Impressive!

Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know.
I Corinthians 8:1-2

One of our family’s favorite movies, the 1995 A&E version of Pride and Prejudice, has a line that I think relates to this blogging experience: “We’re unwilling to speak unless we expect to say something that will amaze the whole room!” If I don’t write something impressive, people will get bored and quit reading, right?

I remember once when Mark and I were first married and he was captain of a men’s softball team, he drafted a letter to his team outlining the practice schedule. He signed off with the Italian “ciao,” but he spelled it the way we pronounce it – “chow.” He was so impressed that I knew the correct spelling and was able to fix it for him before he sent out the letter. Well, sure. But on the other hand, big whoop. I have seen him strike up conversations with complete strangers all because they had an interesting accent, then proceed to guess where they were from and have an in-depth conversation about the political situation in that country, even calling names of, not just people in office there, but people running for office there. To me, that is impressive!

The teaching and commitment of the apostles was certainly impressive. Yet most of them were hated by the world they lived in and they died as martyrs. Paul said they had “been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!” (I Corinthians 4:9b-10). The Corinthians wanted to appear impressive to the world, but Paul says that for Christ you have to be willing to appear a fool.

I’ve always struggled with the sin of being a know-it-all. As a good student, I was praised for being smart, so to a great extent, that became my identity and sense of self-worth. But do you remember what Paul said to the Christians in Corinth who thought they were smart? He said, “knowledge puffs up, but love edifies,” (8:1b). He also posed these two questions: “What do you have that you did not receive? [And] if you did indeed receive it, why do you glory as if you had not received it?” (I Corinthians 4:7). In other words, if you’re smart, that was God’s doing, so why are you bragging about it??

Picking up again with the irony in 4:10-13 (ESV), Paul said, “We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.”

What if being a Christian means I’m called a fool? Treated like the scum of the world? Am I willing to be reviled? Will I bless in return?

Paul said in verse 14, “I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.”

But it does make me ashamed, Paul. You and the other apostles suffered so much for Jesus. I don’t even want to suffer embarrassment. I’m just like the Corinthians. I want to be honored, considered strong and wise. I want to impress people.

But we’re not here to impress people. A Christian blog, and a Christian life, should be about lovingly edifying others, because we’re here to impress upon people the impressiveness of God. So, if I want to “say something that will amaze the whole room,” let it be this: “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,” (I Corinthians 15:3-4).

“He who glories, let him glory in the Lord!” (I Corinthians 1:31).

Dear God, I know that whatever talents I have are undeserved gifts from You. Please help me to use them for Your glory for You are the One with all knowledge and all wisdom. You made the gospel simple enough for everyone to understand so that no one could glory in themselves. Your wisdom and love are astounding! Please forgive my sins. In Jesus’s name, Amen.

by Christie Cole Atkins