Nye, Ham, and the Foolish Gospel

We watched the Nye/Ham debate live.  It was a wonderful evening.  We were joined for dinner and the debate by a new friend from just down the street and old friends from Phoenix whom we hadn't seen in 20 years.

I thought that Bill Nye seemed crisp and quicker while Ken Ham seemed tired and slower.  At first this saddened me.  But then I remembered Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 1:

For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.”

Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. (v. 18-21, NASB)

There really is no way to dress up the gospel in a slick presentation without killing the gospel.  The message of a crucified Carpenter will always seem foolish to those who are perishing.  Ken Ham delivered the gospel.  And although Christianity does have speakers and debaters whose skills exceed Ken's, he was the Lord's pick for this night and this debate.  Perhaps because of, and not in spite of, his weaknesses.