Answering a Fool in his Folly

Recently, on two separate occasions, I have been approached by two old acquaintances who have wanted to enlighten me into deeper understandings. These two men are polar opposites in their beliefs but both had the same intent. Like Job's comforters, they were just trying to help.

One is what I call an armchair theologian. You know the type – they never actually do anything; they just sit there and pontificate from their lofty position of deeper spiritual insights. After wading through page after page of his loquacious emails, I was left still wondering what his point was. Jesus was simple, but these guys always think they have to make it complicated.

The other guy is an ethereal philosopher who feels he has gained spiritual insights into the "secret knowledge" of Gnosticism through the esoteric Johannine Gospel, which was supposedly secretly given to the Apostle John by Jesus, only to be revealed to the world when we lesser lights are ready to receive it. (Of course, only certain "enlightened" initiates have discovered this "inside scoop" of truth.) While this makes for fascinating stories of the Holy Grail and great fodder for books by Dan Brown, it is hardly worthy of debate.

To the first, I would answer that the Bible says, "Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth". I'm not interested in how smart you are – go DO something! The purpose of the Cross is not to learn a bunch of "stuff", but to have mercy on souls. Jesus died to save sinners, not hand out theological degrees.

To the other I would ask why he is pursuing so relentlessly something he can never obtain. By its very definition, the whole philosophy of Gnosticism propagates the idea of an endless quest for deeper and deeper wisdom that is always just beyond the grasp of mortal man. Kinda like a carrot in front of a donkey. But when you find Jesus – the real Jesus – you find the fountain of Living Waters from which you will never thirst again. If you've found the Truth, then why would you have to keep searching for it?

As I searched the scriptures for how the Lord wanted me to answer these guys, I kept turning up dozens of scriptures that admonished me not to fall into the trap laid by either one of these purportedly well-meaning friends. While it is true that we are supposed to "contend for the faith", we are also told not to answer a fool in his folly nor reprove a scorner. No matter what you say, they will not listen. Proverbs says that a fool is wiser in his own conceit than seven men who can render a reason.

The core essence of the issue goes all the way back to the beginning of time. In the Garden of Eden, man was given two choices: the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil vs. the Tree of Life. Adam and Eve chose the wrong one. Sure, it was pleasant to look at (lust of the eyes), good for food (lust of the flesh), and a tree desired to make one wise (pride of life), but in its fruit were the seeds of death, for "to be carnally minded is death". But, hey, it sure made you feel good about yourself!

The Tree of Life, however, is not about you – how good you are, how smart you are, how "deep" you are, or how powerful you are. To eat off that tree means you have to humble yourself before God and lend yourself to His wisdom, His power, and His righteousness. That pretty much shoots down any spiritual pride you might be hanging onto for yourself.

All heresy has the distinct purpose of minimizing sin and promoting the three lusts of the Tree of Knowledge. It is always in direct conflict with the crucified subjection to the will of God.

So why are they so vehement about pushing their agenda on others? The second Psalm starts off with "Why do the heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing?", and answers in verse 3 that is it to break the bands of Holy Ghost conviction off them and the cords of subjection to God's righteousness. That was what Satan tried to do also, and it has led to the downfall (literally) of untold masses of humanity.

After searching all his life, the wisest man in the world concluded that the whole duty of man was to fear God and keep His commandments. As for wisdom? Job 28 gives the best answer:

"But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? ...
And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding."

Brother Dale,  dale@revivalfire.org