My childhood Church memories are vivid. We sang hymns, the preacher was loud, and the people worshipped with fervor. They lifted hands, shouted praises, and prayed earnestly. Sunday School consisted of a Bible story reading from small illustrated cards and songs like “The Wise Man Built His House Upon the Rock” and “This Little Light of Mine”. There was no show of our ways of worship, no fog, and no stage lights. I remember simple, real worship springing forth from country folks who walked deeply with their Savior. The word of God was preached in power and demonstration of the Holy Spirit because our pastor didn’t have worldly wisdom or an enticing vocabulary.  

The Apostle Paul was another man who preached in this manner even though he could have used alluring language. He spoke several languages and was “a Hebrew of Hebrews-a Pharisee” who learned under Gamaliel, a known teacher of the law. Paul could speak swelling and enticing words, yet he forsook those means upon his conversion. Once the light of the gospel arrested his heart, Paul conveyed in his writings a willingness to follow Jesus. He expressed that he put his past behind him and pressed toward the mark of his high calling. With churches to establish and the gospel to preach, Paul seemed to depend on the Spirit of God rather than his earthly education.

Paul did not mince words but made his point clear in I Corinthians 2. He did not come to the Corinthians with excellent speech or wisdom when he declared the testimony of God. Paul didn’t want to know their business but wanted to preach Jesus Christ who had been crucified. He came in weakness, fear, and trembling. No enticing words of man’s wisdom fell from Paul’s lips, rather he came in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. He told the Corinthians their faith should not stand in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

County folk in the 70s didn’t have eloquent speech and a worldly vocabulary, but they had the Spirit of God within them and the mind of Christ to lead them. Paul didn’t need worldly speech or enticing words to draw people to Jesus. He needed God’s power through the Holy Spirit and the mind of Christ. What worked for past Saints and the Apostle Paul will work for believers today. I don’t believe we need worldly ways to worship, but we simply need the Spirit of God, the Word of God, and the mind of Christ.  Perhaps, having the power of God empowers us to stand and express our faith.

That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 

1 Corinthians 2:5