Fools for Christ...

Fanatics. They're everywhere. Football fanatics, car fanatics, hunting fanatics (At least in my area!), sports fanatics, video game fanatics...etc. We see them in the grocery store, we see them in town, we see them pass us on the highway (Mostly the car fanatics), we see them in school. We even see them in church, and sometimes, we even see them in ourselves.

We all know what they look like: Obsessed with a certain thing, almost always wearing some type of paraphernalia or hat that shouts their devotion to their obsession. They talk about it all the time, are consumed by it. They are not ashamed (mostly) of their obsession; instead they wear or drive or read or talk whatever they are fanatical about. They are not afraid to be a fool for the object of their obsession.

Even many in the church are fanatics like this. They are Christians, but are quiet about it 6 days of the week, and are not quiet about the things they love for more than an 6 hours a day (Okay so I am exaggerating... a little)

The point is that most of us don't give a second thought about our obsession for things. We aren't ashamed of it and will share it. If our favorite team wins the Super Bowl, or the World Series, we are screaming and jumping up and down, and are proudly announcing to the world that our favorite team has won! Or, we buy and conquer the latest video game, and go crazy over it and tell everyone how great the game was. Or, we buy the newest of the new cars, or restore an old classic car, and we tell everyone about it, and drive the metal monstrosity down main street.

The point is that we can get so excited and fanatical for stuff...and we aren't ashamed of it Why don't we have this mindset for Christ? Now, please understand that I am not promoting being fanatical to stuff...not at all! (I've talked on that before: http://becomingawarriorpoet.blogspot.com/2009/04/garbage-everywhere.html) Instead I am suggesting that we take that mindset of being unashamed and absolutely fanatical and apply it to our spiritual walk.

How many of us are willing to be a fool for Christ? How many of us are willing to lay it all on the line, be made fun of, mocked, scorned persecuted, rejected? How many of us are willing to appear foolish? Are we ashamed of the Gospel?

Paul was not ashamed of the Gospel (Romans 1:16), but preached to everyone, and devoted his life to it. He was fanatical for Christ's Glory, Kingdom, and Gospel! How many of us can say that?

We should not be afraid of looking the fool. God isn't.

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. " (1 Corinthians 1:18-25, NIV)

The Church tries to dress up the Gospel, make it "culturally relevant". This should not be. God's message will appear to be foolishness, and we should be willing to appear as fools for Him so that He may be glorified and seen all the more.

Though the world may mock us and the gospel, because it appears to be foolishness, we should not waver. Because, God's "foolishness" is greater than man's wisdom. The foolishness of the Cross puts the attention fully on God, and not on us, because we all know that it were about us, or it was our message, we would not make it appear "foolish" in man's eyes. The "foolishness" of the Gospel showcases God's greatness. Instead of focusing on pleasing the world, we should focus on pleasing God, even if it makes us appear to be a fool before the world

I don't know about you, but I would rather be seen as a fool for my King, than a fool before Him.

For Christ's Glory!