The Foolish Debate

Engaging the Fool is Foolish

Carlton Pearson

Higher Dimensions Family Church, Tulsa Oklahoma 1990s

English Standard Version Chapter 26

4  Answer not a fool according to his folly,

lest you be like him yourself.

5  Answer a fool according to his folly,

lest he be wise in his own eyes.

30yr old__6000__diverse/integrated staff__massive income__greek testimony__beloved

2004, declared a heretic

?How do we not follow him?

English Standard Version Chapter 26

4  Answer not a fool according to his folly,

lest you be like him yourself.

5  Answer a fool according to his folly,

lest he be wise in his own eyes.

Do not answer a fool according to his folly

Do not answer a fool according to his folly

lose lose

?What is meant by folly?

Merriam-Webster: lack of good sense or normal prudence and foresight

Bible defines it stronger

Suppress the truth__deny what God has revealed__ do not honor God

Futile thinking__ darkened hearts__claim to be wise but become fools

The folly of the fool

Relying on man’s wisdom and not God’s

Full of Fools

: Second Option___Obi-wan Anakin high ground

Answer a fool according to the folly of God

Lose Lose

Forfeit the firm foundation on behalf of challengers

Fools determine the terms

Charge

humility___speak___lead___dodge

movement___stadium___TV___publish___“wise”,

forsake foundation___despise___Gospel___power___des-gra

abandon salvation___Wall

“Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself”

Call yourself a preacher, but...

Do not abandon that which saved you,

Christ was called a fool for you, follow his example

You will be pressured

English Standard Version Chapter 1

18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,

and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Its a blessing to be called a fool

Some things are genuinely foolish

If your gospel is palatable to the world...

Do not answer a fool according to his folly… but according to the folly of God.

His folly is wisdom

Gladly assume the label of fool

18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,

and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Ideas:

“Brothers, if you display such humility, speak so eloquently, lead so movingly, and dodge controversial doctrines so cunningly, if you spawn a movement, fill a stadium, appear on TV, publish best selling books, are considered wise by the world, and forsake your foundation, forsake that which men despise, the Gospel, the saving power of God, that controversial message of utter despair and inescapable grace, you abandon your ability to lead people to salvation and become a big, respected, glorious, beautiful wall that shuts down those who seek to come to God through you. “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.” You can call yourself a preacher, but if you accept the terms the world gives you, meet them on their battle ground, throw away your presuppositions, and rely on your wisdom, if you do that, you become the newest addition in Satan’s arsenal, primed and ready to affirm that God’s wisdom is foolish. Do Not Abandon that which saved you! Our savior was called foolish and despised, yet he endured that you may be saved. You are called to follow in your savior’s footsteps, not to forge a new path. If he, the very wisdom of God incarnate was considered a fool, then may we all consider it a true blessing to be counted as fools for his sake and for the sake of those who are to be saved. They will not be saved by your wisdom, but by God’s foolishness. If God should choose to life any of us up and exalt us to a place of prominence in the Christian movement, you can bet that we will be pressured to cave on this issue. No greater weakness will befall you than to step off of the solid footing which is God’s revealed word and try your luck out “widsoming” the world. Look around, see the prominent christian leaders who are abandoning God’s wisdom for what the world considers wise. They are well paid, well dressed, well spoken and well spoken of, yet does their message offer any hope of salvation? When they and their hearers die, will they live? If the doctrines they have been taught are accepted and non-controversial to the world, then no. We should be moved to sorrow over this. Brothers! DO NOT FORSAKE THE FOOLISHNESS OF GOD WHICH SAVED YOU!

Charge:

-Brothers!

English Standard Version Chapter 1

18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,

and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Consider yourself blessed if you are considered a fool because you refused to compromise God’s message of salvation. It is true that some of us will be considered foolish because we say foolish things, respond to questions foolishly, and because we make mistakes, however, do not let it be because you tried to make the Gospel more palatable. If your gospel is palatable, it has lost it’s nutrients. The Gospel is bitter to the tongue, compelling a gag reflex from the lost souls, yet in the mouth of one who is called, it turns sweet, it calms the nerves, it moves to tears, and it shocks a dead heart back to life.

So simply, do not answer a fool according to his folly, answer him according to the folly of God.

His folly is life, his folly is eternal, his folly is wisdom. Whether you abandon it or not in this life, you will see it fully in the next. Let us gladly assume the label of foolish if the world gives us such an honor, knowing that we are further connected with our sweet Lord.