The Message of the Cross in the Body of Christ

Jesus is Lord and not a 3 part stage play.....

For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,"I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE." Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater 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 come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 1 Corinthians 1:18-25.

Perhaps the weakest link within the Body of Christ is not understanding the significance of what happened at the Cross of Christ. In part, but much more, the wisdom of the wise was destroyed and the seemingly smart or clever thinking of man was simply moved over in sight of the Almighty. We have attempted to do God’s work for Him in the sense of scheming and maneuvering the message of God into colorful and mechanized programs that ‘will meet the needs of the people’. The simple proclamation of God’s Word by the Body of Christ is always more effective without secular and humanist packages.

Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. Vv 20-21.

Far too often the local church has been caught up in the fragrance of human secularism in promoting the Gospel Message. And what we have seen is a cheapened form of Message of the Cross and the effectiveness has worn thin. There has been a loss of passion for the lost and far too much performance.

For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. Vv 22-25.

Convincingly, the local church has been the victim of promotion rather than the Power of God being expressed through His people. The Body of Christ must come out from the shadows and demonstrate the Light of the Gospel found only in the Cross of Christ. We must powerfully state that Jesus is Lord and not a 3 part stage play.

Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Corinthians 4:1-4.