The Rev. Neale L. Miller

Sermon for March 19, 2006

Texts: Psalm 19/1 Corinthians 1:18-25

Title: “The ‘Foolish’ Alternative”

              While walking the other day a stranger approached me with a peculiar request.  He explained that he was new in town and wanted to know where he might pick up some wisdom. “Wisdom,” I said, “well give me a moment to think.”  I admit I was stumped.  Ask me for directions to McDonald’s, I can handle that.  Want a restaurant recommendation, I can manage that.  Tell you when the baseball season opens, got you covered. But wisdom, that’s another thing entirely. 

              I might well have sent the stranger on his way without the help he sought, but it suddenly flashed on me.  Why not send him up the avenue to Loyola or Tulane.  Learned women and men, books, computers, laboratories, wisdom is the university’s stock in trade. But after I sent the man off, I had some misgivings about the information I provided. The university is an institution of higher learning, you can learn many, many things there, but are intellectual attainment and wisdom the same thing?

              Dissatisfied with my grasp of the question, when I got back to the apartment I took out the dictionary and looked up the definition for wisdom.  The definition clarified things, confirming for me that great learning and wisdom are not really the same thing.  The first definition for “wisdom” offered, and the first definition is always to be preferred over the others, [the first definition read] wisdom, “good sense.  The knowledge and experience needed to make sensible decisions and judgments.” 

              Wisdom—“good sense.  The knowledge and experience needed to make sensible decisions and judgments.”  You can learn a lot at Loyola or Tulane, but can you acquire “good sense, the knowledge and experience to make sensible decisions and judgments”? I doubt that Dr. Cowen at Tulane or Father Wildes at Loyola would tell us that wisdom by that definition is part of their curriculums.

              When wisdom is the issue aren’t we talking about applied knowledge, it’s what we know, certainly, but it is also the sensible use of what we know in this circumstance or that. Just because you are learned, doesn’t mean you are sensible, does it? Wisdom may as likely reside with the custodian who cleans the university classroom as the tenured philosophy professor who teaches in that space during the day.  On that point I believe the Apostle Paul would agree with us.

              The Apostle Paul offers a very challenging treatment of wisdom, doesn’t he?  Our lesson suggests that he doesn’t hold wisdom in very high regard. But, before we make a statement that is too rash, perhaps we should clarify and be more attentive to the definition of wisdom he is using. Paul is really not saying that wisdom per se is a bad thing. No, you do not hear Paul saying that.   

              The wisdom with which he finds fault is a very particular type of wisdom.  Here a little history helps.  Paul did not preach and teach in a virgin world insofar as philosophical and theological ideas were concerned. The world in which Paul lived was alive with discussion and debate surrounding all aspects of life people confronted both day to day, and the life they expected to live in the hereafter. While the terms for debate were often set by the Greeks who established a great philosophical tradition, the Jews and other groups contributed significantly to the philosophical and theological to and fro that marked the age.

              What do you do when someone else sets the terms for debate?  Just suppose, for instance, that one candidate in last Thursday’s mayoral debate was privileged to select each of the questions the moderator asked. It wouldn’t be very fair would it?  The other candidates would have every right to protest. Paul found himself in just such a situation.  The terms of debate were set by others.    

               The Corinthian church to whom Paul wrote was a divided body.  Claiming wisdom, some members of that church were openly questioning Paul’s authority.  He may well have been an eloquent and forceful spokesman for Jesus, but some members of the community were not all that impressed with his credentials. Likewise, their definition of wisdom prevailed.

              There were persons in the Corinthian church who believed that they possessed spiritual powers that transcended those to which Paul and other members of the community could lay claim. A very brief philosophy lesson. Various groups of ancient thinkers embraced a dualist perspective on the world. That is, they believed the material world of sense and experience to be a flawed and imperfect rendering of the unseen spiritual world.  To their way of thinking the body was a foul, impure shell from which one must escape in order to savor the pure delights of the spirit. To this favored elect, one didn’t have to die and be resurrected to unite will the divine, one could enjoy the benefits of union with the eternal in the here and now. From their privileged perch these wise arrogantly asserted their privilege.  A contemporary parallel might be those “born again” folks who embrace that status as a symbol of religious virtue setting them apart from others.

              Though we have no evidence to indicate just how the so-called spiritual elect of Paul’s day chose to employ their gift, we can judge that Paul was irritated by what they did. I give you verse 20 of our lesson, “Where is the one who is wise [that spiritual insider we have been talking about]?  Where is the scribe?  Where is the debater of this age?”  Paul drew his line in the sand, and judging from the tone of his remarks, he made it at least six inches deep. We don’t know how the wise in his audience responded to Paul’s words, but then Paul was never one who sought to win friends and influence by ingratiating himself.  He was a “let the chips fall” where they may sort of guy.     

              It might be helpful if we returned to our definition: Wisdom—“good sense.  The knowledge and experience needed to make sensible decisions and judgments.” The Apostle Paul didn’t believe, quite obviously, that his opponents were, by that definition wise. But he didn’t press the point.  Let them go around with their heads in the clouds. He would make no attempt to argue philosophy with them. But why?  Simply because he was invested in an alternative position, that could neatly be summarized in one verse, “for the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”  

              Paul warns the Corinthians to assess carefully what the world calls wisdom, this coming from a man who until his encounter with Christ had pretty much accepted the world as it was. After that encounter, however, Paul was to discover the price one paid for disputing the world’s definition of wisdom. Beaten, imprisoned, and constantly threatened for preaching an alternative vision of life, his detractors charged he was peddling foolishness.

              Alternatives, of course, aren’t always shunned.  Sometimes they are greeted with open arms.  An example.  On Wednesday the sport’s section of the Times-Picayune ran a headline reading, “Fresh Brees.”  The significance of that headline is lost on you if you are not a sport’s fan, specifically a football fan.  The “fresh Brees”  B r e e s to which the headline referred was Drew Brees, a free agent signee of the Saints. Saints’ fans greet the signing of the former San Diego quarterback as not only a welcome alternative to the former occupant of the quarterback position, but also an indication that the Saints may be adopting a new organizational philosophy. “Fresh Brees.”  We can only hope. Alternatives should be judged on their merits, and it will be some time before we are able to judge the merits of the Drew Brees signing. 

              Jesus brought an alternative, and many, even within the Christian church, have yet to decide if the alternative he presents is one they want to buy.  The gospel lessons the lectionary has given us the last few weeks have been heavy into the sacrifice side of following Christ.  “Take up your cross and follow me.”  “If you would safe your life you must lose it.”  Stuff like that.  Lent is not the time to hang out in the church if you what you are looking for is a consistent message of affirmation or a feel good experience. 

              Jesus could deliver affirmation and a feel good experience, but the Jesus of scripture also roiled the waters, stuck his nose in the wrong places.  Jesus may not always be the alternative we are seeking. Just about the time you think you can live with the guy he pulls a fast one on you. 

              Simon the Pharisee invited Jesus to dinner, a generous offer for, as you know, Pharisees generally looked askance at Jesus. There they were having dinner when a woman showed up, and a woman with a certain unsavory reputation at that.  You know this story.  Simon was offended that Jesus would give the woman the time of day, but he not only gave her the time of day he submitted as she bathed his feet with her tears and anointed them with costly ointment. 

              Consider what Jesus might have done to stay on the good side of the Pharisee, a politically wise thing to do.  He might have sat there and kept his mouth shut and let the man kick the woman out of the house, after all he was a guest in the man’s house.  He might even have complimented the man for his deft handling of an unpleasant situation.  He did neither, of course.  Instead he chose the alternative. He commended the woman for her actions and granted her forgiveness for her sins right on the spot, while Simon, his host, came away with egg on his face.

              One incident only where Jesus proposed an alternative way to handle a situation.  But it happened that such incidents accumulated over time, incidents that offended people who had power to give serious payback for offenses. We all know where payback led, don’t we?  Jesus offered an alternative way of looking at reality, wisdom of a different sort than had been seen in the world, and the world didn’t like it at all.     

              If you are into alternative ways of looking at reality, or living your life, you might be wise to think twice before signing on with Jesus. If only Paul had thought twice, he might have saved himself a lot of trouble. Instead he picked up right where Jesus left off.  After an encounter with the risen Jesus, off he went preaching and teaching alternatives.

              The “wise” said, “wait just a minute, you have no standing.  You are not one of us.  You have not experienced spiritual rebirth. Put aside that foolishness you have been peddling and throw in with us.”  It would have been so easy for Paul to do just that.  Forget alternatives, get with the program. 

              Oh, Paul was stubborn.  Mighty stubborn.  Call him a fool.  He wasn’t offended. Not at all.  In fact, he wore the title proudly, proudly, you see, because he was advocating an alternative way of looking at reality.

The human mind would never have come up with what God came up with.  Instead of levying judgment on the world for shunning his wisdom in favor of its own, God proposed the foolish alternative of sending Jesus, his only son, into the world to suffer the punishment our sin rightly deserved.  Loving us beyond our capacity to return such love, he forgave us. 

              Paul was no fool.  He knew that those who regarded the message of the cross as foolishness had logic on their side. What kind of God would sacrifice his only son?  The wise, spiritually endowed folks made light of Paul’s preaching.  That fool, what did he know?  You could be spiritual without accepting any of his nonsense.

              There is a form of spirituality alive in the church today, it’s widespread folks, that  has bought into the wisdom that Paul stood against.  It’s a spirituality that conveniently lays aside the suffering and crucified Christ, in favor of the Christ depicted carrying the lamb on his shoulder, the Christ consoling the grieving, or teaching one of his memorable parables. 

Jesus can certainly be counted upon to stand with the disconsolate, the wounded, and forlorn.  There is, however, more to Jesus than that, however. We are not privileged to pick and choose the Christ we will worship.  Jesus sets the terms, and Paul for his part had it right.  The wise of the world aren’t having any.  Let’s face it, the gospel is for fools.  Jesus’ alternative makes severe demands. The question is, just how foolish are we willing to be? Another way of putting the question is, how much Jesus do we want to know? AMEN.

PRAYER

              God, our God, who created the world in seven days, we gasp when we ponder the marvel your creativity represents. Yet what we can see offers but a partial glimpse of your masterwork.  When we ponder the vast heavens and earth, we with the psalmist exclaim “what is man that you are mindful of him.” Forgive us for our repeated failure to accept our special standing in thy sight for the gift it is, and for our failure to express our gratitude in reverence and praise.   

              O Christ, head of the church, you came to earth to redeem the earth, but redemption was not what the world wanted, not, at least, on your terms. Your message offended, for it asked more of us than we were prepared to give. Your message always asks more of us than we are prepared to give.  Our limits are too well defined to be altered, yet that, O Christ, is precisely what you require.  Not the world as it is, O Christ, you taught an alternative vision of the world, a vision where the resources of the world were equitably shared, a vision where no one suffered abuse or ridicule, yes, even a world where the lion lies down with the lamb. 

              Foolishness, that is how your message has been perceived by the wise of the world.  Your kind of foolishness won’t sell.  It has never sold, but here we are, bent on perpetuating your foolishness through word and song. May your grace prosper what we do, constantly challenging us to go deeper into your word, to risk even greater personal foolishness that your truth may be proclaimed.

              Holy Spirit, who brooded over the primeval waters, you make the ancient promises of God, the father, present in real time.  You are present in our midst. You know each thought that crosses our mind.  You know the struggles that engage us, the fears we so unsuccessfully attempt to ignore.  You are to here to listen, but we lack the confidence to pray, for our prayers often seem little more that a futile exercise, an undeliverable letter. Pray in us and for us, O Spirit.  Help us to get out of our heads, quiet ourselves, and listen for what you are, even now, prepared to communicate.

              Lord abide with those who continue to struggle with the realities thrust upon us in the wake of the storm.  Be with young families whose dreams of owning a home and establishing roots in a community have been deferred.  Be with business owners whose businesses have been washed away.  Be with the elderly forced to relocate, with no option available any longer to enjoy the familiar surroundings and friendships that have been part of their lives for years.  Be with those who are still displaced, New Orleanians born and bred, who lack the financial resources and opportunities that would allow them to return home.

              God of grace and glory uphold the sick and the dying.  May your special blessings embrace Shirley Heuer, Fran Cashner, and Shane Myers.  Attend the emotionally unstable who will live out this day in the fog of confusion.  Strengthen those who face the challenges of rehabilitation, stroke victims, amputees, and heart attack victims.

              May your blessings be upon those whom we have elected to serve us as city, state, and federal leaders.  Grant them wisdom and persistence as they fulfill their responsibilities.

              Continue, O God, to build up the church.  May our worship and work be judged to be worthy in thy holy sight. 

              Hear our prayers, O God, in Jesus’ name.