But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong. God chose what is low and despised in the world ... so that no one might boast in the presence of God (I Corinthians 1:27-29)
Christianity's diminishing presence in our society might not be a bad thing! What, you may be asking to yourself, do I mean by that? Well, I believe that we stand in the midst of a great opportunity for Jesus followers to return to being the church at our best.
My conclusion is fairly simple: whenever the Christian church is in a position of power, we often cease to be what we are supposed to be about (i.e. radical inclusion, equality, and justice for all). Instead, we become the "insiders" and therefore must have "outsiders".
The maddening truth of Christianity is that our greatest power is in the powerlessness of the cross!
This means that we live and profess a faith that may seem "foolish" to others. Our greatest strength is when we embrace and live through our weakness, our suffering, and the crosses we bear. For in these moments only God is left to give us what we need. All other trappings of power, prestige, and status fall away. Only the crucified Christ is left!
It can be difficult, if not seemingly impossible, to put our trust in our own weaknesses. It goes against all that we are taught from birth it seems. However, our Christian faith finds its strength in recognizing the overwhelming grace, mercy, and compassion of God, as experienced in the cross. This allows us therefore to live crucified lives for the benefit and love of others. And this sacrificial mandate of our baptism changes lives and changes our world.
Crucified and risen Lord, may we find strength in our weakness and hope in our pain. Amen.
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