1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Steve Holloway

Have you ever met one of those Christians that seem to be so enthusiastic about everything it's painful?

You know the sort - they tend to be incredibly loud in both clothing and voice and say phrases like - "Don't mind me, I'm mad and crazy!" They seem to take being a 'fool for Christ' as a command.

As a teenager (20 years ago) I experienced what was then a new kind of worship when I visited a charismatic church. As the congregation did the holy hop, sanctified shuffle and the consecrated conga, I stood like a statue feeling somewhat uncomfortable. A well meaning gentleman bounced up to me and told be to "be free in the Spirit, be a fool for Christ", and with that he skipped off. Worried that I was a spiritual prude, I tapped my foot in worship, and even tried a clap or two.

The experience did help me in my attitude to worship, although I did wonder exactly what it means to be a "fool for Christ".

I learned that Christ's 'fools' are not fools by choice. Christ doesn't make us a fool, the world considers us to be fools.

"He chose the foolish things of the world to confound the wise" (italics mine) 1Corinthians 1:27,

and as Paul explains

"The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing" 1Corinthinans 1:18.

We should of course be enthusiastic about life and all that God is doing, both the battles and victories. But enthusiasm is not the same as foolishness. Sometimes I wish we could just step back from our own world and see things as others do.

We may be seen and treated as fools, but our Father will never make a fool out of us, and we shouldn't act the fool; that is one sure way to lose friends and influence nobody.

Here is another calamity of Christian public relations. While doing the local Good Friday march through the town, handing out hot cross buns, cased in serviettes tastefully decorated with John 3:16 and a picture of the cross; a local chap selling the Big Issue sat and watched the procession. Naturally he saw an opportunity to sell his stock and get back to his family (I know him and he has a young wife and children to care for).

As he quietly hung around as the local saints sang about God's grace and Jesus love, we overhead one local saying to him

"Big Issue? Big Issue? This (pointing to the crowd) is a big issue. Don't sell your stuff here."

Ashamed as I was - I found the man later and apologised and compensated him for lost sales. My heart wept as I imagined him as the stranger who needed clothing or a drink that Jesus mentioned in Matthew 25:35. The man was made to feel a fool - as though our nice songs were more important than his bread and water.

Being seen as a fool is an occupational hazard for the Christian. However it is not to be pursued and certainly not inflicted on others. We are not just trying to make an impression or even a good impression, but a 'God' impression - and his criteria for impressing is love, grace and service.