"For the word of the cross is foolishness 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 cleverness of the clever I will set aside.'

Where is the wise man? 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 through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men." --1 Corinthians 1:18-25 (NASB)

How many times have you heard, whether directly or indirectly, about the foolishness of Christianity? If you are like me you get hammered with that message weekly, even if all you do is watch the news. Our world does not view Christians or Christianity with any sort of confidence in our wisdom.

If you have been watching the primary election coverage, you have heard a lot about the "evangelical vote." but if you have been paying close attention, there is a tone that is often projected that would imply "evangelicals" are not the brightest people in the world and that the way they are voting simply hurts our country more than it helps it.

The message of this passage is as true today as it was for the Corinthians in their day. The wisdom of the cross is seen as purely foolish to those who do not understand it. Lets look at the passage a little bit closer.

In verse 18, we see that Paul is quoting from the Old Testament in Isaiah. It is important that we look at these verses in their original context, as Paul would have surely done when he used it here in his letter. The verse prior to the one he is quoting is especially important and directly related to this discussion. Click here to read Isaiah 29:13,14

Isaiah is saying that honoring God with our lips is cheap. God's wisdom ultimately shuts up the wisdom of the world. If you were to ask people about their religious affiliation right now in this country, studies have shown that somewhere between 70 and 80 percent of people would tell you that they are Christians. The problem is that many are living by the world's standard of wisdom and merely giving lip service to their Christianity. They claim Christianity and adhere to a set of principles or commandments that are learned but not put into practice. They see Christianity as simply another piece of knowledge, filed into their brains to give them more information to draw from if it is ever necessary. Christianity is merely another title to add to their name alongside their occupation and preferences instead of a set of convictions and passions that drive their day-to-day living and decision-making.

However, for those of us who have committed our lives to Christ and are daily seeking to be more like him, our actions, thoughts and decisions are based in light of the cross and eternity. This means that when we see the world, we are seeing it through the lens of Christ's sacrifice for us, and this filter is viewed by the world as nonsense and foolishness. Our perspective is shaped not by what the world values as "wise" or relevant, but by God himself, who has been revealed to us through Scripture and his Spirit.

This week, I challenge you to evaluate your life. What standards of wisdom are you using as a guide? Are they the standards that have been dictated by the world in all of its rhetoric, or are you firmly planted on the Word of God, the wisdom of truth?

Final Thought: Be bold in your stance for God and find your strength and direction in His wisdom despite how foolish it may seem to others.