To be a faithful Christian, obedient to the word of God, truly wise, in Corinth or
the Areopagus of Athens where Paul was called a “babbler” — one of the smartest men
in the first century. “Babbler.” To be a Christian, to be obedient to God’s words, to be truly
wise in Corinth, in Athens, and in the halls of an academic institution, you must
become a fool. Thoughtful fools, to be sure; hope-filled fools, to be sure; happy fools,
with lots of serious joy, to be sure. But fools nevertheless — unashamed, happy fools.
Not self-pitying, not dour, not defensive, not forlorn, not miserable, not “oh poor me”
fools, but unashamed, happy, hope-filled fools for Christ.
So here’s the crucial question for your future and our school: Will we be ashamed
of believing what the Bible teaches when the world calls us fools, or worse?
Or will we out-rejoice the world, not only in spite of their, insults but
because of them.
Will we be like Paul, who said in 2 Corinthians 12: “For the sake of
Christ, I am [take a deep breath] content with insults.” Will we? Will we respond like
the apostles when they were shamed as fools in Acts 5:41?
“They left the council rejoicing that they were counted worthy to be shamed
for the name.” That’s a miracle. We breed miracles like that here, or we fail.
Go to chapter 16: beaten with rods, stripped, thrown in jail, midnight,
they’re singing. Paul and Silas are singing. it must have galled them, those
rascals who thought, “We got rid of them.” And then there’s an earthquake to boot.
Will we obey Peter’s letter when he says (1 Peter 4:14), “Rejoice if you are
insulted for the name of Christ. The Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.”
Will we turn from the pitiful rewards of boasting in men and remember, “All things
are yours.” Let me say it again: “All things are yours, whether Apollos or
Paul or Cephas or the world or things present or things to come or death or
life. All things are yours, and you are Christ’s and Christ is God’s.” Why would
you boast in man or give one flip of their shaming words, unless you don’t
believe it. So, I exhort you: Get wisdom. Become a fool that you may become wise.
A thoughtful, hopeful, happy fool for Christ.