I know a young preacher of sorts that I came across on social media a number of years ago. He seems like he wants to be a modern-day Christian guru of sorts, like what Jay Shetty is to Buddhism. The thing about gurus is that they don’t mix well with Christianity. The idea behind a guru is that you have so much knowledge that people want access to the great wisdom that you must possess–that you and only a few select people are privy to. This mindset contradicts the very core of Christian faith, which calls a preacher to be a servant pointing to Christ, not a gatekeeper hoarding knowledge. A true Christian preacher points to Christ not their own knowledge or wisdom. Listen to these words:

 “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

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?” 1 Cor 1:17-20

Human wisdom empties the cross of Christ of its power it says. It robs the cross of its significance. Even with all of our wisdom we will never possess anywhere near the wisdom that God has. In fact, our thoughts generally run counter to God’s thoughts. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord” Isaiah 55:8

True wisdom is found by depending on the wisdom of another, namely, God. It originates outside of ourselves. It is not generated within us. We need to empty ourselves of our own wisdom. Paul said this succinctly in 1 Cor 2:2 “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” The more you empty yourself and rely on God’s wisdom, the more powerful God will display himself which results in God getting the glory not man. God likes to use the weak and foolish to display his mighty power so that when you see it you know it was unmistakably God. ” But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” 1 Cor 1:27 The text also says:

“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.” 1 Cor 1: 21-25 (emphasis mine)

This is not to suggest that we can’t have the mind of Christ. But having the mind of Christ is the exact opposite of chasing human wisdom or adopting a guru mindset. While human wisdom elevates the teacher, the mind of Christ humbles the believer. One hoards authority to look important; the other empties itself to serve. To have the mind of Christ is to embrace what the world calls ‘foolishness’—relying entirely on God’s strength rather than our own intellect.

We don’t need modern-day gurus to offer us exclusive keys to wisdom; we simply need to look to the cross, where the ultimate truth has already been freely given.