Watchman Magazine

In the first chapter of Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, Paul contrasts the wisdom of men with what he calls “the foolishness of God.” His conclusion is found in verse 25, “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” Men have long railed against God, substituting their own wants, opinions, and dogmas for what is clearly revealed as His will. Outrageous claims are made regarding the efficacious nature of such “new philosophy”, designed to replace the old, outmoded, and judgmental standards of the Bible. One has only to look at the current state of humanity to see the fallacy of these claims. While we are at the pinnacle of secular development and “wisdom”, our society is literally crumbling under the weight of anarchy and immorality. In this we see the truthfulness of Jeremiah’s observation, “O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jeremiah 10:23). However much men may protest that they know the best way, God truly is the only one capable of directing us in the right way.

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“Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe” (1 Cor. 1:20,21). The wisdom of this world often finds itself in conflict with the wisdom of God. What is pleasing to God is often considered foolishness by the wisdom of the world. God chose to save the world by means of the preaching of the gospel, but the story of the gospel is often considered by men to be foolish. The plan of salvation revealed in the gospel is often regarded as foolish, while the plans of men are thought to be wise and good.

The Jews of the first century could not see in the wisdom of God as revealed in the gospel the power of God unto their salvation. Instead, they insisted on some greater sign to authenticate the gospel before they would accept it. Likewise, the Greeks could not appreciate the wisdom of God in the beautiful story of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. It had no relevance to their lives because it was contrary to all that was declared to be “wise” by the philosophies of men to which they were so attracted and loved to hear (Acts 17:21).

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In 1 Corinthians, chapter one, Paul greets these brethren, stating that he thanked God for them. Since Chloe let Paul know of their division over names (v. 11-12), he told them they were to be united (v. 10). He also stated that he was glad he baptized none but the few mentioned in verses 14 and 16 for fear that some might think he had baptized them in his own name (v. 15).

Paul then turns his attention to the “preaching of the cross” (v. 18). In so doing, he makes several interesting contrasts. In the last half of 1 Corinthians one, Paul contrasts the wisdom of this world and the wisdom of God. Paul said God used what appeared foolish to the world, what appeared weak, that which was considered base, despised, and things that are not “to bring to nought things that are.” Paul’s comments in 1 Corinthians 1:18-21 really brings out the contrast. There, we read, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” Paul makes it clear that God chose what the world calls foolish to save lost souls. And truly, those who are lost consider the things of God foolish. In fact, “the fool hath said in his heart there is no God” (Ps. 14:1). Therefore, it pleased God to use what men consider foolish (preaching the gospel) to save those who believe (1 Cor. 1:21). Understanding passages like this makes me appreciate passages like Romans 1:16 all the more. Remember that Paul said he was “not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.” Though it was considered foolishness by men, he told the Romans it was “the power of God unto salvation” to save those who believe. Knowing the saving power of God is revealed in the gospel, it is imperative that men and women do all they can to spread the gospel (2 Tim. 2:2). Only through teaching and spreading the gospel will men be presented with the opportunity to hear and obey the saving gospel of Christ (1 Cor. 15:1-2).

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Just about the time you think the false teacher has exhausted his pathways of perversion up pops another. If it is not original, it is an offshoot of one previously existing. It is no different concerning the end of the world. I am certain the defenders of the faith become weary from fighting the foe coming from every direction (Gal.6: 9; Neh.4: 12).

Some years ago I saw a documentary by Walter Cronkite concerning the running of the marathon in the Olympics. I recall vaguely the story of one runner who came into the stadium as he completed the 26 mile run. The huge crowd shouted encouragement as he stumbled and staggered around the track. He was so exhausted from having run the great distance that he came to what he thought was the finish line and collapsed thinking he had won the race. However, some 20 minutes later another runner came jogging into the stadium and won the race.

How terrible to have run as hard as the first runner and collapse thinking he had won only to awake to hear he had lost. He was so close, but so far. Being close didn’t count in that race nor in our spiritual race to heaven (Heb. 12:1-2). What if I die believing I have completed the race God has appointed for us, but fail to finish my course (2 Tim.4:7)? Will he reward me with the crown of righteousness (2 Tim.4:8; cf. Matt.7:21-23)?

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“For seeing that in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom knew not God, it was God’s good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save them that believe” (1 Cor. 1:21, ASV).

“For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe” (1 Cor. 1:21, NKJV).

While it is indisputable that there is much foolish preaching, we must not allow this to detract from the emphasis placed in these passages by the apostle Paul upon “the foolishness of preaching” or “the foolishness of the message preached” as used by the Holy Spirit.

Comparison between the two versions (as listed above), and others, will elicit the fact that it is not preaching, per se, that is under consideration here, but the message that is being preached. Preaching, like all forms of communication, uses words, which are but vehicles of thought. Whether or not preaching is foolish depends more upon the subject matter than upon the decorum of the speaker. In the case before us, it is the message itself being considered, not the preacher.

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The temple of Diana at Ephesus was a huge palace of marble columns. It was beautiful and imposing with an air of majesty. As the Ephesian passed through the massive colonnade to the golden interior, his perverse worship of an idol with prostitution was validated by the splendor of the structure itself. He was joined by almost all of Asia. How could that many people be wrong? Even their economy was consumed with the support of their religion. Then along came Paul with his teaching about a God not worshipped with idols made by hands. How foolish he must have seemed to the Ephesian silversmiths in the shadow of their temple! In like manner, God’s message about modesty may seem foolishly old-fashioned in the shadow of our culture. One may be influenced by fashion magazines, clothes worn on television, or all of the tempting goods at the mall. Together they can make an impressive temple to the god of this world. Here is the comparison: just as Paul’s preaching was foolishness to the Ephesian living in sight of the marble temple to Diana, so may sound doctrine about modesty seem foolish to modern man.

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The word church is a peculiar word. In our society, by common usage, it has a definite religious connotation. Such is not true of the Greek word from which it is translated. Originally, when the Greeks spoke of an ekklesia they had reference to an assembly, a gathering, a “called out” group. Once in the New Testament, the word is used to describe a group of people on the verge of a riot (Acts 19:32 & 41). In that same context (verse 39) a political assembly is identified by the word we translate a church.

The word is peculiar in another way. It is what the grammarians call a collective noun. That means that a singular noun is used to describe a plurality of people or things. A jury is a singular body or group of usually twelve people chosen to hear the evidence in a court proceeding. A chain is a singular collectivity of links joined together to form a functional unit. A herd is a collective of animals as is a flock or a covey or a pride. Collective nouns are not hard to illustrate. The church of Christ is defined as a collectivity of Christians all of whom have been added to that collectivity by Christ, according to His will. Acts 2:47, “praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”

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In this day of micro-computers, micro-management, micro this and micro that, have we in the Lord’s church lost sight of the big picture? I heard a story once about a college professor who, desiring to teach without the drudgery of administrative policy, established a course for all his graduate students called “The Big Picture.” Practicalities of the “real world” were stressed in the class, and all who would succeed in the course would be molded to the world view of the professor. The story itself did very little for me, but this premise intrigued me then and even now as I see things happening among God’s people.

Why are we here? For what purpose life? Psalm 8:3-4, “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?” The answer to the query of the psalmist, if he never understood it in his life, surely was answered by the Lord while He was on the earth. John 10:10, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” The Lord came to provide for man a way that man could live. Not only did He come to provide The Way for man to live, but He came so that could find a way so that his life might continue. Such an opportunity only comes through God who is the Giver of all life (Genesis 1; John 1:1-5). John 6:44-45, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.”

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(Feature Editor’s note: This month our headline article is from Hugh Walton
who is presently laboring in Budapest, Hungary).

Jesus said to His apostles: “Go make disciples of all the nations teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:19-20). The apostle Paul charged the young evangelist Timothy: “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Tim. 4:2-4). And thus we are in Hungary, beginning at Budapest, where the first Hungarian believed, repented and was baptized into Christ for the remission of her sins in 1992. Gospel preachers are going into parts of the world, namely Central and Eastern Europe even into Russia where the gospel has not been for many years. With the fall of the Iron Curtain that began in December of 1989 in Timisoara, Romania, doors have come open for the gospel of Christ to be preached.

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