Are You Willing to Be Viewed As Strange?

The other day as I was going to work, I saw a clown walking into the Children’s Hospital.  She had on a garishly frilly red, white, blue, and green patchwork quilt dress and a straw hat topped with a large plastic flower.   In her right hand was a small children’s metal Strawberry Shortcake lunchbox.  It was obvious that everyone was noticing her.  How could they not?

The clown was one of the many volunteers who visit the ailing children at Children’s Hospital.  She, like the other clowns, had to overcome her discomfort at drawing attention to herself by appearing in public in ludicrous clothing.  She, at least, would have the comfort of knowing that the people who were looking at her understood why she was doing this.

Christians who strictly adhere to the biblical understanding (worldview) will often be thought to be odd, backward, or unsophisticated when they do not conform to the prevailing customs of their surrounding culture. Sometimes they will be accused of being fools, or worse, “haters.”  As I have stated before, we really are different and they really do not understand.  

Some believers, such as Isaiah, Hosea, John the Baptist, Francis of Assisi, Procopius, Basil Fool for Christ, John the Hairy, Grisha, and many others have carried out seemingly ridiculous actions to draw attention to the faith.  Some, like the Yurodivy (Holy Fools) of Eastern Orthodoxy, have intentionally carried the idea to what many would consider to be extreme.  All of these people have been aware that they are perceived as “strange.”  They value the opinion of the Lord more than they value the opinions of man.

Are you willing to be viewed as strange?  Are you willing to be a Fool for Christ?

“We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.” 1 Corinthians 4:10

“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.” 1 Corinthians 3:19

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18

“For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”  1 Corinthians 1:21

Stupidity

    This post, originally published on 22 April 2011, was enlarged, and updated on 24 January 2026.

    Does anyone understand what Pope John Paul II was talking about when he said, "Stupidity is also a gift of God, but one mustn't misuse it."  Does anyone know the context within which this was said and the source of the quotation?  All I can find is the quoted sentence, repeated over and over again.

    What I believe the Pope might have meant was that we must sometimes do things which go against the current common culture. The outside world, those not part of the Body of Christ, may, and probably will, think we are foolish or even stupid. Some will find us to be offensive. When absolutely necessary, we must not back down.

    There was a historical movement of persons called Fools for Christ, some of whom bordered on the bizarre, acting in ways the world considered to be insane or nonsensical. They often adopted extreme asceticism and voluntary poverty, openly challenging many societal customs. To the world they appeared to be foolish.

    The "foolishness of the gospel" refers to 1 Corinthians 1:18-25.  The world considers the concept of a crucified savior to be absurd and offensive. They insist that they have no need for salvation or that, if they do need salvation, they can do it for themselves.

    The Pope's statement may have meant that we should not be afraid of being thought to be foolish, but we should not intentionally offend or provoke.