“Foolishness!”

Meditation on 1 Corinthians 1:10–18

Jan. 26, 2014

***

     Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you should be in agreement and that there should be no divisions among you, but that you should be united in the same mind and the same purpose. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. What I mean is that each of you says, ‘I belong to Paul’, or ‘I belong to Apollos’, or ‘I belong to Cephas’, or ‘I belong to Christ.’ Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power. For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

***

      Last time we were together, we prayed for our friend Marylynn. She was preparing to travel to Nicaragua for another short-term mission trip—her 10^th with Save A Generation. The Christian organization helps people living in poverty in remote Nicaraguan villages.

      She arrived home safely Friday night. She wanted me to be sure and tell you how grateful she was for our church’s donation. The $1500 bought medicines to treat pneumonia, skin diseases, bacterial infections, and parasites.  She had had very little sleep all week. The team spent the first night of the journey sleeping in an airport when ice delayed their flight. Then in Nicaragua, the group rose early each day to travel to minister to people. Sometimes they traveled and ministered in 2 or more villages in one day.

      The big disappointment of the trip was that the Nicaraguan government, at the last minute, did not permit the American doctors to treat any of the Nicaraguan people. The group was able, however, to find two Nicaraguan doctors from the town willing to go with them to help the people in remote areas who could not afford or access medical care.

        The highpoint of the mission was the Bible school.

        “Bible school was amazing,” Marylynn said. “The best we ever had!” Five hundred ten children attended Bible school over 4 or 5 days. As many as 75 or 100 children would crowd into a room not much bigger than her own living room, she said. Marylynn had brought Spanish language Bible storybooks and coloring books. She and a translator led the children to sing songs and play games, such as a Spanish version of “Simon Says” that made the children giggle.

      The most moving experience of the trip was the children’s reaction when she and the local pastor told the stories of Jesus calming the storm and the Prodigal Son, and the children acted them out. And these children, many who live without adequate food or clothing or decent housing, were lifted out of their situation for a few hours.  Those lucky enough to be chosen for the dramas were so proud! “They were movie stars!” Marylynn said.

      But she is aware that some Christians criticize the short-term mission model that churches have come to embrace over the years. Critics say that short-term mission isn’t really good for the people the groups seek to serve. And it doesn’t change the hearts and minds of the people who go. Some who go are just thrill seekers, tourists looking for an exotic vacation. Their motivation is selfish. And others would say that Marylynn, though motivated by compassion for people in need and a desire to please the Lord, is being foolish—risking her health and spending money she could be using to enjoy her retirement.  

     Marylynn has heard the critics, but still she goes. The mission, she says, is an opportunity to be a servant.

     And above all, for Marylynn, it is a matter of the heart.

***

   We return to the apostle Paul and the troubled church in Corinth in our Epistle reading today. Members are boasting of their allegiance to the evangelist or preacher who baptized them. They are claiming status according to the importance or popularity of their baptizer.  The church has become divided. They are no longer loving or serving one another—or helping people in need.

    Paul says he is glad that he hardly baptized any of them! He wouldn’t want anyone to claim status because of him. His message is that ministry isn’t about us or our beautiful speeches or any of the things we do. Ministry is about obedience to Christ, who calls us to take his message to the world. The message isn’t about our own greatness or accomplishments. The message is the scandal—and hope—of the cross, where the only One who could save us from our sins died and rose again.

    The message of the cross should humble us! It should stir us to be more grateful and let go of selfishness and pride. The message of the cross should move us to forgive one another and be kind to one another—as the Lord graciously forgives us and is always kind to us. The message of the cross should touch our hearts and change our lives.

    We shouldn’t be afraid to appear foolish—for Christ’s sake. For those who are perishing, Paul says, the message of the cross is foolishness. But to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

***

     It was fun talking to Marylynn last night—hearing about the success of the Bible school. It was good to know that she was home, safe and sound. Before she left, she told me that she wonders if it will be her last trip to Nicaragua. The children of the villages are doing well—so much better than the first time she visited 10 years ago. She knows that God opens and closes doors to ministry. She trusts the Lord will guide her in the decision. She has faith the Lord will use her for His work—wherever the Spirit leads her to go.

       Today, we will joyfully install five new ruling elders. They, too, are stepping out in faith, trusting that God will guide them. The Lord will use them for His work, if they seek to obey His call on their lives. And go where the Spirit leads them to go.

      Being a ruling elder, like the mission to Nicaragua, is an opportunity to be a servant. Ruling elders give of themselves to be good examples for the rest of us and to help us become a better church, following more closely in Christ’s footsteps. They are motivated by compassion for people in need and a desire to please the Lord.

     Some may be a little scared of this new mission. It is an awesome responsibility. But remember:  you’re not alone. We will do this together—as a church. As brothers and sisters in Christ.

    God is with us!

    My prayer is that our ruling elders will never lose focus, never become divided. May they always keep in mind the goal—proclaiming the gospel to the world.  May they never be afraid to appear foolish!

    May this always be for them a matter of the heart.

   And friends, let us all remain united in Christ, seeking to be His faithful servants. And may the message of the cross never be foolishness to anyone who comes to our church.

    May it be to us all who are being saved the power of God.

Let us pray.

Holy One, thank for the faithfulness of the many Christian missionaries who serve You by reaching out to needy people around the world.  Thank you for their obedience to the call of Christ to proclaim the gospel to all the nations—and to live a life worthy of the call. Thank you for the message of the cross, for the promise of eternal life through belief on the Son and our forgiveness through Him. Lord, humble us. Lead us to be more generous with ourselves, giving our time, talents, and other resources to build your kingdom. Help us to see your work never as a burden and always as an opportunity for us to be your servants. And may ministry in your church, community, and world be for us all a matter of the heart! In Christ we pray.  Amen.