You Must Become Foolish

The message of the cross was labeled as foolishness in the years following the crucifixion and that belief continues today. For the unregenerate or those who are living in self-deception, the message of the cross if foolishness, primarily due to their failure to acknowledge their sinfulness and their need for forgiveness. Throughout the centuries there has been plenty of intellectuals who have rejected the cross as foolishness and instead embraced the knowledge and worldly wisdom that books or academic institutions can provide them. The apostle Paul was led to write two very powerful scriptures in his letter to the Corinthian church. First, he wrote that "the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is God's power to us who are being saved" (1 Corinthians 1:18). Can you see the divide placed between two groups of people here? The foolish, translated "moron" and the wise. Yes, you heard that right, Paul called those who have rejected the cross as "morons" or "stupid." But for those who are being saved, they will be granted God's power and wisdom. For me it's a no-brainer, but this is the power of Satan's deception. A little later in his letter Paul wrote this "no one should deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he can become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God, since it is written: He catches the wise in their craftiness" (1 Corinthians 3:18-19). Now, you might think that in 1 Corinthians 1:18 Paul called everyone foolish who failed to believe in the message of the cross, but now he is calling everyone to become foolish. There is no contradiction and here's why. Paul is calling out those who think they are wise and like all of Paul's letters he is writing to a specific audience and this letter is directed to the Corinthian Church. Undoubtedly the Corinthian church mirrors individual churches that dot the landscape  on our planet today in that they are full of false coverts, those who seek to divide, and those who have failed to rely and trust in godly wisdom. Paul now exhorts these "wise" people that if they want to be wise, they must become fools first. Translation, these men need to "die" to themselves before they can receive the wisdom of God, they need to "loose their life" so they can find their life and begin to see that the wisdom of this world is foolishness compared to knowing God.
In summary, if you are doubting the relevance and power of God's word and embracing worldly wisdom such as college textbooks, books by atheist authors, evolution, lectures given by college professors or the latest marketing strategies, I exhort you to test all things against scripture. The danger of not having a biblical worldview will cost you dearly in this life and the life to come. You might even discover that you are not saved and your eternal destiny in the hands of the Devil.

Please, become foolish so you can become wise towards God. His word is sufficient!