Scripture: 1 Cor 1:18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Biblical wisdom isn’t very welcome. Take a stand for righteousness, and the woke crowd quickly attacks you. It wasn’t very different in Paul’s day. He was basically laughed off of Mars Hill when he preached the Gospel and argued against false religions. The learned and educated thought their principles and ideas were higher than the foolishness of a savior who would come to earth to die for others’ sins.
One of the world’s tactics in maintaining control is to censure people by portraying them as foolish and unenlightened. It happens in governments, education, social circles, and playing fields. If they can sway the opinion of the crowd against you, it prevents them from considering the argument and allows them to continue on in ignorant bliss.
The worst thing you can do is try to impress or reason with them. Their whole schtick is to maintain their air of moral superiority. Sadly, so many Christians have diverted from their faith and the power behind it by trying to appeal to these people. They try the ” loving your neighbor ” approach, where they do good things and hope to win them over with love. What ends up happening is that these people just use them. They also try witty arguing or impassioned testimony as a way to win them over. While none of these tactics are wrong and the Holy Spirit can work through them to win hearts, much of the motive behind these acts is a desperate plea for acceptance and approval, which they will never give, even if you completely come to their side. Their objective is to always see themselves above others, and you are a willing victim.
Jesus never operated like this. Sure, He healed everyone who came to him and fed anyone who was in the crowd, but He didn’t do it to impress or win approval. He did it to show the power of God, and THAT is the only thing that can impact a person’s heart and transform them forever. He willingly looked foolish in the eyes of the power brokers, even though he destroyed them in every debate and shamed them in the eyes of the people, because the Gospel’s power is God giving us what we don’t deserve.
Most Christians lose their witness because they think if they look foolish, then people won’t listen to them. Jesus didn’t worry about looking foolish because He knew where the power lay. Worldly wisdom is based on selfishness, and the Gospel is based on self-sacrifice on the part of Jesus. Stop trying to impress people. Fan the flame of your faith so high that the power of God works through you to the people God brings you.
The choice is clear in Scripture but difficult to implement. We love our friends and family and don’t want to see them going to hell. On top of that, we like hanging out with them. Gospel conversations are important, and you should always try to talk to them about Jesus, but never get caught up in the vicious cycle of trying to win their approval. Pray for the Holy Spirit to move on their hearts, serve them when the opportunity presents itself, and let your witness be so loud in your actions that when you share with them, the testimony will be undeniable. Most importantly trust God to do the heavy lifting.
Chuck Musselwhite 
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