That's Just Foolishness

"Charlie was a fool, did you hear what he went and did?

He quit his job, threw it away, gave his life to a bunch of kids

He said he was in love with Jesus

But his friends called him a fool..."  -Geoff Moore

A few days ago I was in a drug store standing in line to pay, and in front of me was a man and little boy, who I assumed were grandfather and grandson.  The little boy was maybe 4 years old and was rather rambunctious, and the grandpa had put up with all he was going to take. He finally grabbed the boy by the arm and said these words: "Will you quit acting the fool, for christ's  sake!" I was immediately struck by the irony of those words.  Let me tell you why.

I knew a guy back in 1980s who graduated with honors from a fine institution of higher learning in North Carolina.  He went on to get his master's degree in engineering, and could have had his pick of prestigious, high-paying jobs.  Instead, he answered the call of a small Quaker church that needed a youth pastor. His parents and friends were stunned.  Giving up all of that money to be a youth pastor.  Seemed foolish to them, but he heard the call of Christ.  He served that church for several years, eventually going back to engineering.  But to this day he is still a volunteer youth worker at his church.

I knew a school teacher who was sitting in worship one Sunday morning when she heard a voice speak to her, telling her to go to Belize and be a missionary.  She had never considered mission work, and had no idea where (or even what!) Belize was.  Seemed like a very foolish idea.  So she went.

I had a friend who was the general manager of a large car dealership. She was very successful and very good at what she did.  She began teaching bible study and volunteering with the youth ministry at her church, and began to feel Jesus pulling on her heart, calling her to do something that seemed foolish to so many around her.  She eventually quit her job, went back to school, and took a position on staff at the church. She is now an ordained United Methodist minister, a Senior Pastor who LOVES her work and her congregation.  

I met a guy in the mid 1990s who was in central Florida supervising the installation of the industrial sprinkler system in a new Walt Disney World resort hotel.  He was the chief engineer on the project, and was making the big bucks. He also was a great volunteer with our student ministry.  He left when the job was done, but returned to the area soon afterwards to do similar work at Raymond James Stadium here in Tampa. A bit later the pastor at his home church asked him if he would be interested in becoming their full-time youth pastor.  Seemed like a foolish question to ask.  And "yes" seemed like a foolish answer.  But when Jesus calls you, it is not about being normal- or even sane.  It's about following him.

We love in a world where most people seek to live normal lives.  They want regular jobs that pay as much money as possible.  They want 9-5 hours and pension plans and health insurance.  Why would people like the ones above give up security and normalcy for lives that seem to be a step down to much of society?  Why would they make changes that cause friends and family to question their sanity?  Why would we follow Jesus and love everyone including our enemies, turn the other cheek and care more about others than we do about ourselves?  To do that, you'd have to be some kind of fool... for Christ's sake.

Because of Jesus,