After a pat down, the security staff at Heathrow airport confiscated a miniature six-shooter from the ‘Toy Story’ doll Woody fearing it was a terrorist risk. There is just no other way to say it. We live in a time with a growing population of stupid people. I collected several pages of news headlines over the past two months about other stupid reactions. Here are a few examples.
A school suspended a 7-year-old boy for shaping a breakfast pastry into what his teacher thought looked like a gun. Police charged a 6-year-old boy with sexual battery for “inappropriate touching” during a game of tag at elementary school. A school sent an 8-year-old boy home and forced him to undergo a psychological evaluation because he drew a picture of Jesus on the cross. A day care suspended a toddler for bringing a cheese sandwich for lunch. Several articles reported bans preventing people from feeding the homeless because officials deemed the food unsafe without inspection or not served in a suitable indoor facility.
Stupid—you might think that a bit harsh, but the Bible calls certain people stupid. He who hates reproof is stupid (Pro 12:1). Through Jeremiah the Lord said, They know Me not; They are stupid children (Jer 4:22). For the shepherds have become stupid, and have not sought the Lord (Jer 10:21). And when will you understand, stupid ones (Psa 94:8)? But they are altogether stupid and foolish in their discipline of delusion—their idol is wood (Jer10:8)! All the above quotes are from NASV, which uses this word twelve times.
People are not born this way rather they chose this path. Those who hate reproof, do not seek the Lord, have no understanding, and turn to idols end up stupid. Paul addresses this, For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools [stupid] (Rom 1:21, 22). The word here translated ‘fool’ has the same meaning as the Old Testament word translated fool or stupid. Three times Paul warns of the results of turning away from God. God gave them over to progressively lower levels of sin. The final plunge results in a reprobate, depraved, or disapproved mind.
Paul plays on this word, which one misses in English versions. It literally says, since they disapproved of God in their mind, He gave them over to a disapproved mind. The Message Bible adds further insight, Since they didn’t bother to acknowledge God, God quit bothering them and let them run loose. All this warns of the consequences when individuals, cultures, and nations push God out of the picture. They become stupid and foolish having a depraved mind unable to exercise its God given function of distinguishing right and wrong. This happens because men and women, in addition to the list in the previous paragraph, suppress the truth, exchange the truth of God for a lie, and do not obey the truth (1:18, 25, 2:8).
I didn’t write this as an Op-Ed, rather as an encouragement to fellow Christians. People that the Bible would label as depraved in mind or stupid, tend to treat Christians as if we are the stupid ones. Peter and Jude both warned in the last days unbelievers would mock us. Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of His coming (2 Pet 3:3, 4)? In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts. These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit (Jud 1:18, 19).
God does not create a single person stupid or with a depraved mind. David wrote For You formed my inward parts [mind]; I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psa 139:13, 14). The word ‘inward parts’ also means mind. We are born with wonderful minds. The journey towards stupid begins by surpassing the truth. God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1Ti 2:4). It is the knowledge of truth that sustains Christians during difficult times and when unbelievers mock. We live in age where people are always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth (2 Ti 3:7). This happens because they learn without reference to God. With the rapid increase of knowledge in all fields of science, men believe they are becoming masters of their own destiny. Yet, without the knowledge of truth, man, life, and the universe have no significance and man’s life becomes absurd.
It might be appropriate here to quote the famous words of Forest Gump. “Stupid is as stupid does”. In this context, it means people may think they are intelligent because of all their learning however, without the truth knowledge of God, their actions of unbelief indicates they have arrived at the point of stupid.
Sustaining Word for the Week—The world will increase its mockery of Christians and look down on us as stupid. Do not allow unbelievers to intimidate you as the stupid one. Rest in the fact you possess the knowledge of truth.