An Easter message from our KPMA Chair Colin Stiller
As we meditate in this season of lent on the events of the passion of our Lord, I would like to use Paul's message to the church in Corinth as recorded in 1Corinthians 1:18-25.
Christ Crucified Is God's Power and Wisdom
For the message 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; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate."
Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher 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 know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
The church in Corinth in the first century AD (in Greece) was among a flourishing and vibrant society. There were many alternate ideologies that were alive and well in this city, from belief in the Greek pantheon of gods in charge of every dimension of life, to those who espoused other forms of Greek thinking emanating from the Greek philosophers: Socrates, Plato and Aristotle to name the most well-known three. Plato was the student of Socrates, and Aristotle the student of Plato.
While it is not necessary to delve into the central teachings of these early philosophers, they did have a commonality of thought based on logic, reason and critical thinking. Critical thinking was the reason Socrates was executed with hemlock. He was said to be "corrupting the youth".
Paul's message to the church there now begins to make sense. The academics of the day could not come to believe that Jesus could possibly rise from death. This premise goes against all logic and reason. So, the experts of the day concluded that Christians were "foolish", to use Paul's words.
Yet, this lone truth (Christ rose from death) is the very Power of God. Everything else Paul knew in his extensive learning he puts aside and regards this truth to be above all else (1Cor 2:2).
We have a plethora of "experts" on any given matter in society today. Nothing much has changed with humanity. As an ecumenical Christian ministry, we stand on common ground with the simple but profound message. Christ crucified and RISEN and because of this, God's Grace is offered to all; salvation for a new life now and with the hope of eternal life with Him in heaven.
Now read our Mission Statement above and know that this parallels Paul's mission strategy. We do not need to be experts, academics grounded in logic, reason and critical thinking, just witnesses to what Jesus has done in our life.
God bless you all over this Easter period and beyond.
Colin Stiller
Chair KPMA
This is an extract from the main Kairos Newsletter for April 2026.