Wsup Ketchup?

2 Corinthians 12:9

“That no matter how remarkable our giftings may be or how simple our understanding is, the message we proclaim is stupid to the world. Let us be known less for our strengths in academic rigor and more for how that rigor goes deeper in grasping what it means that a man was crucified to save the world.

Intellectual proficiency takes a back seat when our only hope is in what some call offensive, and others call folly.” (from Love That Jesus Calls the Weak)

The above is a quote from a series on Desiring God about “staying Christian in seminary” and being discouraged by a lack of intellectual and spiritual prowess (heh heh). I found it pretty applicable to myself. I definitely struggle in wanting to know more and grow more and being frustrated with my own lack of understanding. We will grow as God calls us to. And at the core of it, it’s not really even about our “growing” or “becoming stronger”. What’s central to our faith is the gospel itself. And the core of it is extremely simple yet completely counter-cultural. 

In particular for me, it has been frustrating not being able to defend my faith with words and arguments. I just want to prove Christianity to be true and it’s frustrating when it seems like I’m incapable. I try to make up for my lack of apologetics-skill with a high proficiency in chemistry or academics in a more secular sense so that my own intelligence will never come into question during an argument. But it’s completely counter to my faith. What we believe as Christians, is foolishness to the world. So to the world, to my family and classmates, I am already a fool.

Instead, I should strive to understand what it means for the holy and perfect God of all creation to descend to this earth to be ridiculed and mocked by his creation and carry the sins of his children on the cross (Gal 3:12-14). But for God to see him as the perfect sacrifice (Phil 3:10, Heb 1:1-4, Heb 10:11-18). What does that mean for me? How I see myself? How I act? How I respond to ridicule? How I see my future? What I strive for? How I love the people around me? What drives me?

This is Paul’s prayer to the church in Ephesus (Eph 1:15-23):

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might, that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

God, I pray for wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him, that the eyes of my heart would be enlightened to know the hope to which you have called me and the glorious riches of the inheritance I have through the forgiveness of my sins through Jesus Christ. That I would act upon the wisdom given by you and not of this world. And know the surpassing power and greatness of God the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (2 Cor 12:9)