The Gospel Creates Problems

From the very beginning of Christianity, the Gospel message has created problems.  We know that when Jesus was teaching He often encountered difficulties and challenges.  Many of these early challenges came from the Jewish leaders.  But that would be expected because He was teaching in a Jewish environment, in the land of Israel, and largely in Galilee.  These were Jewish people for the most part.  And He was teaching them of a new Way, a new Kingdom, a new Law....and the Jewish leaders especially did not want to hear it.  And they were willing to kill Him to stop it. 

We might want to note that Jesus didn't start this new Way immediately.  His plan was to leave it to the apostles to carry out after He died and left.  But He told those who wanted to listen that it was coming soon, and He told the apostles that it was coming with power.  This coming is recorded for us in Acts 2.

Later, as recorded in 1 Corinthians chapter 1, Paul warned of the difficulties that the Gospel message presented to the Jews and Greeks alike.  The effect, the resistance, was different between the two groups but equally a problem.  He begins this discussion by saying, "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."  Then in verse 22 he continues:  "For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness...."   Then he concludes, "...but to those who are 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."

There are two separate cases here: To the Jews, the Gospel presented a stumbling block.  It got in the way of their traditions and practices.  It was going to require them to change their worship lives completely.  Everything would be different....and that was unacceptable to many, especially to the Jewish leaders.

To the Gentiles, the non-Jews that Paul addresses as Greeks, it just seemed like foolishness.  To them, everything has to be according to what they would consider "wise."  But Paul points out that their kind of Wise, is not true wisdom.  Only the wisdom of God is truly wise.

And today we have many of the same kinds of rejection of the Gospel.  It is a stumbling block to some, requiring considerable change in lifestyle.  And others just don't think it is reasonable, that it fits their idea of "wise."  But we know that it is true, that it is the only true wisdom, wisdom from above. 

Let us honor the Word of God.  Thanks for reading again.  All the best to you.