Friday, May 09, 2008
Fools, asses, idiots and nitwits for Christ
The Apostle Paul suggested we are to be "fools for Christ" -- not total morons.
Various branches of the faith have taken what probably was a not-well-thought-out quip by the Apostle Paul in the first place and institutionalized it, like everything else. (See "Foolishness for Christ.")
I Corinthians 4:10: "We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised." (KJV)
First, this remark comes amid something of a rant in the letter to the unruly bunch of Christians in Corinth. Paul seems exasperated in Corinthians 4.
"Fools" there is from the Greek moros. which Strong's says means "dull or stupid (as if shut up), i.e. heedless ... blockhead, (appar.) absurd. ... prob. from the base of musterion,, from a der. of muo (to shut the mouth); a secret or "mystery" (thought the idea of silence imposed by initiation into religious rites) -- mystery."
Like so much else, it takes some thinking to get at what Paul meant -- even if it was actually an offhand remark.
There are so many morons for Christ, it makes me wonder.
Moron: One deficient in judgment and good sense: ass, fool, idiot, imbecile, jackass, mooncalf, nincompoop, ninny, nitwit, simple, simpleton, softhead, tomfool. Informal: dope, gander, goose. Slang: cretin, ding-dong, dip, goof, jerk, nerd, schmo, schmuck.
Discuss!
BTW, to any who hadn't noticed, these two posts have had extended lives, with very interesting, although tedious, threads.
Amazimg Grace Notes
And especially,
"No more blood for guilt"
--ER
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m"The Message" Bible puts this spin to it:
"We're the Messiah's misfits. You might be sure of yourselves, but we live in the midst of frailties and uncertainties. You might be well-thought-of by others, but we're mostly kicked around."
"We're the Messiah's misfits. You might be sure of yourselves, but we live in the midst of frailties and uncertainties. You might be well-thought-of by others, but we're mostly kicked around."
The way I've always put it is; "Be the best kind of fool".
Probably best that I've never really been asked to define what that is, though.
Probably best that I've never really been asked to define what that is, though.
I'm reminded of the Isle of Misfits in that Christmas cartoon, and I've always felt like I belonged there.
Not to brag on my family, of who I am most proud, but several months before the President invaded Iraq there was a "Peace: Don't Go To War" rally in our city. My wife and youngest son marched and participated in the rally. (As for me, well that would have kicked my PTSD into gear big time so I wouldn't do it.)
They were jeered, called names, etc.; that is being the right kind of fool. Given the time (post 9-11) and circumstance they could also be considered misfits.
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They were jeered, called names, etc.; that is being the right kind of fool. Given the time (post 9-11) and circumstance they could also be considered misfits.
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