“And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2:1-2)
During these years of pandemic, many people stopped attending church. Now churches are attempting to make up for the loss, to find ways of attracting people back to church, often with ways and methods they used previously. One of most popular ways of getting people in to church is with flashy music, worship teams, videos, and preaching that seeks to encourage and equip people to achieve their full potential. Often such church services resemble concerts or motivational seminars. Other means include extensive extracurricular programs for kids and social events for adults.
Such trends stand in stark contrast to the words the Apostle Paul shares in this first letter to the church at Corinth. He proclaimed the gospel without persuasive or manipulative words and methods but with the uncompromising word of God. He preached the cross of Christ because it displayed the power and wisdom of God in fulfilling His wonderful plan. Such preaching is foolishness to those who value worldly wisdom, which consists of philosophical arguments, linking proof with proof to persuade listeners to accept the validity of the speaker’s message. This type of rhetoric was held in high esteem in ancient times, much as it is today. Nevertheless, those who place their trust in human rhetoric find themselves on sinking sand. Such wisdom (if indeed it can be called wisdom) can never approach the greatness of God.
Paul did not preach what he thought people wanted to hear: he preached what God called him to preach, the truth they needed to hear. He did not say things that made people comfortable in their sins. He did not overwhelm people with false promises and fancy words. His preaching was not performed with a smug self-centered and self-righteous attitude, but with compassion and humble weakness. Human weakness is the medium through which divine power operates and the domain in which it is displayed. The power of the cross of Christ is perfected in our weakness.