“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. For it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.’ Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.” I For 1:18-21

“For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools… And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.” Romans 1:21-22, 28.

Although we should always stand strong for the Word of God and proclaim it boldly, we should not be surprised that some, who are perishing due to their rebellion against God, will think it foolish. In fact, we should use discernment to not cast the pearls of Truth before those who have absolutely no interest in hearing it but rather just want to turn and trample the Truth (Matthew 7:6). These are people who, although knowing about God through the knowledge implanted in all when created and the clear external evidences of God, suppress this Truth and choose unrighteousness (Romans 1:18-20). Claiming to be wise, they became fools. Therefore, God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to dishonor their bodies and exchange the truth of God for a lie (Romans 1:24-25). In short, God has given them over to a debased mind. The word for “debased” in the original means “unapproved”. Since they failed to approve of God, He gave them over to an unapproved mind where they now only approve of wicked deeds (Romans 1:29-32).

The world sees those who believe in Christ as foolish, but this belief is what will save Believer’s souls eternally and also from a debased mind presently. The folly of the cross is the power of God that accomplishes this. Freed from a reprobate mind, Christians no longer have to pursue wickedness but rather can pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness (I Timothy 6:11), and all that leads to a contented life here and prepares us for an eternal Heaven. In the end, God will destroy the wisdom of the worldly wise, claiming to be wise they will be shown to be fools in the end.