The Foolishness of the Wise

Yesterday morning, news spread quickly that Jesus' family tombs were discovered outside of Jerusalem. The finding is part of a documentary by James Cameron, the director of the blockbuster Titanic. Unnamed statisticians in the article estimate that the odds are "in the range of a couple of million to one" that the tombs belonged to Jesus of Nazareth, his wife, and children.

Just before I logged into the news that day, I read the following verses in I Corinthians:

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God . . . . Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

. . . . For God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom and God's weakness is stronger than human strength.

It seems that Mr. Cameron and his crew have embraced the wisdom of the world and in the end their findings will look very foolish.

As many scholars are pointing out, the names Jesus, James, Mary, Judah were commonplace in the 1st century. What Cameron has discovered is as impressive as someone in the year 4007 discovering the graves of John, James, Michael, Mary in Dallas or Atlanta. Not really groundbreaking.

But the statisticians say the odds of the grave belonging to the historical Jesus are a couple million to one. This seems impressive, until one realizes that the historical Jesus (who they are proving existed) fulfilled approximately 300 prophecies spoken hundreds of years before his lifetime. Peter Stoner's book Science Speaks says, "the change that any man might have lived down to the present time and fulfilled all eight prophecies is 1 in 10 to the 17th power." That is 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000. Further, Jesus fulfilled hundreds of Old Testament prophecies, not just eight. A powerful illustration of the foolish message of salvation compared to the logical, rational wisdom of the world.

So what?

In light of this development, what is a Christian to do? I jokingly called my mom when the news broke and told her we were moving back because the seminary had closed its doors. On Sunday, March 4th, the Discovery Channel is going to air a documentary about the discovered tomb. I suggest that Christ followers read the ultimate truth on this earth, God's Word, while the documentary is on the air. We should also pray for Mr. Cameron and the people who watch the program that the eternal truth of the empty tomb would pierce their hearts and lives. This would be much more meaningful and effective than protesting the channel or watching to point out the inaccuracies.

Let those of us who have experienced the saving power of the cross take this opportunity to live by our faith and join God in His mission to make wise the foolish and expose the foolishness of the world's wise.

A Special Note for Our Family & Friends

We've been in Dallas for over six weeks now. The one thing Heather and I have realized is how much we miss the people that live where we used to. I've never moved away from every support structure I have (church, work, family, familiarity, etc). And we have spent many hours reminiscing about our home church, our friends, our family, my men's group.

So all this to say we love you and we miss you. And thank you for putting flesh on Paul's opening words in Philippians:

"I thank my God every time I remember you" (Philippians 1.3)

And hey, while you're here register your email so you know when I post new thoughts in real time.

The Great Commission Fulfilled?

On Monday, I got to hear Andy Stanley of NorthPoint Community Church speak at a conference about church ministry and leadership. He is an amazing communicator with insightful guidance into ministry. One of his controversial practices at NorthPoint is to take the church staff through leading business books. They have only read one or two spiritual books since the church was founded in the mid-90's.

A lot of people have criticized this approach by saying it is not spiritual or its too corporate minded. But Stanley shared a very powerful response:

"Coca-Cola has been in business for just over 100 years . . . and they have already fulfilled their great commission. The church has been around for 2,000 years and we have not."

"Maybe they just have more at stake than we do."

When he said that, the room was silent for five, ten seconds. It was a palpable silence - one you could feel.

In my missions class, I am learning that while many hundreds of thousands of missionaries have given up everything - including their lives - there are still thousands of unreached people groups around the world representing hundreds of millions of people who are lost. For eternity. Without hope.

And the church is just not as focused on its core mission as many corporations are. Those that worship the dollar have expanded their kingdom and we have not. And I would suggest that it is because we are often times focused on eating our own because they aren't "spiritual" enough, Biblical enough, or not enough like us.

And in the end, the world suffers. They have Coke but they cannot have the life to the fullest that Christ died to bring us.

So let's embrace principles that work to share the Greatest News with a hungry world. And stop criticizing those at the cross who are different.

What Tastes Good

I recently heard the following quote attributed to Oprah:
"Nothing tastes as good as being thin feels."

She has obviously never experienced a fresh Reese's Peanut Butter Cup!

Quick update on Fat Tuesday - I'm giving up chocolate for Lent. Pray for me!