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Dear Friends and Family,

For centuries many have espoused the value of a university education; encouraging the best and brightest to attain the wisdom the world values. However, I’d argue this isn’t the place to go to develop wisdom – knowledge perhaps, but not wisdom. If it were, why would one of the world’s “so-called” preeminent universities change its motto from Veritas Christo et Ecclesiae (Truth for Christ and the Church) to simply Veritas (Truth)?

Paul warns against placing too much faith in the world’s wisdom. Doing so causes us weak and foolish humans to boast of our wisdom and abilities – forgetting these all come from God (1 Corinthians 1:28-31), His gifts to us. 

An example of God’s perfect wisdom flying in the face of the world’s foolishness – Jesus’ Beatitudes. (Matthew 5:1-12) Jesus calls all who recognize their poverty in spirit, grieve the sin in the world, seek to meekly serve others, desire nothing above understanding God’s will, show unbridled mercy to everyone, seek to make peace with all, and willingly suffer for Him … “blessed.”

In contrast, the world – both sides of the aisle, as headlines painfully show – without regard for God, too often lauds and praises those exerting unbridled power over the weak and defenseless. It frequently strives to get possession of things they hope will ensure their security. It regularly and willfully subjects “the other” to pain and suffering until they capitulate to the “seat-of-power’s” will.

Jesus taught a much different way to His followers, His disciples. As God’s divine Son, He most certainly could’ve destroyed His enemies in an unrelenting hail of literal fire and brimstone. However, He chose differently, defeating His enemies by suffering and dying on His “foolish” cross – that God’s power might show itself in His love, His mercy, His grace. He calls us to return to Him – rejecting the world’s wisdom as He freely forgives us our reliance on it – then grants us strength to live in His truth, in His Body – His church … humbly, obediently serving Him while bearing our “foolish” crosses, awaiting His glorious return. 

                                                                                        In Christ’s Love,

                                                                                        Pastor Jim