BULLETIN ARTICLE – 22 JAN 2017
Two battleships were on exercises at sea. The weather was foggy and visibility was poor. Shortly after dark, the lookout on the bridge of one of the battleship reported: “Light, bearing on the starboard bow.” The Captain asked: “Is it steady or moving astern?” The lookout replied: “Steady, Captain.” This meant the battleship was on a collision course with the other ship. The Captain then ordered the signalman: “Signal that ship. We are on collision course; advise you change course 20 degrees.” When nothing happened, the Captain ordered the signalman to send another message. “I am a Captain, change course 20 degrees.” “I’m a seaman second class. You had better change course 20 degrees.” came the reply. By this time the Captain was furious. He spat out: “Send. I’m a battleship, change course 20 degrees.” Back came the reply, “I’m a lighthouse!” The Captain experienced a paradigm shift – a movement away from old explanations that no longer explained reality. Confronted with an unknown dangerous coastline, a course change of 20 degrees won’t do. A complete change of direction is needed!
The society in Corinth faced such a paradigm shift. “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” (1 Cor 1:18). The Greek world prized knowledge and wisdom because it is the means to attaining influence and wealth and power. The Greeks preferred to use reasoning and judgment to attain knowledge of God. No rational man is looking to attain wisdom that is going to land him on a cross of crucifixion. The paradigm of Corinth is the power and wisdom of man. This paradigm kept the Corinthians from the full understanding of the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart” (1 Cor 1:19). Paul quotes Isa 29:14 to show that it is only by the grace of God that spiritual eyes and minds can be opened to see the reality of God’s world. It is an upside down wisdom which appears to be foolishness to the world. God becoming man in Jesus and going to the cross at Calvary to deliver people from bondage to sin is unthinkable for a society that prizes external strength and power.
Our modern day societies are similar to Corinth. We prize knowledge, wisdom, intellect and education and they are the means to a progressive and relevant society in the 21st Century. Today’s post modern world replaces religion with individual spirituality. As with Corinth, our world needs the miracle of opening our eyes to a new paradigm where it is only by the cross of Christ can people be redeemed from this world and transported to be with Jesus, their Creator and Redeemer.
