Paul writing to the Corinthians speaks about the wisdom of Man and compares it to God stating that it is no more than folly (1 Cor. 1.18-25). "I think therefore I am" states the well known paradigm of modernity but Paul suggests that all this thinking and wisdom is but folly in the sight of God and perhaps he is right in some respects, or at least in respect of how we live. Wisdom does not of course equate to knowledge which many presume. Modern humanity has a lot more knowledge then when Paul was writing but we have certainly not grown in wisdom over the same amount of time. If anything we constantly destroy the wisdom that we do have as a result of our well meaning friend Descartes and his "I think therefore I am".
We have operated in society and generally within the world since Descartes in the wisdom of his aphorism. We have definitely increased our knowledge base as a result but we have also decreased our wisdom quotient by even more. An understanding of society based on self and the individualism that it breeds has brought us to where we are in the world today. The epiphany of self has destroyed more lives then it has helped and has invaded wise cultures with its self esteem so as to bring everything into its own likeness. We worship this idol more than anything else in society and have placed more rules and boundaries (some of which are needed) to protect ourselves from our own greed and self. This is the folly that is our present wisdom that Paul speaks to the Corinthians about as much as he speaks to us today.
The Christian faith and its initiating spiritual history came from a group which would in today's world be label "indigenous". In keeping with the large majority of indigenous communities around the world, including our local indigenous communities, there was a greater understanding of their connection, not only to the land, but also to themselves not as individuals but as community. It is in this context that we really need to look at the social requirements laid down in for example the ten commandments (Ex. 20:1-17). These requirements that are given as "commandments" form the very necessity of community that is tied together by faith and faith alone. In the intervening space we have moved to a culture and a community that is perceived to be "more" than that which was in terms of recognition of the individual and in terms of our "civilisation" over that of the early "indigenous" cultures at the start of "civilisation".
Yet in our wisdom we have come to neglect that which our earlier ancestors revered and God blessed. We have rorted the system in much the same way the merchants in the temple plaza did that made Christ angry (Jn. 2:14-16). The merchants had turned away from community and sought only for themselves. They became pariahs on society turning what should have been a good into an extortionary experience for the worshipper. We have neglected the greater truths that are embedded in the requirements of God and allowed ourselves to be side-tracked by the miniscule. It often pertains when we come to set those in authority, we do not allow ourselves time to really think about the gifts that God has given to us and just go with who we think are popular or who will cater for our needs. Following God requires us to put aside the things we want and look to understand what God wants.
It is quite right for us to get angry and upset when we see those things that should be for the good of all being turned to political gain. It is equally right for us to get angry when in our clubs, societies, churches and voluntary associations we see people vying for position and authority without a concept of the good of all. In all that we do we need to think in terms of the commandments that have been given to us and are summed in the two Love God and Love neighbour. During our Lenten journey we need to get rid of the thoughts that promote the self and move towards Christ's requirements of treating others as our very own selves. Our wisdom is contrary to the current wisdom of the day and we should revel in the folly that people think they see knowing that it is true wisdom as we follow Christ in loving God and our neighbours no matter who they may be.
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