Welcome to this week’s Midweek Musings! In Sanctuary this week we looked at, and reflected on, the idea of being a fool for Christ. This is an idea explored by the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:18-31. Click on the link here to read the whole passage: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 NIV – Christ Crucified Is God’s Power and – Bible Gateway
The words ‘fool’ and ‘foolishness’ loom large in the above passage. According to my trusty dictionary, ‘fool’ is a word used to describe someone who acts unwisely; a silly person; a jester or a clown, especially one retained in a royal household. Another use of the word describes a morris dancer who dresses as a pantomime dame and waves a pig’s bladder around on a stick.
The word can also be used as a verb meaning to trick or deceive someone. Overall, the word ‘fool’ is used in a negative way, so it is strange that Paul, knowing this, would exhort believers to be fools.
Our definition also refers to jester’s and, in advertising this month’s Sanctuary, you will have seen that I used the image of a jester’s cap. The jester was a professional fool said to have played a dynamic role in entertaining aristocratic households through songs, music, storytelling, satire, and comedy. The jester’s privilege was the freedom given to them to talk and mock freely without being punished and, as such, they were given protection under the law. In medieval times the court jester could nudge the mightiest power in the land to do the right thing.
As part of our time together we heard an adaptation of a poem called ‘The Fool’s Prayer’ by Edward Rowland Sill, beautifully performed by Richard – thanks Rich. If you would like to look at this again, the full and original poem can be found here: The Fool’s Prayer, by Edward Rowland Sill (poetry-archive.com)
I would like to share this story before we finish. Once upon a time (because all the best stories start that way) I heard Jeff Lucas speaking at One Event in Lincoln. Over the years I’ve had the pleasure of listening to him speak on many occasions – He’s an entertaining and amusing speaker with a powerful ministry. On this particular occasion, he spotted his friend Gerald Coates in the front row, and this sent Jeff off at a tangent. Jeff told us that he’d found that using humour in his ministry was an effective teaching tool, and something he’d developed over time. Then, one fateful day, he’d attended a conference and Gerald, spotting him there, called him up onto the platform. As the musicians quietly played, Gerald produced a jester’s hat, complete with bells, and stuck it on Jeff’s head. People started laughing, but Jeff said he just stood there, angry and embarrassed. Gerald then prophesied that because Jeff had been willing to be a fool for Christ, he would find God opening doors for his ministry.
Jeff concluded this story by coming to the front of the stage and screaming at the thousands of people sat there ‘My name is Jeff, and I’m a fool!’ The words hit me like a truck. They were bittersweet words, full of emotion, power and sacrifice. They made an indelible impression on me.
To sum up then, We’ve looked at dictionaries, Jester’s, and Corinthians, and we’ve heard from Jeff Lucas. I’d also like to thank those who we heard from on Sunday who shared what they felt God was saying – I love to hear people come out to share their testimony. If, perchance, you would like to study fools in more detail, I’ve provided some links below. To conclude this week’s musings then, I have a question, and please don’t take this the wrong way, but what kind of fool are you?
Foolishness for Christ – Wikipedia
