolish and powerless at work in these areas?
	What is the difference between embarrassing God and embarrassing yourself as you try to live your life as one of those who is being saved? How has God called you to embarrass yourself for the sake of the message of Christ? How did this embarrassment bring glory to God alone?
	How is God calling you to live differently for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ? What was the point of Paul’s phrasing: “we who are being saved” instead of “we who are saved” in verse 18?

For further study: Read Romans 3:21-26, Isaiah 53, Hebrews 9:11-28, and Leviticus 17:11.

For next week: Read 1 Corinthians 4:5-7. Why does Paul get so hung up over idolizing gifted and charismatic leaders?

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Last modified: 02/11/08