Dunce Caps and Cult Followings
Notes
Transcript
Text: Acts 17:10-22
The dunce cap originates from the name of John Duns Scotus, a Scottish philosopher and theologian who lived in the 13th century. Duns Scotus was highly respected during his time for his intellectual contributions, particularly in theology and philosophy, but by the 16th century, his complex and subtle reasoning had fallen out of favor. His followers, known as "Dunsmen" or "Dunses," were ridiculed for clinging to outdated scholastic ideas.
Over time, the term "dunce" became synonymous with someone considered slow-witted or incapable of learning. The "dunce cap" (a conical hat) was introduced in schools as a form of punishment for students who were perceived to be lazy or incapable of learning. The cap was often worn by students while they were forced to sit in the corner, symbolizing their "lack of intelligence."
Ironically, Duns Scotus himself was far from unintelligent, but his name became unfairly associated with ignorance over time. The use of the dunce cap faded in the 20th century as more progressive educational methods emerged, moving away from public shaming as a disciplinary tool.
I don’t usually title my messages… If I titled this one it would be “dunce caps and cult followings”
There is a certain acknowledgement about what and how we learn. In this passage there are three people groups discussed and how they handled truth.
I. Switch on Switch off
II. Superstitious.
III. Search it out.
In our day there is no doubt that we have more information than ever before. Sadly, what this does to us is not make us more sensitive to truth it makes us desensitized to all information.
Bro. Russell reminded me last week that if a banker wants to be good at spotting a fake the answer is to become very familiar with the real thing.
The opposite must be true. We get so saturated with falsehood that we can’t spot what’s real.
We see from this from this passage.
I. Thessalonians switched on and Switched off.
The people of Thessalonica had mixed reactions to the gospel when Paul and Silas preached it. Some, including a number of Jews, God-fearing Greeks, and prominent women, embraced the message and believed in Christ. However, other Jews, feeling threatened by the growing influence of the gospel, stirred up a mob and caused a riot in the city. They accused Paul and his companions of defying Caesar by claiming there was another king, Jesus. This division among the people led to opposition and persecution, forcing Paul and Silas to leave the city quickly (Acts 17:1-9).
They were either in or out there was no ryhme or reason to the choice they were deciding in the moment whether what they were hearing was the truth. This is a reminder that not all people are seeking truth. They look at the moment they are in and call it the truth because that is what they’ve always known.
WE could define this model as
RIGHT SOURCE; WRONG SOLUTION
They were hearing the gospel they had the truth in hand, but with no input from the source of truth they had to make a quick switch in the brain to label it as right or not.
The issue is that they have no attatchment to the absolute truth. If they had actually assented to the existence of absolute truth they could cling to the absolute truth of the Gospel. But Paul was preaching into hundreds of years of the opinions of false prophets, pharisees, and teaching of the Talmud. Remember that Jesus did not come to topple the law. The Pharisees had been teaching the philosophy of men.
IT was this refusal to cling to absolute truth that left them Switched on or off.
Christians we do the same thing. Can I tell you that your opinion or the opinion of some modern teacher will matter very little what matters is “What sayeth the LORD”. We have Christians that are so rooted in something they have always believed that rarely will be willing to let that go for what the bible says.
We are switched on or off.
It is very closely related to our consumer culture. We get our favorite brands and things that we love that we cannot let go of and we are not inclined to change very quickly at all.
II. The Athenians are Superstitious
Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said,
Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)
This is the philosophy of the day of Paul
Epicurians
The ancient Epicureans, followers of the philosopher Epicurus (341–270 BC), taught that the highest good in life was the pursuit of pleasure, which they defined as the absence of pain and disturbance, rather than indulgence in physical pleasures. Epicurus believed that a simple, moderate life, focused on cultivating friendships, understanding the natural world, and avoiding unnecessary desires, would lead to happiness and tranquility (ataraxia). They also emphasized the importance of rational thought and rejected the idea of an afterlife, believing that the gods existed but did not intervene in human affairs. Consequently, they encouraged a focus on the present life and the elimination of fear, especially the fear of death.
Stoics
Stoicism emphasized self-control, virtue, and wisdom, considering them the only true goods. Emotions were seen as irrational judgments that needed to be controlled, as they could disturb one's inner peace. The Stoics also believed in the importance of accepting one's fate (amor fati) with equanimity, since everything happens according to the divine plan. They valued virtues like courage, justice, temperance, and wisdom, believing that these alone lead to true happiness.
Ironically enough that is the mounting philosophy of our day. Hedonism and Ascetism. Sadly, no one has ever found meaning and purpose from these philosophies. What it does is it prys the hands of its beleivers from the hold on truth, and spins them searching for anything that calls itself true.
You could say:
Wrong Source, Right Solution.
They are in constant pursuit but because they have no mooring they will bury themselves deeply in the wrong direction.
You have a shared nature between these and that is they both act like those that chase cult classics. People follow after cult classics like E.T. or Starwars many times as a way of having a personality. You could compare people who rush into any new idea or philosophy without discernment to those who follow cult classics, in the sense that both are often drawn in by novelty, popularity, or the promise of something deeper or more exclusive. Cult classics, whether films or books, often develop passionate followings despite (or because of) their unconventional or niche appeal. Similarly, individuals who jump into anything claiming to be true might be attracted by its rebellious, countercultural nature or the allure of being part of a special group with "insider" knowledge. However, just as not every cult classic has lasting merit or universal appeal, not every new ideology or movement is grounded in truth or wisdom. Following ideas or trends without careful evaluation can lead to a superficial attachment, just as some cult classics are embraced for their eccentricity rather than for any enduring value. The key parallel is that both groups—those who follow cult classics and those who rush into new "truths"—can be driven more by emotional appeal or group identity than by careful, thoughtful reflection.
III. The Bereans Searched it out.
And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
These men heard the same words as the others. but here was the difference. They were willing to take the Word into consideration. Their primary goal was not align everything their hear to their likes or dislikes. Nor to follow any idea that is new. Their design is to take the book and compare all things to this. By the way this is the right way to come to the Gospel and the right way to continue in it.
Right Source; Right Solution.
This is done by having the concrete of the WORD under your feet.
And it is about cultivating an appetite for the truth.
You will come across philosophies that disagree with God’s word on a regular basis. The answer is not to sit in a corner with the dunce cap never listening but rather to equip yourself with the word of God and a regular daily dose of it that will anchor you down in truth.
A good example of Christ using Scripture, rather than human reasoning, to address false teachings is found in **Matthew 22:29-32**. When the Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection, challenged Jesus with a hypothetical scenario about marriage after the resurrection, Jesus responded by saying:
"Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God" (v. 29, KJV).*
He then proceeded to cite Scripture to correct their misunderstanding:
"But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living."* (vv. 31-32).
Here, Jesus points directly to the Scriptures to refute their false teaching, emphasizing the authority of God's Word over human reasoning or traditions.
Our Savior the only one who could have trusted his instincts or chased the philosophy of the day leaned on the Word of God if he could trust it we too must cling to it.
