Just When You Thought You'd Heard It All . . .

People find new ways to distort the gospel. David Nelson of SEBTS explains why this isn't just one more anecdotal excuse to complain about the 21st century American church. It's really about how we view the gospel. The gospel is supposed to appear as foolishness. It's not supposed to be attractive to the unregenerate mind.

Here's his key thought:

The Easter Bunny whipping may be an extreme example, but it reflects the too frequent use of silly promotions and kitsch programs that appear foolish to the world not because of the cross, but because they are indeed foolish, reliant on human wisdom to the betrayal of the divine.

He precedes this conclusion with some biblical rationale:

But there is a foolishness that demands to be spoken. It is not a foolishness associated with the wisdom of the world, rather it is the foolishness associated with the wisdom of God (1 Cor 1:21-22). This is “the folly of what we preach to save those who believe” (1 Cor 1:21). It is “the foolishness of God” (1 Cor 1:25) that is rooted in the cross of Jesus Christ and the “weakness of God” that comes “in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (1 Cor 2:4) whenever the gospel of Jesus Christ is faithfully preached.

How refreshing to be reminded that the power of the gospel does not rely on the creativity or eloquence or godliness of this cracked, distorted earthen vessel.