The Gospel is Foolish

[Emun]

Apostle Paul, who was laughed at by the Jews and Gentiles, said that he was not ashamed of the gospel (Romans 1:16). Why does Paul say this, why was he mocked? Paul was a highly intelligent man, he belonged to the Pharisees, who were the elite scholars at that time. If he says he is not ashamed of the gospel, then there must be something about the gospel that causes shame. In fact, Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:21 that God decided to save the world through a foolish gospel and that He was pleased with it. How? What is foolish about the gospel? If you are honest as a Christian then you have to admit that it is really stupid. We believe that God became man, humbled himself and died on the cross, an execution tool for criminals and slaves. Yes, truly, it sounds foolish, but it is the truth. That is why Paul says that he is not ashamed.

We are not ashamed of the humiliation of our God. But the Jews are ashamed, that is why they dared to change certain passages in the Old Testament. God fights against Jacob and loses. What does the Jew say? It was not God! God stands before Abraham. What does the Jew say? Abraham stood before God! God will be pierced. What does the Jew say? Another was pierced!

The God of the Bible, it sounds incredible, is a humble God. The Jews are ashamed of him, the Christians are proud of him.

 

[Blade]

There are many here that do not know God and cannot see understand His word. Yet they believe they can praise God.

 

[Strong in Him]

There are many here that do not know God and cannot see understand His word. Yet they believe they can praise God.

Are you saying that we have to fully know and understand God before we can praise him?
The disciples worshipped Jesus though some of them doubted, Matthew 28:17

 

[timothyu]

If he says he is not ashamed of the gospel, then there must be something about the gospel that causes shame.

The Gospel according to Jesus Himself was simply the good news of the coming Kingdom (governance) of God over man rather than the governance of man over man. Yes a few people would mock that or be upset. Try mentioning that to the political fanatics in the US, home of mockery. Those of the counter-culture of the Kingdom are not ashamed although the last physical global example of it was a half century ago and it certainly wasn't by any church, but as in the beginning a simple movement of the people..

 

[Emun]

The Jews and Muslims mock us. They say: "How can you believe that God, the Most High, became man and humbled himself?" We Christians are not stupid. We know that what we preach sounds absurd.

The early church was laughed at by Jews and pagans. Tatian, a 2nd century Christian, responded to the mockery with these words: "We are not playing the fool, you Greeks, nor do we talk nonsense, when we report that God became man".

 

[fhansen]

Apostle Paul, who was laughed at by the Jews and Gentiles, said that he was not ashamed of the gospel (Romans 1:16). Why does Paul say this, why was he mocked? Paul was a highly intelligent man, he belonged to the Pharisees, who were the elite scholars at that time. If he says he is not ashamed of the gospel, then there must be something about the gospel that causes shame. In fact, Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:21 that God decided to save the world through a foolish gospel and that He was pleased with it. How? What is foolish about the gospel? If you are honest as a Christian then you have to admit that it is really stupid. We believe that God became man, humbled himself and died on the cross, an execution tool for criminals and slaves. Yes, truly, it sounds foolish, but it is the truth. That is why Paul says that he is not ashamed.

We are not ashamed of the humiliation of our God. But the Jews are ashamed, that is why they dared to change certain passages in the Old Testament. God fights against Jacob and loses. What does the Jew say? It was not God! God stands before Abraham. What does the Jew say? Abraham stood before God! God will be pierced. What does the Jew say? Another was pierced!

The God of the Bible, it sounds incredible, is a humble God. The Jews are ashamed of him, the Christians are proud of him.

Not only did He die on the cross but He arose from that death as well. Yep, a bit far-fetched all in all. Good post.

 

[fhansen]

Yes, he is risen. But God has humbled Himself.

I am sorry to say, but who does not realize how absurd actually the gospel is. Is either not honest or not quite smart.

Yes, He certainly doesn't dance to anyone else's tune (Matt 11:16-17), or act like any of the world's heroes where pride and brute force rule the day. His is the power of humble love.

 

[Strong in Him]

The Jews and Muslims mock us. They say: "How can you believe that God, the Most High, became man and humbled himself?" We Christians are not stupid. We know that what we preach sounds absurd.

God's ways have always sounded foolish to the world.
A 100 year old man becoming a father.
Noah building an ark in a desert.
An 80 year old leading a nation out of Egypt.
A shepherd boy defeating an 11 foot giant.
City walls collapsing when a few people blow horns.
An army of 300 defeating an army of 30,000.

Jews and Muslims have, and believe, the OT. If they accept these miracles, they should be willing to consider that God can do all things.
The Gospel was foolish, or even offensive, to Jews, 1 Corinthians 1:24, because the Apostles taught that their Messiah had died. Their belief was that God's chosen could never die.

 

[Emun]

God's ways have always sounded foolish to the world.
A 100 year old man becoming a father.
Noah building an ark in a desert.
An 80 year old leading a nation out of Egypt.
A shepherd boy defeating an 11 foot giant.
City walls collapsing when a few people blow horns.
An army of 300 defeating an army of 30,000.

How can you compare that with the humiliation of God? Do you think it is normal for God to lose a fight against a human being. Do you think it is normal for God to be spat in the face? Do you think it is normal for God to be treated like a dog?

 

[timothyu]

Do you think it is normal for God to be treated like a dog?

Imagine how they are going to treat Him when He comes to remove power from man.

 

[Blade]

Are you saying that we have to fully know and understand God before we can praise him?
The disciples worshipped Jesus though some of them doubted, Matthew 28:17

Sorry I worded that wrong. I was thinking about people here that do not know God. So His word looks foolish to the. I then was just saying "praise God". Just still giving God the glory.. make sense?

 

[Strong in Him]

How can you compare that with the humiliation of God?

Where did I say I was trying to?
I said that God's ways have always seemed foolish to the world.

Do you think it is normal for God to lose a fight against a human being. Do you think it is normal for God to be spat in the face? Do you think it is normal for God to be treated like a dog?

I'm really not sure why my simple statement has caused such a reaction.

I was trying to point out that it's not just the Gospel that has appeared foolish to people.
The Hebrews laughed at Noah for building an ark in the desert when there was no rain in sight. Goliath mocked David when he went out to fight him. Jairus' family laughed at Jesus when he said that their dead daughter was only sleeping.
Yes, unbelievers find the Gospel to be nonsense, or offensive; I quoted from 1 Corinthians which says just that. But unbelievers have always been incredulous when God is at work. Occasionally, believers have been too.

 

[FameBright]

How can you compare that with the humiliation of God? Do you think it is normal for God to lose a fight against a human being. Do you think it is normal for God to be spat in the face? Do you think it is normal for God to be treated like a dog?

Made sense to me. All the things mentioned to include the humiliation of God would seem foolish to the people who think they were wise. Why would a wise person not think that building an ark in the desert or a 100 year old person becoming a father not seem foolish? It would seem foolish to me, but yet it happened.

 

[FameBright]

Just for the record, I do not think the Gospel is foolish. I was wearing the lens of an unbelieving wise person. I have been on other forums and have heard testimonials on Christians becoming Muslim or something else because they thought the Bible was foolish. I remember listening to an Orthodox Jew pointing out stuff in the Bible and talking about how foolish it was to believe Jesus was the Messiah.

 

[BurningBush84]

Christianity is just not cool enough i guess. People wanna be cool and have fun. Cool people are those who drink and party and have lots of money and lovers. The Bible condemns those things.

 

[timothyu]

Christianity is just not cool enough i guess.

People in general are afraid to buck the system and become dissidents in favour of the Kingdom rather than the established world of man. The Kingdom is a counter-culture those materially bound are not too keen on accepting for fear of what they must let go, the self centered folk that they are