Choosing Faith over Knowledge

By Dean Collins

I am trying to figure out if the apostle Paul included you and me in his opening chapter of 1 Corinthians. None of us were around at the time. I suspect that our egos would argue that we would have picked the right leader to follow. After all, we have a lot more information about the world than the first century Christians who lived in Corinth. For that matter, we have a lot more information about everything. We have vast amounts of information accessible at our fingertips in any moment, along with volumes of books on doctrine and theology. Not to mention we have the whole written Bible, which no one had in Paul’s time because it wasn’t yet all written and collected.

So, with all of our knowledge and wisdom, surely we could be less divisive than the church at Corinth. Paul referenced some pretty big names in the early church: himself, Apollos, Cephas (Peter), and Christ. If this was a multiple-choice question, we would all go with d) Christ, right? Isn’t the answer always Jesus after all? But Paul didn’t indicate any praise for any of the choices, so there must have been a distorted view of these four leaders. Something had happened that resulted in factions as the church was split in who they would follow.

Paul’s word of correction to the Corinthians is in fact very relevant for believers today because we, like them, tend to squabble and fight for power or knowledge while hiding behind our biases instead of surrendering to what Paul  called, “the word of the cross,” which he described as foolish from a human or secular viewpoint. Here are Paul’s words:

“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”

As Paul explained what he meant when he said, “The word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing but to those being saved it is the power of God,” he suggested that God’s grace and mercy are so generous that it seems like crazy talk to the rational mind. And it is! That anyone would shed their blood for sinners like you and me makes no sense. 

Paul said something interesting that raises a question for us. Paul said that the Jewish people demand signs, and the Greeks seek wisdom. We don’t have to look very long to discover Paul was right on both accounts. All through the gospels, as Jesus shared the news of the kingdom of God, he was constantly asked for evidence that he was in fact God’s spokesman. One time, he told his audience that he would give them a sign: “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” His listeners protested, saying no one could build back the temple that quickly. But Matthew explained that after the resurrection they realized he was speaking of himself.

Paul was right about the Greeks and their hunger, maybe obsession, with knowledge and wisdom. A quick reading of Acts 17, when Paul arrived in Athens, will be all you need to find agreement with Paul.

So, what do we demand in order to believe? Have you ever wanted God to give you some evidence that he would be with you or help with something? Our faith wants to believe, but if we could just get an indicator or sign from God, it would be so much easier, wouldn’t it?  

How many times have we wanted all the facts and knowledge on some topic before we were willing to step out and do what God has asked? And how many times have we sought the wisdom of some, maybe of several, hoping that we could ride on their wisdom coattails and not have to actually exercise our faith?

Paul ends his comments in chapter one of 1 Corinthians with a clear reminder: God is wiser than all of us, and his weakness is stronger than all the strength we can muster collectively. We can’t buy our way into God’s grace or kingdom, and we cannot earn our way in through good deeds. What we can do, must do, is accept that it is because of God’s seemingly foolish offer of forgiveness, along with all his grace and mercy, that we will be transformed into people who eagerly accept the simplicity of the cross over everything else the world has to offer.

Father, forgive us when in our immaturity when we seek to align with any group or person that keeps us from fully accepting you as our Savior and our Lord. Today we choose to neither demand proof of who you say you are or to attempt to gain access to you through knowledge or wisdom. Today we bow down and receive the outrageous gift of Jesus and his death on the cross. Thank you for your love and grace. In Jesus name, amen.

Your Time with God’s Word
1 Corinthians 1:10-31; John 2:19-22 ESV

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
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