Oh! You are a fool?” This was the response Vance Havner gave when the man sitting next to him mocked him for being a Christian, and then boldly proclaimed, “I’m an atheist.” Dr. Havner explained to the shocked atheist that he was just quoting scripture. The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God” (Ps 14:1). I was privileged to hear Dr. Havner speak several times in chapel. He shared this story and said that he didn’t argue with the man but continued sharing the Gospel and before their flight was over he lead him to the Christ—the power of the Gospel over the foolishness of men.
We are living in a world filled with fools and more than atheist fall into the category. Scripture describes numerous kinds of fools. The word used in Psalms means stupid, wicked, impious, and fool. In the New Testament, the two words most often translated fool mean mindless, stupid, ignorant, absurd, unwise, and fool. Yet note that neither indicates fools are uneducated. Our educational systems are full of highly educated fools. I find no scripture saying people are born fools, but many verses indicating how people become fools. Developing into a fool begins with the fact they are unteachable. Fools despise wisdom and instruction (Pro 1:7) . . . And fools hate knowledge (v22). Fools also hate correction or discipline because the way of a fool is right in his own eyes (Pro 12:15). A fool rejects his father’s discipline (Pro 15:5).
The most dangerous fools Christians are facing today are the educated fools who have become professors in universities, teachers in our public schools, leaders in prominent roles of influence, scientists who exclude God, and politicians in state and national positions. The problem with fools is not an intellectual problem it’s a heart problem. God gave even the atheist fool an opportunity to know Him but they trusted their own reasoning. He who trusts in his own heart is a fool (Pro 28:26). Paul wrote, 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 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures (Rom 1:21, 22). This became the first stair step in a downward decline of mankind. The bottom step thrust these ‘wise’ fools into the pit of a depraved mind. And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper (Rom 1:28).
Another prominent category of fools today we can call a worldly fool. Jesus told the parable of a man who became a successful farmer. He harvested so much grain from his crops he ran out of places to store them. Instead of honoring and giving thanks to God he began reasoning to himself (Luk 12:17). He decided to tear down his barns and build bigger ones. Nothing is wrong with success but here is where he became a fool. ‘And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry”‘ (Luk 12:19). He put trust in himself and the wealth he had accumulated. He who trusts in his riches will fall (Pro 11:28). Note the Lord’s view of the man’s success, “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?‘ (Luk 12:20).
Even with all these in our world today, the saddest fools are the religious leaders and especially leaders within the institution of the church. They call themselves Christians, but their fruit has no evidence backing their claim. These leaders deny the clear teachings of Scripture and instead of seeking to lift sinners out of their pits of wickedness, they sink to their level proclaiming the Word of God has errors and needs to be updated to fit the modern culture. They are the same kind of fools as the religious leaders Jesus encountered. But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites… You fools and blind men (Mat 23:13, 17)!
Living with fools calls for wisdom (the antonym of fool) and knowledge of the Word. We must not lower ourselves to their level and seek a compromise. Don’t argue with a fool. Don’t respond to the stupidity of a fool; you’ll only look foolish yourself (Pro 26:4 MSG). An old saying advises, never wrestle with a pig, because you both get dirty, and the pig likes it. Never give a fool responsibility. He cuts off his own feet and drinks violence Who sends a message by the hand of a fool (Pro 26:6). Changing a fool is near impossible. Though you pound a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, Yet his foolishness will not depart from him (Pro 27:22). The best response is share the Gospel and most of all live out the message of the Gospel before them—the power of the Gospel is greater than the foolishness of men.
Sustaining Word for the Week: Rise above the modern culture of fools, avoid putting fools in positions of power over you, and live out the power of the Gospel through your daily life.