Fools for Christ

-A Theist & Atheist Debate

I remember hearing about a debate once between two scholars One, a Theist, and the other, an Atheist;

When the atheist was asked how he knew right from wrong He answered, “On the basis of feelings, what else.”

“What Else”?

I’m suppose that when he said that, many in attendance laughed or giggled at what they presumed to be a ridiculous question.

Obviously at the expense of the theist to which the intention was to make him look ridiculous at such a scholarly event while asking such a sophomoric question as that.

To which the theist absorbed with class and continued the debate on that subject.

The person I heard tell about this debate said that “had it been he who was debating, he would have followed that reply with this question,‘by feeling huh?, Well sir, in some cultures they love their neighbors And in others, they EAT them, do you have any personal preference?’”

-This is not anything new.

This is not anything new.

Didn’t the evil one insult Eve by suggesting that she didn’t understand correctly what god commanded?

Genesis 3:4–5 CSB

4 “No! You will certainly not die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

The common denominator between both of these stories is, that they both assumed, a superior wisdom.

-It is foolishness to the non-believer

The atheist is convinced that believers are stupid and the evil one was counting on it.

She ate the fruit, then convinced her husband to do the same.

We don’t know how long, if at all, they discussed it before he did it.

Either way, their self-perceived wisdom failed.

Even for the Serpent, for we read about its punishment.

Man today is still in the habit of believing in their own wisdom over the Lord.

We have some men & women convinced through some fancy scientific-hypothesis, that we are in a climate crisis.

Some even believe it can be avoided if cows don’t… pass gas.

This is a perfect example of modern man’s wisdom over God’s.

When a problem arises with any product, we are instructed to contact the manufactures technical support team.

Because who would know better how to fix any certain problem, than the people who made it?

But, the issue is compounded when they don’t believe there is a God who created this universe, and thereby knows all about how to fix it.

Its been said, “If you can get over the opening line in Scripture, In the Beginning God”

The rest of the Bible should be relatively easy for you to believe.

I agree with that statement. So If you can believe that

God created the universe,

That Noah built an ark that saved humans and animals.

believe that Jonah survived three days in the belly of a big fish.

That a virgin gave birth,

Jesus walked on water,

or the dead can come back to life

the Bible as a whole, should all be easy for you to believe.

But, still there are many who believe, that they have superior wisdom.

You see, the evil one whispers in their ears too, convincing them, that their wisdom is correct, and the wisdom of the Bible is inferior.

For instance, people like Benjamin Franklin. He was a superb wise politician and inventor. Very bright indeed, of that history has no doubt, but, he proved to be pretty Stupid when tested against the things of God and the wisdom of the Bible.

You see, Mr. Franklin did what many people did after the renaissance and continue now in post modern times.

They believe that Jesus existed, but that he was just a man, or a wise sage Perhaps.

So, in his Bible, he remove all of the pages that he felt were out of touch.

https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-38-02-0388

After all, he was a learned man, not takin easily to fairytales. (Sarcastic Tone),

I mean really, what educated man could possibly believe such things?

Or so says the evil one to them… So what’s the problem?

-We have elected them governors over us.

Well, the problem for us is, these learned men have now somehow convinced us of their academic wisdom and have mesmerized us with their fancy educated song and dance.

That we have elected them governors over us.

Then when they start making laws that go against our wisdom in God, we get upset and ask, how could they do this or that?

Easily, we have elected these buffoons.

Buffoons?

Wait, these are learned, studied articulate men?

How can they be classified Buffoons?

Well, because any wisdom you put up against God Is going to come away the stupid one. Amen!

Solomon was the wisest man that ever lived, but, when he went astray away from God, the source of his wisdom, this very wise intellectual man did some pretty stupid stuff.

So stupid in fact, it doesn’t take an education to hear what he did and go, “man, that was pretty stupid”

Even though, in his right capacity, (We who consider some of the things he did stupid), or even the most intelligent minds today, together couldn’t hold a candle next to his wisdom.

When your wisdom is not in the wisdom of God as its source you are immediately

stupid,

ignorant,

ill-informed,

non-qualified, etc…

At that point, a baby who is completely dependent on it’s mothers milk for it’s life; who instinctively accepts that what it is given, is supplied by Devine providence and nothing else, that baby, “Is wiser than you”

But, how can this be?

1 Corinthians 1:26–27 (CSB)

26 Brothers and sisters, consider your calling: Not many were wise from a human perspective, not many powerful, not many of noble birth. 27 Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong.

Because Smartness, is judged by God, not humanity. Because God is the source of wisdom

Proverbs 1:7 (CSB)

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Job 28:28 (CSB)

28 He said to mankind, “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom. And to turn from evil is understanding.”

Deuteronomy 4:6 (CSB)

6 Carefully follow them, for this will show your wisdom and understanding in the eyes of the peoples. When they hear about all these statutes, they will say, ‘This great nation is indeed a wise and understanding people.’

-God’s wisdom supersedes Man’s wisdom.

So, what we learn here is, God’s wisdom supersedes Man’s wisdom.

But, when God raises someone up in these times that opposes mans Wisdom, they ridicule him.

-They ridicule the believers

They desperately try to make it seem as if his voice doesn’t matter because it represents God.

They get right down and angry and even down right hostile.

Even among the churches.

Not long ago I was watching a clip of a Catholic priest chastising his own group over charging for masses and priestly services.

You know he isn’t going to be invited to the group Christmas party.

It’s like recently that woman soccer player stood up against pressure from captain of the olympic soccer team and remained standing for the national anthem.

-We need believers to run for public offices

We, believers, need desperately, people who are willing to run for

political offices,

school boards,

community commissions, etc..

We need people in there who will represent us, the believers.

You don’t need educated people from prestigious universities.

We need people educated in the word and wisdom of God to lead us.

Now they are going to ridicule you and scorn you, and harass you.

A few years ago, a famous talk show host made a documentary making fun of believers.

He asked, “if heaven is so great, why don’t you kill yourself.”

I would have responded like this.

“The question is wrong, if heaven doesn’t exist, and death is all there is then the question becomes, “Why don’t I just kill you?”

You see their wisdom evaporates into stupidity against Gods wisdom.

So don’t fear being unqualified to run for these offices. In Jesus’ time, fisherman were like todays garbage men or like today’s portable out-house cleaners.

It was disdained.

But yet God, in His wisdom, called dirty, unclean fishermen to the task.

These men were uneducated working class guys. But, God used them to change the world.

They became mighty public speakers, and debated learned scholars, and won over many who came to Christ through their calling.

Or if you are a woman, don’t worry about being just a woman.

God elevated many women to prominent influential statuses.

Many woman led home churches,

many women were deaconesses,

Many women were instrumental in the expansion of the gospel to the ends of the earth

Also, even if you are a learned man with a degree or title, remember,

“if your wisdom is not based in the Word of God, all your degrees and titles are worthless alongside even one uneducated believer.

Because their wisdom is in the fear of the Lord.

Proverbs 9:10 (CSB)

10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

For even they are valuable enough to God that He sent His only son to die for them too.

Our value is base on God’s description of worth, and not man’s.

Romans 12:3 (CSB)

3 For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one.

This is why Jesus taught us to pray alone, and not in front of people. Or making a display of it, using vain repetition, or fancy phrases.

Trying to make yourself appear wiser or more righteous.

But rather go to your secret place, alone, and there open you heart to God.

So there, it’s just between you and God.

This is a call to ARMs.

We need you God fearing people, well versed and educated in God

to run for public offices,

to run for School boards,

to run for county seats, etc…

-Ask the Lord where He would have you serve,

Ask the Lord where He would have you serve, and go for it.

We need you in there and, as Mordecai said to Queen Esther,

“It could be that God placed your there specifically for a time Such as this!

Be strong and full of courage.

Greater is He who is in you that He who is in the world.

Don’t worry about being made to look foolish for God’ You should desire it.

I’ll close with a quote from Supreme Court Justice the late,

“Antonin Scalia”

God assumed from the beginning that the wise of the world would view Christians as fools...and He has not been disappointed....If I have brought any message today, it is this: Have the courage to have your wisdom regarded as stupidity. Be fools for Christ. And have the courage to suffer the contempt of the sophisticated world

(https://www.azquotes.com/quote/1413377)

Prepare Communion Service