"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." 1COR 1:18
"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those of us who are being saved it is the power of God."
In an annual rite of celebrating the Christmas spirit the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, normally put up Christmas trees in its two libraries. This little bit of color of and decoration would normally be something to put joy and a sweet sigh into the hearts of the library patrons as it had since 1984 in the Davis Library and for 30 years in the in the Wilson Library.
Wouldn't you know it--every Christmas has a Grinch. This one came in the form of an associate provost Sarah Michalak who said "It doesn't seem right to celebrate any particular set of customs", along with at least a dozen library employees who complained that the Christmas trees were not inclusive enough, and should not be put up this year. There hadn't been any complaints, just the "intellectual viewpoint" of those informed librarians.
The Chancellor of UNC clarified that each department is allowed to formulate their own policy, which is very democratic and liberal. He received positive comments in that regard. At least 40 negative e-mails were received regarding the Christmas tree ban from students.
The knee jerk reaction in our society is hollow out the Christian influence where ever possible: take away the prayer in school, ban the creche at the town square, take away the ten commandments at the court-house, ban singing Christmas carols all the while adding recognition and rights to diverse cultures and faiths.
God told us that he would destroy the wisdom of the wise. Their intelligence has become meaningless, because they will defend the freedom of speech for example until there is no freedom left, without recognizing that without the compassion and acceptance that comes from Christ there is no freedom.
In the time of the Apostle Paul it was the Gentile philosophers and the Jewish scholars whose wisdom God intended to destroy, because none of it led to the message of the cross, and the power of Christ crucified.
"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing." Sadly, not too much has changed in 2000 years. Those who really would benefit from Christ's message, cut it off at every opportunity, thinking that to include Him in today's world is anti-intellectual. Actually, the reverse is true, not acknowledging Christ in your world is like not acknowledging the sun. Without Him, the creator of the world, and all things in it, you would not exist. That's anti-intellectual.
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