The Foolishness of God

People who say that Christianity is stupid, in many ways are right. What we believe, at its core, seems stupid, cruel, and, worst of all, foolish. And what people object to isn’t that we believe Christ died on a cross–Romans did that to criminals, rebels, and enemies of the state all the time–but that we believe he rose again from the dead on the third day.

That’s the part that people can’t wrap their minds around: a man who was most definitely dead (the Romans were very good at making sure people were dead), was then buried before sunset, lay in the tomb for two days, and then on the third day rose from the grave. Why, that is unbelievable and foolish. What kind of idiot would believe that actually happened?

Interestingly, some of these same people who don’t believe it actually happened (any of it), may also see value in the spiritual truths the story illustrates. If one were to look at the crucifixion and resurrection from purely a mythical or archetypal perspective, what a magnificent story! 

The Mythical Sacrifice

An act of ultimate sacrifice by the perfect man. He had no flaws and yet he experienced the most torturous and extreme death anyone could ever imagine. He was flogged and then crucified, when normally criminals weren’t flogged and then also crucified. It was one or the other, but Jesus went through both because Pontius Pilate thought a flogging would appease the hatred of the masses. But the masses of people who had just a week earlier been laying palm fronds at his feet, honoring him as the king of the Jews, those same people were now not satisfied with a mere flogging as his punishment–they wanted such a scoundrel crucified!

The mythical message is profound: the people he came to save not only didn’t believe in him, they wanted him dead! Have you ever felt that way? Have you ever felt “crucified” by the people who you cared deeply about? Have you ever been betrayed by one of your closest associates? Someone who you thought understood you and yet they willingly turn on you for financial advantage? Judas betrayed Jesus, and the people he had been healing and serving for at least three years now betrayed him. Even all his disciples, except John, fled from the foot of the cross.

And on your own personal cross, your arms were stretched out, showing that you still embraced the entirety of existence and that your kindness and compassion was meant for everyone–even those who put you there. To even those who betrayed you. 

What an incredible example of the ethos of the penultimate expression of human love and sacrifice! It’s the best story ever told and what powerful imagery is used. Who could ever do more and who could suffer more than the perfect son of God? God himself had become flesh in order to show us the true character of God so that we would see that he isn’t some evil tyrant up in the sky who hates you breaking his rules, but that he is the God who would serve you, even to the point of dying on the cross. What an amazing teaching. What an amazing story that has the ability to reframe the way we experience our own lives. What wise applications can be made to our everyday problems! The imagery is rich with meaning.

Jesus isn’t a god who demands you sacrifice for him so that he can be safe, nor is he the kind of god who uses people as his tools to accomplish his purposes, and then discards us. That’s what weak and selfish leaders do: Use you then forget your name and never call you again. No, he is the awesome, inspiring leader who humbles himself to serve us and to also BE the punishment for our sins.

The Mythical Resurrection

And the archetypal, mythical meaning of the resurrection is also powerful. In Christ’s death, we see our death to our selfish nature. But, instead of then experiencing the horrors of misery we thought would happen to us if we give up our own will and our own sense of what is reasonable to believe–as soon as we give up those selfish desires, there comes over us a deep-seated joy that transcends all understanding! We are “resurrected” and brought into the light of a new life–a new mind. We are born again and then a whole new realm of light and truth invades our soul and all that ever came before seems like shadows and T. S. Eliot’s Wasteland. Where once was darkness and despair, now there is light and hope. There is resurrection! Where once there was the fear of believing something foolish, there is now the discovery that in the story of the cross and the empty tomb, there is a wisdom that transcends the limited reasonings of the human mind. WE could not conceive of such a wisdom–it is only revealed in the myth of Christ.

As powerful as the archetypal imagery of Christ is, though, and as meaningful and rich the practical lessons are for how we should live as humans with and for each other, to become a Christian means believing that the cross and the empty tomb really happened.

The Historical Crucifixion and Resurrection

And it is at this point of the message that some people will say, “That’s stupid. It doesn’t have to have happened to have real meaning.” And yet, it is at this point that Paul says,

And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. ~1 Corinthians 2:1-2

Paul didn’t come with fancy, wise words that audiences would be in awe of as he unveiled the mysteries of the cross and told of its profound implications. He didn’t come with the wisdom of man, clever insights, and thoughtful stories. He unashamedly came with power and the witness of the transformative message of Christ crucified and resurrected: 

For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. ~ 1 Corinthians 15:3-8

The cross and the empty tomb are historical realities. They really happened and such an event cannot be ignored. Oh sure, one can try to ignore it and even scoff at it. That is anybody’s prerogative. And, as I said at the beginning, I am not even mad at people for mocking the message. I kind of expect it because I am  fully cognizant that the resurrection seems foolish. Indeed, if I were merely to rely on my own ability to make sense of things, then, yes, Christianity seems ridiculous.

Paul thought so, too:

Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. ~ 1 Corinthians 15:12-19

Authentic Faith

And so, as you can see, an authentic faith doesn’t merely see valuable lessons in the story, but also that it happened in real time, in a real place, to real people. Our message isn’t a fairy tale or a myth, even if it is mocked for being so. But once a person wraps their heart and mind around the Truth, a deep transformation occurs and the universe expands into a lit up wonder that cannot be limited by our own feeble imaginations, but is ever magnificent beyond every new horizon.

Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are 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 1:20-25

“For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.”

Romans 11:36

500 Year Journey

My book, 500 Year Journey, lays out the case for the historical reality of the birth of Christ and the date for when he was born. I hope that as you read the truth about his birth, it will have as much meaning for you as his death, resurrection and ascension. Blessings.