3. The “Wisdom” of a Crucified Messiah 1 Corinthians Conforming to Christ 3. The “Wisdom” of a Crucified Messiah 1 Corinthians 1:18 – 2:5 p. 1052

A Ridiculous Story Imagine: A new saviour who died of a drug overdose! How would you receive such a proclamation? It is scandalous, absurd. Understand how Christianity sounded! It took nearly 200 years to accept the cross as a symbol. E.g. Would we embrace a used syringe as a symbol?

Early Christian Symbols . . . T P Tau-Rho = cross / crucify X P Chi-Rho = XRISTOS (Christ) IHS Stem: IHSOUS = Jesus FISH ICHTHUS = Jesus Christ Son of God Saviour

A Ridiculous Story . . . The cross says: This is the Gospel! Wisdom of the world is judged and shown foolish Social order has been judged and nullified Strength has been overpowered by weakness This is the Gospel!

1. Wisdom & Foolishness Human wisdom is nullified . . . . . . God has done something outside the box No reasoning can make a crucified messiah sensible! Yet we know it is the power of God! Human wisdom makes God harder to know! It obscures his salvation.

1. Wisdom & Foolishness . . . Is Paul promoting anti-intellectualism? “Yes” and “No” We cannot fit Christ or the cross into logic of our world. Once we fully embrace the cross we apply our intellectual capacity fully to it: Make sense of our existence in a new paradigm.

1. Wisdom & Foolishness . . . Two applications of our intellect: To defend the truth of the cross And figure out how to communicate it. To understand it in all its intricacy and fullness. Knowing what the Scriptures say Living in their truth: Experiential knowledge (like driving).

2. Social Status & Equality Many who embrace the Gospel are not the elite. There is no exclusivity. All classes fellowshipped as brothers and sisters. It transcended gender, ethnicity, status, race, . . . God works through the ordinary. This too is the foolishness of God.

3. Strength overpowered by Weakness The cross is preached in weakness. Not by the eloquent but by the “called” Popular form of entertainment in ancient world: Philosophers & Rhetors debating and making speeches. Tales of new things and latest fads to enthrall crowds.

3. Strength overpowered by Weakness . . . Paul deliberately avoided appearing like them. He did not speak with “wise and persuasive words” (v 4) He spoke with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power Responding with faith and conviction (1 Thess 1:5) Paul’s weakness allowed God’s power to be revealed.

Living it Errors creep into the church in all kinds of ways. God maintains a faithful remnant in each generation. Where do things stand in North America? Book “Soul Searching” published in 2005. Reports on“National Study of Youth & Religion” (NYSR) Religion & spirituality are significant for teenagers.

Living it . . . A form of “Christianity” that contradicts the main beliefs of historic Christian faith. Called “Moralistic Therapeutic Deism” (MTD). Moralistic: Be a good person Therapeutic: Feeling good about ourselves Deism: God exists but not personally involved in our lives

Kenda Creasy Dean – Almost Christian, 2010. Living it . . . Kenda Creasy Dean – Almost Christian, 2010. MTD is what churches are teaching. Solution: NOT: getting more teenagers into church BUT: a more faithful church. Hold fast to the message of true Biblical Christianity.