Foolish Talk to Smart Folks

Posted by Danny

Friday, October 7, 2011

1 Cor. 1:18-31

Note paper is so 20^th century!  We felt like we were really with it. Cutting edge. Progressive. Very contemporary.  In an auditorium of over 3,000 people, we sat with our iPads.  We decided to take the risk, amp up the learning curve and go paper-free for a weekend.  We downloaded the ESV's and opened up "Notes," placed our styluses in hand and prepared to soak up some great preaching.  After a quick text message to Pastor MAK, we figured out how to quickly jump from ESV to "Notes" with a simple double click.  We discovered that a tap on the screen opened up note pages in the text and found out we could quickly toggle from text to text. 

Then it happened, the preacher used the H-E-double hockey sticks word, "Hell!"  I was frantically tapping the screen, taking detailed notes on the message but my spell-corrector would not accept the word H-E-L-L.  It repeatedly changed it to "he'll." Suddenly I am distracted from the message; I muse, instead on why my iPad doesn't want to recognize the word "hell."  Wouldn't you know it?  It also refused to print the word "sinless."  Every time I tapped in the word, the corrector changed it to "winless."  Now both theologically and pragmatically we all know that being "sinless" and being "winless" is not the same thing!

After three incredible days of hearing great gospel preaching and having our hearts once more stirred for the Great Commission--calling the Church to bring the gospel message to the ends of the earth--it was time to return to Lincoln.  I have to confess; my directions were a bit screwed up in downtown Minneapolis. I had landmarks in mind AND my trusty iPhone with its GPS map in hand.  We did a "search" for Minneapolis International Airport and clicked "directions" from "current location."  Then came the challenge; the route on the map simply did not make as much sense as the route in my mind.  We had to decide; do we go with my instincts or trust the GPS?  After introducing Linda to some of the less-savory environs of downtown Minneapolis, I begrudgingly followed the GPS.

Progressive.  With it.  Very 21^st century.  We "searched" for our destination and the map planted a "pin."  A blipping blue dot marked out our progress.  It worked exceptionally well…WHEN we trusted the directions!

In chapter one of Paul's letter to the Corinthians, he places a "pin."  All roads in the OT lead to it.  All roads in the NT lead back to it.  Finding the way "home" simply requires that we trust the map. Whether my iPad acknowledges it or not, there really is a H-E-L-L and there really was only one who was "sinless."  Because of the reality of Hell, the Sinless One went to the cross.  Trust the map.  All roads to eternal life must lead one to the Cross of Jesus Christ.  Place the "pin" there!

"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."—1 Cor. 1:18

See you Sunday, Church!

Pastor Tom