Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? … For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.” I Corinthians 1:20-25
If you can't count on the dead staying dead then what foolishness is next?
Anything. Anything is possible.
How about experiencing God's acceptance and forgiveness in the midst of our messy lives –without being perfect. Yes!
How about people we would never expect empowered by God to bring healing and reconciliation in our families, our city our world? Yes!
How about taking off the armor dropping our weapons living more vulnerably more open handed? Yes!
And how about death as the path to new life for us? That sounds like crazy talk but God's is not interested in cosmetic changes but inside out makeovers. We had a house years ago that wasn't really working for us and clearly was not going to work with the arrival of our third child, Luke. So we set about planning a remodel. Problem was the house already had a couple of self-improvements before we bought it and between wacky roof lines, different levels and where the bearing walls were located all our ideas to improve our house would not work. Finally, our architect said the only way this is going to work for your family is to tear it down and build new—same address new house.
The resurrection foolishness says God has the power to make you and me new—not your old self trying to be better but a radical break with what was and entering into the new authentically you you-- not by your grit and strength but saying yes to that resurrection power. Risking that as we trust the One who soaked up all our brokenness—all that would disqualify us from being with God and put it to death along with himself on the cross—that that One will transform us and bring new freedom.
Foolishness? To let go like that? A wise person once said, "One is no fool who gives up what they cannot hold to gain what they cannot lose."
Living requires dying. Foolishness! But dying is swallowed up by resurrection so anything is possible. Aligned with the Risen Lord, the sky is the limit.
The foolishness of God challenges us. The resurrection challenges us: How expansive of a reality are we going to live in?
Are you going to play it safe or foolish? After all, Christ is risen.., He is risen indeed!