Sermon: Confounding the wise

 1 Corinthians 1:27-29: "God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the strong; God has chosen the low things of the world and the despised things of the world, and things that are not, to nullify things that are, so that no one may boast before God."

-------------------------------- 

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." --Isaiah 55:8-9

This verse highlights the vast difference between God's perspective and our own. It emphasizes that our limited human understanding cannot fully grasp God's infinite wisdom and plan.  

--------------------------------------------

Here are 20 biblical references where God employs unconventional or unusual means to achieve victory in battle:

Old Testament

1. Exodus 14:21-31: God parts the Red Sea to allow the Israelites to escape Pharaoh's army, then drowns the Egyptians.
2. Joshua 6:1-21: The walls of Jericho collapse after the Israelites march around the city seven times, blowing trumpets.
3. Judges 7:1-25: Gideon's army of 300 men defeats an enemy force of 135,000 with the help of pitchers, torches, and trumpets.
4. Judges 15:15-17: Samson uses the jawbone of a donkey to slay 1,000 Philistines.
5. 1 Samuel 17:40-51: David, a shepherd boy, defeats the giant Goliath with a sling and a stone.
6. 2 Kings 19:35: An angel of the Lord strikes down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in a single night.
7. 2 Chronicles 20:22-24: The Lord causes the enemy armies to fight amongst themselves, leading to their defeat.

New Testament

8. Matthew 8:23-27: Jesus calms a storm on the Sea of Galilee.
9. Luke 10:17-20: The 70 disciples return from their mission, rejoicing that demons are subject to them in Jesus' name.
10. Acts 12:6-11: An angel delivers Peter from prison.
11. Acts 16:25-26: Paul and Silas sing praises to God while imprisoned, causing an earthquake to free them.
12. Acts 27:37-44: A shipwrecked Paul and his companions survive a storm and shipwreck.

General References to God's Power and Sovereignty

13. Psalm 33:8-9: "Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him! For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm."  
14. Psalm 46:1-3: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea."  
15. Isaiah 40:12-14: "Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or weighed the mountains in scales? He has comprehended the dust of the earth by measure. He has weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance."
16. Jeremiah 32:17: "Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you."  
17. Daniel 2:21: "He changes the times and the seasons; he removes kings and establishes kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and understanding to the discerning."
18. Romans 1:20: "Since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse."  
19. 1 Corinthians 1:27-29: "God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the strong; God has chosen the low things of the world and the despised things of the world, and things that are not, to nullify things that are, so that no one may boast before God."  
20. Revelation 19:11-16: Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, returns on a white horse, leading the armies of heaven to victory.

These references highlight God's ability to use unexpected and unconventional means to achieve His purposes, demonstrating His sovereignty and power.

--------------------------------

 1 Corinthians 1:27-29: A Theological Perspective

Understanding the Context

Paul is writing to the Corinthian church, a church known for its divisions and pride. In this passage, he is addressing the church's tendency to boast about their wisdom and worldly accomplishments. He asserts that God's way of doing things is often counterintuitive to human understanding.

Key Theological Themes

    Divine Paradox: God often works in ways that seem illogical or contradictory to human wisdom. He chooses the weak, the foolish, and the despised to confound the proud and powerful. This paradox highlights God's sovereignty and the limitations of human understanding.

    Humility and Dependence: The passage emphasizes the importance of humility. By choosing the unlikely, God reminds us that our success is not solely dependent on our own abilities or efforts. Instead, it is a gift from God.

    God's Sovereignty: The passage underscores God's absolute sovereignty. He is the ultimate source of power and wisdom, and He can use anyone or anything to accomplish His purposes.

    Salvation by Grace: This passage aligns with the broader theme of salvation by grace in the New Testament. God's choice of the unlikely is a reminder that salvation is not earned through human merit but is a gift freely given by God.

Application

This passage challenges us to re-evaluate our understanding of success and power. It reminds us that true wisdom and strength come from God, not from worldly accomplishments. By embracing humility and dependence on God, we can experience the fullness of His grace and blessing.

In essence, 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 teaches us that God's ways are not our ways, and that His power is most evident in the unlikely.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Limitations of Human Understanding

Human understanding, while remarkable, is inherently limited. These limitations arise from various factors:
Cognitive Constraints:

    Finite Capacity: Our brains have finite processing power and memory, limiting the amount of information we can process and retain.
    Cognitive Biases: We are prone to cognitive biases, such as confirmation bias, availability heuristic, and anchoring bias, which can distort our perceptions and judgments.
    Emotional Influences: Our emotions can significantly impact our thinking and decision-making, leading to irrational or biased judgments.

Sensory Limitations:

    Perception Boundaries: Our senses have limitations in terms of range, sensitivity, and accuracy, restricting our perception of the world.
    Subjectivity: Our perceptions are subjective, influenced by our individual experiences, beliefs, and expectations.

Conceptual Constraints:

    Language and Culture: Our understanding is shaped by the language and culture we grow up in, which can limit our perspectives and interpretations.
    Theoretical Frameworks: The theories and frameworks we use to understand the world can also limit our understanding, as they may be incomplete or inaccurate.

Philosophical Constraints:

    The Mystery of Existence: Some questions about the nature of reality, consciousness, and the universe may be beyond the reach of human understanding.
    The Limits of Reason: Reason, while powerful, may not be able to provide answers to all questions, particularly those involving faith or spirituality.

Practical Constraints:

    Time and Resources: We have limited time and resources to explore and understand the world, which can constrain our knowledge and understanding.
    Technological Limitations: Our understanding is limited by the technology available to us, which can restrict our ability to observe, measure, and analyze phenomena.

In conclusion, while humans have made significant strides in understanding the world, our limitations are inherent and ongoing. Recognizing these limitations is essential for humility, critical thinking, and a deeper appreciation for the complexity and mystery of the universe.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

profile picture

The Mystery of Existence: Some questions about the nature of reality,

consciousness, and the universe may be beyond the reach of human

understanding.
The Mystery of Existence: Beyond Human Comprehension

The nature of reality, consciousness, and the universe are among the most profound and enduring questions that have puzzled philosophers, scientists, and theologians for millennia. Many of these questions may simply be beyond the grasp of human understanding.
Why is there something rather than nothing?

This is perhaps the most fundamental question about existence. Why does the universe exist at all? Is there a ultimate cause or purpose? Or is existence simply a given?
What is consciousness?

Consciousness, the subjective experience of being, is one of the greatest mysteries of science. How does the physical brain give rise to subjective experiences? Is consciousness a fundamental property of the universe, or is it an emergent property of complex systems?  

What is the nature of reality?

Is reality objective and independent of our perception, or is it subjective and shaped by our minds? Are we living in a simulation, or is the universe a fundamental reality?
What is the purpose of life?

Is there a grand purpose to human existence, or is life ultimately meaningless? If there is a purpose, how can we discover it?
Is there a God or higher power?

The question of God's existence has been debated for centuries. Is there a supernatural being or force that created and governs the universe? Or is the universe a product of natural laws and processes?  

These questions, among others, may simply be beyond the reach of human understanding. Our cognitive limitations, the complexity of the universe, and the nature of consciousness itself may prevent us from ever fully grasping the ultimate nature of reality.

While we may never fully comprehend the mystery of existence, the pursuit of understanding can be a rewarding and inspiring journey in itself.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Conundrums: Puzzles with a Twist

Conundrums are a type of riddle or puzzle that often involve a play on words or a clever twist in logic. They can be tricky to solve due to their unexpected nature and reliance on wordplay or double meanings.

Here's a simple example:

What has an eye but cannot see?A needle

Here's a more complex one:

I have cities, but no houses; I have mountains, but no trees; I have water, but no fish. What am I? A map

Key characteristics of conundrums:

• Wordplay: They often rely on puns, homonyms, or other linguistic devices.
• Unexpected twists: The solution is often surprising and unexpected.
• Logical reasoning: While they involve wordplay, they also require logical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Fun and challenging: Conundrums can be a fun and engaging way to test your wit and creativity.

Would you like to try solving a conundrum?

------------------------------------------

Examples of Logic

Logic is the study of reasoning, arguments, and the validity of inference. Here are some examples of logical reasoning:

Deductive Reasoning:

    Syllogisms:
        All humans are mortal.
        Socrates is human.
        Therefore, Socrates is mortal.
    Modus Ponens:
        If it rains, the ground gets wet.
        It is raining.
        Therefore, the ground is wet.
    Modus Tollens:
        If it rains, the ground gets wet.
        The ground is not wet.
        Therefore, it is not raining.

Inductive Reasoning:

    Generalizing from observations:
        All swans I've seen are white.
        Therefore, all swans are white. (This is a classic example of inductive reasoning, which can be flawed if there are exceptions.)
    Predicting future events based on past patterns:
        The sun has risen every day in the past.
        Therefore, the sun will rise tomorrow.

Abductive Reasoning (Inference to the Best Explanation):

    Detectives using clues to solve a crime:
        A witness saw a person with a red hat leaving the crime scene.
        The victim was found with a red hair strand.
        Therefore, the person with the red hat is likely the suspect.

Informal Logic:

    Analogies:
        Life is like a journey.
    Fallacies:
        Ad hominem: Attacking the person making the argument instead of addressing the argument itself.
        Straw man: Misrepresenting an opponent's argument to make it easier to attack.   

        False dilemma: Presenting only two options as if they were the only possibilities.

These are just a few examples of logical reasoning. Logic is a vast field with many different approaches and applications.

---------------------------------------------------

 

 

Murphy's Law is a humorous adage that states: "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong." It's often used to describe the tendency for things to go awry, especially when it seems like everything is going well.  

Here are some examples of Murphy's Law in action:

• Technology: You're about to give a presentation when your laptop battery dies.
• Everyday life: You spill coffee on your favorite shirt just before an important meeting.  
• Travel: Your flight gets delayed or canceled just as you're about to board.
• Projects: A seemingly simple task turns out to be much more complicated than expected.  

Essentially, Murphy's Law suggests that unexpected problems and setbacks are a common part of life. It's often used to convey a sense of frustration or resignation in the face of adversity.

------------------------------------------------------

 

5 Examples of Illogical Conclusions

Here are 5 examples of illogical conclusions,

 often known as fallacies:

    False Dilemma: Presenting only two options as if they were the only possibilities when in reality, there are more.
        Example: "You're either with us or against us."

    Slippery Slope: Arguing that a small action will inevitably lead to a chain of negative events, often without sufficient evidence.
        Example: "If we allow same-sex marriage, next thing you know, people will be marrying animals."

    Ad Hominem: Attacking the person making the argument instead of addressing the argument itself.
        Example: "You can't trust her opinion because she's a Democrat."

    Straw Man: Misrepresenting an opponent's argument to make it easier to attack.
        Example: "He wants to ban all guns. That means we'll be defenseless against criminals."

    Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc: Assuming that because one event follows another, the first event caused the second.
        Example: "I wore my lucky socks and won the game. Therefore, my lucky socks caused me to win."

 

------------------------

 

The Darwin Awards: A Controversial Concept

The Darwin Awards are a humorous, often controversial, concept that recognizes individuals who have died in a particularly stupid or self-destructive manner, thereby removing themselves from the gene pool. The idea is that by eliminating these individuals, the human species is "evolving" in a positive direction.

Please note: The Darwin Awards are often criticized for being insensitive and potentially harmful. While they may be intended as a cautionary tale, they can also be seen as mocking individuals who have made tragic mistakes. It's important to approach this topic with empathy and respect.

Here are 10 examples of Darwin Award-worthy incidents (please note that these stories may be fictional or exaggerated):

1. The Man Who Tried to Fly with a Lawn Chair: A man attached helium balloons to a lawn chair and attempted to fly. Needless to say, the experiment ended in tragedy.
   

• The Man Who Tried to Ride a Shark: A man attempted to ride a shark in shallow water, only to be fatally bitten.
•  The Man Who Tried to Defuse a Grenade with His Teeth: A man, believing he could defuse a grenade with his teeth, was tragically killed by the explosion.

• The Man Who Tried to Rob a Bank with a Toy Gun: A man attempted to rob a bank using a toy gun, unaware that the bank teller was armed and trained. 

•   The Man Who Tried to Ride a Tornado: A man attempted to ride a tornado on a motorcycle, only to be swept away and killed.

 

• The Man Who Tried to Drink Gasoline: A man, believing gasoline would give him a buzz, drank a large quantity of gasoline and died.
•  
• The Man Who Tried to Take a Selfie with a Bear: A man attempted to take a selfie with a bear, only to be attacked and killed.
•  
• The Man Who Tried to Swim in a Crocodile-Infested River: A man, believing he could outswim crocodiles, attempted to swim across a river known for its dangerous reptile population.
•  
• The Man Who Tried to Climb a Tree with a Chainsaw: A man, believing he could climb a tree with a chainsaw, was tragically injured.
•  
• The Man Who Tried to Drive a Car Underwater: A man, believing his car was waterproof, attempted to drive it across a river, only to drown.