Wednesday, March 16
Scripture: I Corinthians 1:27-29

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, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

THE UPSIDE-DOWN KINGDOM

A quick reading of these divinely reorienting words might permit us to draw a nice and neat line between ourselves (the lowly, humble Christians - obviously) and the world (those big, bad atheists) and move on. Or we might be content with a few thoughts about the inspiring claim that God uses nobodies. Surely we're familiar with this very important truth. Yet, just as surely we find ourselves living at odds with it. Even though, as Christians, we are called to a beautiful and mysterious upside-down kingdom where the least are the greatest and the greatest is God, we too often scramble like the world around us to be 'somebodies.' This contradiction is worth pausing to consider.

The phenomenon is easy to spot. The disciples were once interrupted from an argument about their own supremacy by God in the flesh! And the Corinthians passage above seems to have been prompted in part by quarreling amongst the church over the greatness of various leaders. We all know of pastors, worship artists, and professors in our day who are consumed with coming off as intelligent, smooth, strong. And we all know ourselves, when we're honest. My own experience in seminary has certainly not been free from the desire to become wise and influential. Some succeed, only to realize that their success has led them into another kingdom altogether. Many others are tormented and slowly worn down by their failure to be great. But why bear this burden? Why not just give it up, embrace our weakness and bask in God's radiating greatness?  

I think it's because we want the upside-down kingdom but we don't want the upside-down kingdom. We've been graciously adopted into the kingdom of God, but we've all been (de)formed by the culture of our old country – a culture of pride. Something lingers in us that desperately wants the right to boast. In myriad overt and, more dangerously, hidden ways we seek our own glory. Often these ways are hidden even from ourselves, and so we can find people preaching foolishness and weakness from hearts heavily burdened by the craving for wisdom and strength.

But we are not called to live this way! We've been granted the freedom and joy of being weak, lowly nobodies before a God who exudes all power, brilliance and love. We don't have to strain to impress, establish, or eloquently influence ourselves or others into the kingdom of God. What a relief to boast in Christ alone!  Empowered by the Holy Spirit within us, we are called to resist the pernicious ways of the kingdom of this world. Let us do so constantly, stubbornly, creatively, and perhaps a bit comically - like the characters in Caulton Morris' photographs. If we do so, we will definitely find ourselves upside-down in this world.

PRAYER

Dear Lord,
Protect us from the lie that experiencing and sharing your life with others depends on our eloquence or superior wisdom. Remind us that foolish, unimportant nobodies have just as much status in your kingdom as anyone. Teach us to freely and joyfully boast in Christ alone.
Amen.

Paul Rhiengans, Graduate Student, Institute of Spiritual Formation