Christ, our Power and Wisdom.

In a season of change, and a season of many people and organisations looking for direction, economically, socially and spiritually, it is interesting to read 1 Corinthians. Change is interesting enough that many books have been written on it, and many people make a great deal of money facilitating it and leading it, and yet Paul seems to be relatively unimpressed with the huge dynamics of the Church in Corinth, preferring to focus their attention on something different.

Corinth is often discussed as the trading town; the confluence of culture and a melting pot of religions and languages, cultures and creeds, and it is often in this context that Corinthians is taught.

It is interesting, that Paul speaks emphatically against looking at “where we have come from” and speaks directly to “where we are going to”. He ignores the complexities of the cultural melting pot – the bread and butter of the modern change agent – and settles on one dynamic only. And yet few would deny that at the very least, Paul is a monumental change agent. His legacy in Christ stands above all other apostolic figures of his time, his influence profound over more than 1900 years of church history.

So what does this monumental change agent focus on? Christ, and Christ alone. He does not seek mutual understanding and cultural sensitivity. He does not embrace “knowing me, knowing you” principles of integration. He merely says “Know Him”.

He rips into people holding up an earthly teacher as a rallying point, himself included. Compare this to today, where a leader’s influence on the worldwide stage is defined largely by how MUCH of the spotlight he/she can enjoy.

He rips into people demanding signs and people seeking wisdom. “For the Jews request a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom” (v22) Instead of pointing to the many signs that exist, the miracles both Jesus and he have performed; instead of repeating the wonderful exegesis of Romans; he simply says “Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God” (v24b).

This generation seems to demands signs, and the previous generation demanded wisdom. This generation and the next may well focus again on cultural sensitivity, as the global village gets smaller and smaller and borders disappear under a tsunami of email and internet communities, and cheap airfares, where getting the latest preacher or motivational speaker on the latest fad to rock up and wow the crowd is as easy as a phone call.

And Paul says simply, in response to all the apparent complexity facing a spiritual community in huge transition – “Christ, and him crucified”.

He is your wisdom. He is your power. He is His own sign. He has become for us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification and redemption.

In the face of every temptation to lead through change, to show the way and be the facilitator of a new age, to be wise and have meaning and value in this age, maybe we should simply say “Christ, and Him crucified” And the glory can go to the One who did it all.

He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.