A Fool for Christ

This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength. 1 Corinthians 1:25

I've been known to be a fool. I have made some foolish, stupid decisions. I have said some dumb things that I regret, I've had a few of them. I talk more than I should, I say more than necessary and I react to things too rashly sometimes. I often react our of fear and anxiety and it doesn't always have good results.

One decision that I have made that I will never regret is to follow Christ and Him crucified, to take up my cross and follow Him, but yet to the world it still seems foolish. The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

You see this whole idea to suffer, to be persecuted for something you believe in, even to the point of death is a fool's journey to those who do not know the power of the cross.

The follower of Christ is called a Christian, because we are supposed to act, walk and talk like Christ Himself. We understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:16b

This whole idea of forgiveness and love even to our enemies is only something a fool would do. The world says, take revenge, steal, kill, destroy, but Christ comes so that we may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10

To be like Christ, to act like Christ is a fool's game to this world. If that's what the world thinks, then so be it. I'll be a fool for Christ. God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.

1 Corinthians 1:27

Carrying your cross brings a whole new meaning to the walk of shame, yet it's the path that God calls us to. We may not even understand it fully, we may think some of these ways do not seem wise, but God says to not lean on our own understanding, but rather trust Him with all our hearts. God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. 1 Corinthians 1:20-21

God's Word says to turn the other cheek. The world says that is foolish and to strike back.

The Bible says to put others above yourself and look out for the interest of others, the world says that's foolish, look out for number one.

The Holy Scriptures say to be patient and wait on God's timing, the world says that is foolish, I want it now.

Jesus said we will have trials, tribulations, suffering, and be persecuted for proclaiming His name, the world says, forget that, you fool, I want the easy life.

Jesus told his disciples, even the ones today, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." The world laughs and mocks and counts us foolish for they want to give into to every indulgence and evil desire.

As we can see the Christian's view is much different than the world's. But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. For, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?" But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:14-16

As Christians we are united with Christ. We are a part of Him, His Spirit lives within us. God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.

1 Corinthians 1:30

Christ is the wisdom in this foolish world. Christ is the wisdom for a Christian. When the world cries fool, the Lord exclaims wisdom. The wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God —his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. That is what the Scriptures mean when they say,

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard,

and no mind has imagined

what God has prepared

for those who love him."

1 Corinthians 2:7-9

As you can see I am quoting a lot from 1 Corinthians. Paul's letter to the Corinthians lays the path for the Christian fool's journey. He offers words of wisdom to the fool for Christ. Seems counterintuitive, but the message is solid. "Stop deceiving yourselves. If you think you are wise by this world’s standards, you need to become a fool to be truly wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God." 1 Corinthians 3:18-19 There's the key phrase, "by this world's standards." I guess we have to decide what standards we want to follow, where our loyalty lies. Are we living by the world's standards or by Christ's. By Christ's standards we are wise, bc Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength. 1 Corinthians 1:24-25

If we are in Christ and follow Him, we will be counted a fool for Christ in this world. We have to get to the point where we don't care what the world thinks, and only count the wisdom of God as worthwhile. The world may count us as a fool. I don't know about you, but I'm fine with being a fool for Christ.