Christianity Is Stupid, Dull, Dumb, And Foolish

Text: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25

In the name of Jesus: Amen.

Did you realize that Christianity is stupid, dull, dumb, and foolish? Yes, you heard me correctly. Christianity is indeed stupid, dull, dumb, and foolish… at least it is according to the world. 

You see, in our Epistle Lesson from 1 Corinthians we hear from the Apostle Paul that the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. That is to say; unbelievers do not and cannot view the central message of Christianity – the cross – as wise, good, and true. For their ears, eyes, and minds, the message of Jesus bloodied on the cross for the forgiveness of sins is foreign, and frankly a waste of their time. For unbelievers, the doctrine of the cross sounds dumb and looks foolish.

The message of the cross not only sounds dumb and looks foolish according to unbelievers but it is also a stumbling block. That is to say; the message of the cross causes the world to trip. The message of the cross is like a pesky fallen tree on a grassy trail that hikers trip over. It is like a rock that sticks out of the ground that a shoe catches on, causing people to fall. And so, the message of the cross causes frustration and disgust among unbelievers. It simply does not jive with the culture of our day. In fact, Christianity with it proclamation of the cross has never fit into the world’s way of thinking and it never will. It is a foreign message to the world - a foolish message that causes people stumble. More specifically, the message of Christianity poses a problem to the world’s thinking to the point that it causes unbelievers to become frustrated and even snort at Christianity in disgust.  

What this means is that according to the world – according to unbelievers – we Christians are frankly not cool and certainly not wise. Indeed, Christianity is viewed by the world as a religion for losers and the weak. The world does not understand Christianity, so the world scorns it. The world looks at Christians and writes them off as fools.

This presents a huge problem for us Christians, though. The problem is this: we want to be cool, and we want to be accepted, and we want not to be viewed as fools by our unbelieving friends and family. We want to be the popular kids on the block. We want to be in the ‘in-crowd.’ We want to be with movers and shakers of our social circles and our town. However, Christianity, with its foolish message of the cross, seems to keep us down, it holds us back. It brands us as fools, so that we are always the last ones chosen for the team. Indeed, that pesky message of the cross can make us look dull and dumb and stupid in front of the high-rollers of the world.

As a result of this, Christians across our lands often suppress and hide the message of the cross. That is right; Christians become so consumed with the need to be accepted by the world that the message of the cross is buried. We are ashamed of the foolishness of the cross – we do not want to be looked upon as fools, so we either do not talk about the cross, or we shove it into the background, and hope unbelievers do not notice it.

To make things worse, whole Churches shy away from the cross as well. What this looks like is this: since the cross is a stumbling block to unbelievers, churches go the way of a bait and switch. In other words, the church will engage the world and the community that it finds itself in but will do so without the cross. Deep down the church knows that if it presents the cross of Jesus too boldly and too clearly that it will cause many people in the world to stumble and it will give the church a reputation of being foolishly religious and irrelevant. So, like that church in South Carolina who gave away flat screen TVs to people or that church in southern California that hired a fast food restaurant to give away hamburgers and fries, churches across the land present unbelievers a form of Christianity with free handouts but no cross. Yes, the idea is to present a view of super cool and hip and relevant Christianity without the cross, so that unbelievers will not stumble over the cross. And then at some future time and point, the goal is to introduce the cross to these unbelievers, once they are in the door. That is to say; the church baits the world into the church with a crossless Christianity and freebies but once inside the doors, if the church ever gets around to it, the message is switched to the cross.

Dear friends, not only is this disingenuous, but it is unethical. The reason why? Christianity without the cross is not Christianity. And baiting and switching? That is the way of get-rich-quick schemes not the way of Christ’s church. Furthermore, this cunning does not work. You see, the way in which congregations entice the unbeliever 'through' their doors, will be the same ways that the church will need to keep the unbeliever 'inside' the doors. Give an unbeliever a flat screen TV; they may come through the doors of the congregation. However, to keep them inside, they will demand a DVD Player and Soundbar as well.

And here is the most important thing to note. The cross – the message and doctrine of Christ-crucified for the forgiveness of our sins – is not only the central focus of Christianity but it is the instrument of our salvation! This means that a Christianity without the cross is no Christianity at all. Christianity without the cross is like a lion without teeth – it is like an army without soldiers or a sunrise without the sun. Remove the cross from Christianity; you eliminate the power of the Gospel, and you no longer have Christianity but a Christianity in name only. 

Dear friends, the reality is that the more an unbeliever wants to comprehend the cross of Jesus with his or her own reason, the less they will understand or believe. This should not surprise us because the wisdom of the world does not approve or promote the Gospel, but opposes it and sees it as empty, foolish talk.

Unbelievers will demand signs, philosophical proofs, and logical demonstrations, to be convinced about Christianity. Other unbelievers will want the bait without the switch – they want promises of greatness, they want the glittery messages, they want the free handouts, and they want entertainment. However, in spite of what the unbelieving world wants, God gives to the world and to us, simply this… one crucified.

Indeed, we have been given the message of one crucified. Christ Jesus continues in the character of the crucified one. The church has been given this message of the cross; it is the only message that we preach.

“But Pastor!” you may say, “That message causes the world to stumble! The message of the cross is foolishness to the world! The world mocks the cross! Unbelievers are not going to buy into a bloody uncool cross! My neighbor will think I am crazy and a fool for believing such a message! And our church; if we hold to that message, no one will think we are relevant – they will consider us as dumb-stupid-religious fools!”

Dear Baptized Saints, according to the world, we are indeed dumb, stupid, and foolish because the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. However, this shall not sway us, for you have been called. Yes, you have been called by the message of the cross, which is the power of God.

Dear Baptized Saints, you must not lose heart! You are baptized into Jesus – you have been called. You have been given the power of God – forgiveness, life, and salvation. You are saved by the Lord’s power of grace, love, and mercy – Christ saved you in the cross and has joined you to His death and resurrection in your baptisms!   

And get this, the foolish thing that God does in the cross for you and me, is wiser than anything done by mankind. That is to say; the apparent weakness of Christ’s cross is in reality stronger than the might of mankind. What seems to be foolish in the eyes of the world is, in reality, wiser than mankind’s wisdom. What seems to be God’s weakness is stronger than mankind’s strength.[1]

And so, we proclaim Christ and Him crucified! We proclaim Christ and Him crucified because this message is the power of our salvation and the power of salvation that our unbelieving world needs to hear.

And as the world hears the message of the cross, some will call it foolish. Others will call us fools. And others will stumble over the message, fall to the ground in repentance and be raised up in faith, faith which receives forgiveness, life, and salvation.

Indeed, the world will consider the message of the cross as foolishness and a fable… that is until the Holy Spirit through the message of the cross calls, enlightens, and converts them.

So, dear Baptized Saints, let the world call us fools. Let the world call us stupid. Let the world call us dumb. Furthermore, we do not have to hide the cross, and we do not have to be ashamed of the cross, for we are indeed foolish according to the world, but according to God, we know that we have wisdom, power, and truth.

Truly, we know this day that Christ dying on the cross is that which conquers death, the devil, and sin. We know that according to God that which is seen as foolish is actually strength. We know that the foolishness of the cross is the power of God unto our salvation – here, now, and for all of eternity.

Let the world mock and laugh. Let the world scorn and snort. And may we rest in the wisdom, assurance, and hope of Christ’s cross, a cross that is for you and me.

In the name of Jesus: Amen.

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[1] Harold Buls, “Buls Notes on the New Testament” Pericope.com, http://www.pericope.org/buls-notes/1_corinthians/1_corinthians_1_18_31.htm (accessed July 15, 2017).

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Tolerance Is Not Love And Love Is Not Tolerance

Text: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

In the name of Jesus: Amen.

The idea and concept of ‘love’ is one of the most misunderstood things in our modern day and age.  It seems like everyone is talking about the power and importance of love.  Protests have been spring up everywhere in our country in the name of love.  Hollywood and television stars speak about love weekly.  On social media, it is about impossible not to stumble across pictures and quotes on love.  There is even a new hand sign for love where a person cups their hands together to make the shape of a heart. 

That old song from 1979 by John Paul Young still rings true, “Love is in the air.  Love is in the air in every sight and every sound.”    

Unfortunately, though, even though love is in the air and even though there is an incredible amount of talk about the subject of love, I am afraid that the majority of people talking about love do not completely understand what it is.  Perhaps it could be said that we live in a time in history where love has been promoted and discussed more than ever before, while at the same time having a vast amount of ignorance on what love actually is.

To complicate things even more, not only are many talking about love incorrectly, but they are also imposing their misguided view of love upon the masses.  For example, we are being told that we must learn to love more and more, for love is the thing that can offset and cancel out hate.  We are told that we need to love to make this world a better place for everyone, as if love will make a perfect utopia. 

As previously mentioned, though, those who are pushing the campaign to love, unfortunately, do not understand what real love is.  In other words, they teach us that love is all about avoiding offense to someone else; however, this is not love.  They tell us that love actively approves of what others are doing; however, this is not love.  They share that love is quick to agree with our friends and neighbors; however, this is not love.  They express that love makes sure our friends can have their way at all costs; however, this is not love.  They impress upon us that love seeks to be inoffensive and glorifies diversity; however, this is not love. They gush that love is an intensity of feeling; however, this is not love.  They say love is what makes us feel happy and fuzzy and warm inside; however, this is not love.  They assert that love allows us to be free from hurt feelings and displeasure; however, this is not love.  They tell us that love blindly validates and approves of another person’s dreams and aspirations no matter what they are; however, this is not love.

Indeed, there is great confusion about what love is in our culture.  While it is true that everyone seems to be in love with the idea of ‘love’, it is also unfortunately true that very few people understand what love really is. 

Maybe the problem is that we have confused ‘love’ for the idea of ‘tolerance.’  Yes, maybe we have confused the terms love and tolerance.    

Consider the word tolerance for a moment. The word tolerance in our contemporary culture has evolved to mean that a person should not only put up with another person’s point of view but must also celebrate, enable, and promote that person’s point of view, regardless if one agrees with it or not. Any opposition to this modern view of tolerance is immediately seen as hateful and not loving. Therefore it is easy to see how the current view of tolerance can be mistaken for the idea of love. 

Generally speaking, though, the Bible frowns upon tolerance. For example, in Revelation 2, the pastor of the Church of Thyatira was condemned for tolerating a false teacher in the church, whereas the pastor of the Church of Ephesus was commended for not tolerating false teaching. In other words, tolerance has generally been seen not as a Christian virtue but more often than not, a pagan virtue. But love?  Yes, true love is a Christian virtue – it is at the heart of what Christianity is all about.   

So if love is not tolerance and tolerance is not love, what exactly is love, at least according to Christianity?

Well, love does not act the way that we might think – it does not typically operate the way that it is portrayed in Nicholas Sparks movies or sung about in Beyoncé and Katy Perry’s music.  Love is not defined by those signs at ‘love not hate’ protests.  For example, love does its works secretly and hides its actions from the applause of others – it does not do its acts of charity to be seen or known by others.  True love is not boastful or arrogant.  It does not seek to gain but seeks to give.  True love does not insist on its own way, and it is not irritable or resentful.  Love does not make a lot of noise rejoicing in the evil of others, but it rejoices and works for the truth – it pleads with people who are in error, it risks the possible offense to restore a neighbor in the freedom of truth. And finally, love does not hold on to its actions towards a neighbor as if it is keeping score, but rather, it acts for others free of charge.  

Clearly love is not the same as tolerance.  It also is not a floaty feeling.  It is not a romantic emotion.  It is not a self-serving.  It is not sourced in ourselves.  But rather, this true love seeks to honor God and Him alone for our good and joy.  Love seeks the proper teaching about the Lord with correct doctrine.  Love seeks to remember the Sabbath and God’s Word.  Love seeks to respect those in authority like parents and governing officials.  Love seeks to preserve life, especially those that are weak and insignificant – those unable to protect themselves in the womb or at the end of life.  Love seeks to protect marriage from pornography, divorce, and adultery.  Love seeks to defend our neighbor’s possessions, and it seeks to defend our neighbor’s reputation.  Love seeks to rest in contentment. Love is sacrificing – it is seen and demonstrated when a person gives of themselves for the good of another, as when Jesus laid down His life for you, for me, and for the entire world (1 John 3:16). 

Today we stand on the edge of the Season of Lent.  And with Lent, we are being prepared for the most dramatic display of God’s love – the Cross.  Indeed, we hear in our Gospel reading that Jesus talks about His love for you, for me, and for the entire world as he says to the disciples that the Son of Man will be delivered over to the Gentiles, be mocked, shamefully treated, spit upon, flogged, and killed. Jesus was preparing the disciple of what was about to come – His love in action towards mankind through suffering and dying.   

Dear friends, in Jesus we do not see tolerance, but we see love.  If Jesus would have gone the way of tolerance, He would ‘not’ have gone to the cross but would have left us in our sins.  And if we were left in our sins, we would be left with damnation.  So much for the way of tolerance!  But because of His great love for us and His rich mercy, Jesus could not tolerate our sin.  Indeed, the Son of God could not tolerate our sin, so He was compelled to the cross – in love – to do something about it.

You see, Jesus is God’s anointed.  He is the keeper of the sheep.  And as the great Shepherd who keeps His sheep, He lays down His life – in love – for the sheep.  He cannot and will not tolerate straying sheep or threatening wolves.  Truly, Jesus is the display of the Father’s love – the one who suffers long and is kind, not puffed up, the one who never fails.  Jesus is the one who is driven by mercy and compassion to deliver you and me.  He is gracious when we are in distress; His face shines upon us in our grief over sin.  And by His steadfast-unending-consistent-persistent-everlasting-love He saves us. 

Out of love for His creation – you – Jesus has opened your eyes to see Him and see His forgiveness, life, and salvation.  Out of love, Jesus came to the aid of the blind man of our Gospel reading and He comes to us in our sorrow and misery and shares His goodness and mercy and love with us.  He creates in us humble and contrite hearts that we might always cry out to Him for mercy.  He fills us with His love.  He grants us renewal by the Holy Spirit.  He gives us eyes to see His glory in His Word and Sacraments.  He does this not out of tolerance – oh no!  But rather, He does this because of His love – love for you.   

In the name of Jesus: Amen.  

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Communion: What Is It And Who Is It For

Text: John 13:1-15 and 1 Corinthians 11:23-32

In the name of Jesus: Amen.

A man came to a church service early one morning.  As he was visiting with the pastor, he noticed that it was a communion Sunday.  He then turned to the pastor and said,

By golly Reverend, I think I am worthy of two of those bread wafers and two shots of the wine, for I have been extra-extra good this week! 

Now, whether we like to admit it or not, a common opinion of communion in the church, and probably more so outside the church, is that communion is a holy meal for righteous people.  In other words, we can easily lead ourselves to believe that communion is only for good people, while bad people must keep their distance.  And of course, we rarely think of ourselves as bad.  We typically see the best in ourselves.  Therefore, we say to ourselves,

I went to Sunday School, I was Confirmed, I went to Midweek Services, and I have been a Lutheran my whole life… that is why I get to go to the altar for communion. 

If we were to ever be denied communion by any other Christian or another pastor, we would most definitely resort to anger saying,

I have paid my dues.  I have served the church!  Give me the wafer and give me the small glass of wine!  Who are you to judge me and not serve me?   

Even though this perception and attitude towards communion exists among those inside and outside of the church, the truth of what communion is and who it is for is quite different. 

Dear friends, just to be perfectly clear; the Lord’s Supper is not something that was dreamed up by a bunch of religious monks.  It was not invented as a marketing tactic to get people to come regularly back to church.  Furthermore, it is not a snack bar during the church service.  It is not a symbolic meal and it is not a meal for good people.  It is none of these things. 

If it is none of these things, what is it then? 

The Lord’s Supper, which was instituted by Jesus Christ on that Maundy Thursday some two-thousand years ago, is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.  It is the true body and blood of Christ in and under the bread and the wine.  It is a meal that is for Christians to eat and to drink.[1] 

Simply stated, this is a holy meal, because Jesus is really present.  It is a holy meal because it is food of the soul; it nourishes us and strengthens our faith.  Even more specifically, it is a holy meal for sinners only, for only sinners are in need of forgiveness.

What does this all mean?  It means that when you joined this church and when you came to this Divine Service and when you will come to this altar this evening, you are not only declaring that you are in agreement with Christ’s church located here in this location, but also declaring that you are a sinner in need of forgiveness.  Yes, when you and I come forward to receive the body and blood of Christ, we are confessing that we are not a goody two-shoe, but a sinner in need of Jesus Christ.  That’s right my friends, we do not get or deserve the Lord’s body and blood for being good.  Communion is not like an eloquent country club buffet in which we are only admitted if we are dressed properly, have the right name, and have paid the proper dues.  It is not about what we can bring to the table.  But it is about the Lord preparing the table to serve us.

 

Keep in mind that in our Gospel reading from this evening that the disciples did not wash Jesus’ feet, but it was Jesus washing their feet.  In other words, communion and the mission and work of Jesus are about you and me being served by Him.  Christ did not come to be served, but to serve and give ‘His life’ as a ransom for many.  It is the same with communion.  It is a holy meal – a meal that the Lord serves to us, a meal that the Lord grants us forgiveness of sins.  We come to the Lord’s Table in faith and with open hands.  The only thing we bring to the table is the confession that we are poor miserable sinners in need of forgiveness.    

But back to who should come to the altar for communion?  It could be said that good people should not commune at the altar.  Why should they?  Those who do not want their feet washed, those who do not think that they are sinners… they have no need for Jesus and His Holy Supper.  Keep in mind that the Gospel is for sinners only.  Communion is a holy meal for those who need the forgiveness of sins.  Those who do not see themselves as sin-sick sinners really have no use for the Lord Jesus Christ and really have no business being at the Lord’s Table or in the church.  The church is a hospital for sinners, not a country club for the self-righteous.  The church is for feeding and tending to sheep, not entertaining goats.  In fact, the Scriptures go so far to say that a goody two-shoe person taking the Lord’s Supper in a flippant way without faith is actually unworthily of the body and blood of Christ and is taking communion unto judgment, not life.  In other words, if a person rejects the idea that they are a sinner or love sin more than grace or reject the real presence of Jesus in the supper, they should be warned not to take the Lord’s Supper – they should fear the table of the Lord. 

But you, yes you Baptized Saints, you should not be scared away from the Lord.  The Lord did not give His life and shed His blood to hurt you, but He gave Himself unto death, for your benefit, to your comfort and strengthening, for the redemption of your soul.  Furthermore, you should not be scared away from the Lord’s Table, for the Lord does not give you His body and blood in and under the bread and wine to hurt or destroy you, but to give you new life.[2] 

The Lord meets sinful mankind and sinful mankind receives forgiveness, life, and salvation.  The Lord is the one who sits down with sinners to eat.  He is the one who came for the sin-sick.   He is the one that forgives sinners.

 

Therefore, as Christians we approach the Lord’s Supper with joy, confidence, and comfort, saying,

I am a poor sinner, I need help, and comfort.  I wish to attend the Lord’s Supper!

And the Lord surely does help.  You, who are hungry, and you, who are thirsty, come to the Lord’s Supper, for you will be nourished and refreshed.  You, who feel the weight of sin, the guilt of your failures, and the sting of death, come to the Lord’s Supper, for here at the altar you receive forgiveness, life, and salvation.  Come and receive, the Lord does not hold back; He meets you, because He is for you. 

Come and receive the body and blood of Christ this evening in the Lord’s Supper – a holy meal instituted for you that Maundy Thursday long ago. 

In the name of Jesus: Amen.

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[1] Martin Luther, The Large Catechism: The Sacrament of the Altar.

[2] Martin Luther, The Complete Sermons of Martin Luther: Volume 5 ed. Eugene Klug (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2000), 459.