In the last series, WHY WOULD A MAN HANG HIMSELF?, we got into the subject what the Bible says about answering the folly of fools. However, that was not the subject of the post. In this series we will consider how the Bible describes fools and how we should answer them.
Why should we take up this topic? We have entered difficult times, times when the worst kind of foolishness is on the increase.
- Privacy is becoming more and more difficult. Yet how this problem is growing is quite peculiar. In the past, people spent their entire life in a small villages, and everyone knew everyone else’s business. Yet these people were family and friends. Now our records are online, and strangers can learn about our most personal concerns. With drones and cameras multiplying, at any moment someone will soon be able to learn of our whereabouts and what we are doing. And our government is one of the culprits.
- Our world is growing more unstable. Large and powerful governments, powerful even relative to our own, are building up the military forces. Some, like Russia, have already attacked their smaller neighbors.
- Special interest groups increasingly use our own government to stick their noses into other people’s business. These, supposedly in the public interest, bully and rob their fellow citizens.
- And so forth.
To answer fools, people who will not live and let live, we need to understand just what makes one a fool. Then, to avoid appearing foolish ourselves, we need to understand how we are suppose to answer and debate such people. If need be, we need to know when to fight a fool.
Future Topics
- Answering Folly: Who Is A Fool? – February 21, 2015
- Answering Folly: When And How Do We Debate A Fool? – March 1, 2015
- Answering Folly: Declining Moral Standards – March 5, 2015
- Answering Folly: The Corporate Mass Media – March 15, 2015
- Answering Folly: Public Education – April 19, 2015
- Answer Folly: Resumed – October 15, 2017
- Answering Folly: Socialism
- Answering Folly: Illegal Immigration
- Answering Folly: Global Warming
- Answering Folly: Pacifism
- Answering Folly: Bible Bashing
Author’s Note
I begin this series not claiming to have all the answers. Suggestions and comments are welcome. However, I believe the topic is important and people want to discuss it.
Citizen Tom 
what is the difference in referring to groups of people as ‘fools’ and calling a person a ‘fool’ and would Jesus approve given matt 5:22 and luke 12:20?
I’m just wondering about the ‘wisdom’ of polarizing us into an ‘us vs them’ mentality and setting up a target to ‘shoot’ and hit rather than seeing people who need Christ, but just need us to be willing to see and appreciate their point of view in an effort to be compassionate enough to them as People to seek to change it.
in ministry for 20+yrs and I’ve always seen of treating people as people and not ‘fools’ when sharing the Gospel. thx for your consideration.
-mike
mike
Standing alone, I suppose it does look like I am trying to be polarizing. However, great divisions existed long before I was born (Matthew 10:34-39). Just sitting on a public bench and silently reading the Bible is enough to tick some people off.
Such hostility I cannot change. So I intend to target those in the middle. Because we are human we are all guilty of foolish conduct. We all hold foolish opinions. To some degree we are all fools. When we behave as fools and speak as fools, we must be answered as fools. Isn’t that what you are trying to do with me?
Consider Psalm 23. Here David uses the analogy of sheep. Sheep are dumb animals. How does a sheep differ from a fool? Sheep follow the Good Shepherd.
If you have been in the ministry 20+yrs, I am sure you are familiar with Luke 15. Even those who know the Good Shepherd stray. Hence, our Lord told a parable about finding a lost sheep.
Anyway, before judging any further, please wait for the next post.
Thank you for your reply have a wonderful day
Though this topic is important — and I look forward to it — it can appear as insensitive, thus proper hermeneutics and definitions are vital. For instance, in Psalms 14 and 53, the Word of the Lord says, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.'” Why would God label someone who says, “There is no God,” as a fool? What does God mean by “in his heart?” What does “fool” mean? Does it mean lack of knowledge or intelligence? Does it mean silliness? Or lack of morality? What is “morality?” Etc., etc.
To prepare yourself for this upcoming series, I encourage you to read “Proper Biblical Interpretation” by Dr. John MacArthur (http://www.gty.org/Resources/Sermons/90-55 or http://www.gty.org/blog/B100202/good-hermeneutics). Additionally, have a concordance and commentaries handy to assist you. Though these sources are helpful, the Word of God ultimately provides the answer for us. I look forward to these upcoming topics.
I have listened to some of Dr. John MacArthur’s sermons and read one of his books. Great source! Thank you for the reminder.
Most welcome. I failed to mentioned. You may find these sources helpful as well:
Blue Letter Bible
http://www.blueletterbible.org/study.cfm
Bible Gateway
https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/
Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry (CARM)
https://www.carm.org/
Matthew
Because the spammers sometimes put a large number of links in their comments, I limit the number of links in a comment. That is why your comment went into moderation.
My apologies. Noted.
No apology is needed. The blame belongs to the spammers.
I believe the topic is important too and I look forward to reading about it.
Thank you.