Are We Idiots Or Are We Wise?

I just saw an Indian movie called "3 idiots."  They were called as such because they always challenged the norm, specially that of the teaching and learning methods in their engineering school.  Due to the protagonist's "against the tide" influence, they would always get into all sorts of trouble specially with their school director. And so, most often they would be called idiots because of their mischiefs and radical views.  At the end, they all followed their hearts and became fulfilled in the road they took in following their passion. They were the wise ones after all.

Technically, an idiot is a term used for someone who does not have the mental capicity over the age of a 3 year old. It pertains to a foolish person. I am reminded of what the Bible says about man's wisdom compared to God's foolishness.

For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength (1 Cor. 1:25).

This means that no matter what kind of invention, discovery, or theory man has achieved over the centuries, God's foolishness is still wiser.  But where can God's wisdom be found? Little do we realize that we have been gifted such, His Word, the Bible.

You may be an intellectual or someone this world calls a genius.  You may have read tons of pages and mastered your field and have several Phd degrees. Yet, have you been wise enough to study the source of true wisdom?  Just relate this to the amount of time spent you read on other books as compared to the time you take in understanding the Bible.

To be an idiot in God's eyes would not be to take His advice through his Spirit inspired Holy Bible.  I recall many days when I failed to consult Scripture.  I thought I was wise enough and strong enough, that I did not bother with His wisdom. Oh how I miserably failed!

But following God's wisdom goes "against the tide." We'll get in trouble. We'll be called idiots.  Try being pro-life and others will tell you that you're crazy not to use a condom, and you're trying too hard to go natural. Try not to be corrupt in the workplace, and you'll be branded "hindi marunong makisama or mahirap kausap (not easy to get along with or hard to deal with)." Try staying pure before marriage and you'll be teased as if being virgin is a curse.

Let us choose to be wise in the eyes of God and be willing "idiots" in the eyes of men for the sake of Christ and His righteousness. In the end, the rewards in heaven will surpass even our own imaginations.  Then will we realize that we weren't idiots after all.

Are You Crazy?

Today, I was going around the venue of the 13th IKV to catch up with friends, coordinators, and fellow missionaries whom I haven't seen in months. Most of them hosted me while I went on mission to their country or province in the past 3 years.  Some are new friends who share the same exciting vision for God's work of spreading His mission.  While talking to them, I can't help but feel inspired and energized that there are many "crazy" people out there, like me, who believe in giving their all to bring Christ to new territories.  Crazy is what we might seem to many of our friends and even kin. Crazy for putting in so much of our time and resources to do something that may not enrich us financially.  Crazy for devoting ourselves to a way of life that may cause us to be ridiculed in school or in the workplace. Crazy for committing our lives to Jesus Christ.


But we are reminded by the words of St. Paul, "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God (1 Cor. 3:19). We therefore have to choose; to look crazy before man or to look crazy before God? 


Let us take on this challenge to be righteous before God even if it means to look foolish to the world.  As long as we continue evangelizing, soon enough, inch by inch, step by step, one person at a time, being "crazy" would eventually mean not to accept Jesus as your personal Savior.