1 Corinthians 1:25-31
“But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;” vs. 27
The first to embrace the gospel in the cities where Paul preached, were generally from the working class; many of them were slaves. Only occasionally would someone with wealth and power become a believer. These low-born types loved the message of equality and freedom that they heard from the early evangelists. They liked being a part of a faith community where being rich didn’t give a special status, where everyone was recognized as gifted, and where there were no racial or ethnic distinctions. As these early believers gathered in their house churches, the Holy Spirit brought forth amazing fruit and the movement grew quickly. As the centuries passed, the church continued to be strong as long as she remained true to the values of her humble beginnings. Unfortunately, too often the church has forgotten those principles and adopted the ways of the world. Popes became sovereigns, bishops became princes, and the focus shifted from service to exploitation. In response, God has again and again chosen the weak and lowly to bring reformation and a renewed emphasis on justice and freedom. Only by God’s grace has the church been able to recover its core values and remain faithful to the mission of the Christ. Praise God for the power and influence of the foolish and the weak in our broken world!
Thought for the Day: What are the core values of my congregation?
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