Foolishness--A Spiritual PerspectiveProphecy Chat by Sharon L. Clemens

Have you ever done a word study in the Bible? Pick an interesting word, then look up that word in a Bible concordance. I use a small Cruden's Complete Concordance in paperback. What is a concordance? According to Cruden's itself, it is "an indispensable reference tool--thorough coverage of every Bible word." [1] I use it especially when I am searching for a particular Bible verse but cannot remember the chapter and verse. If I can recall even one primary word, such as fruit, faith, works, judgment, etc., look up that word in the concordance. You will find a long list of every verse in the old and new testaments where that word appears. Granted, you may become cross-eyed before you find the particular verse you were searching for. Because the concordance cannot record the entire verse and therefore gives only the immediate part of the verse where THE word appears, it requires some searching. Write down all likely verses and look them up in the Bible to find what you are looking for. I learn a lot more about a word topic than I thought I would when searching related verses...

I consulted the concordance today out of a visceral need to read in the inspired Word of God just who God considers to be foolish and what He considers to be FOOLISHNESS because of continuing attacks on dispensational Bible teachers, calling us spiritually lazy, uneducated, and sensationalists who use hype to draw attention. Only God's opinion should matter after all; but I'm also in a defensive mood. Too many times of late, I have heard those who believe in a "covenantal view" of the Bible, preterists, a-millennialists, and Kingdom Now proponents for example, make such accusations. They especially categorize themselves as academically superior because of university degrees to dispensationalists. Another favorite accusation is that we are retreating from the culture, whereas they are embracing the culture and its diversity in order to win the lost to Christ. Therefore, they see dispensationalists as culturally ignorant or culturally fearful..

The pretentious way in which our opponents look down on dispensationalists paints us in their eyes as foolish and our teaching as FOOLISHNESS. Joel McDurmon of American Vision refers to dispensationalists as "dispys" and links the "greatest historical waning of Christian influence throughout the world" to the rise of dispensationalism. That's right--it's all the dispensationalists fault. And a new book and DVD series entitled Late Great Planet Church makes that assertion. [2] Note that this book, by its title, disparages Hal Lindsey's book Late Great Planet Earth, a book which opened my eyes to pre-millennialism and saved me from the non-literal a-millennial approach to eschatology in which I had been raised. I am grateful to Lindsey for the writing of Late Great Planet Earth and regret that it is being slandered yet again.

I would counter the accusations of anti-dispensationalists by pointing out that the "rise of dispensationalism" cannot be the cause of waning Christian influence; dispensationalism did not "rise" from anywhere. It has been the understood teaching of the church from its Apostolic beginning, as is clear from a LITERAL reading of the Bible and affirmed in the writing of early church fathers such as Ephraem the Syrian, A.D. 373. [3] Even a cursory study of 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 provides adequate evidence that the early church believed in a pre-tribulation rapture of the church. Why else would the brethren of Thessalonica be "shaken in mind or troubled" when a false letter came claiming that Day, the Tribulation, had already come. They were shaken because they believed they had missed the rapture, which they understood clearly would occur BEFORE the Tribulation. Paul assured the church that the letter was false, and that they had not missed the "day of Christ," [verse 2], the Rapture. Just as false teachers in Paul's day tried to destroy the blessed hope of the early church, so pretentious teachers today accuse those who eagerly anticipate the imminent return of Christ of being ignorant and the cause of problems in the church.

Also, the teaching of the whole Word of God, literally, is less likely to cause a waning of Christian influence than the pandering to cultural relevance that is espoused by many of the post-modern mega churches. While the apostate church wastes time in cross-cultural dialogue and conversation, the preaching of the Word could be filling the hungry with spiritual food. But--the emergent church movement openly promotes a dumbing down of doctrine because they consider it divisive and offensive to the masses. If the "Christian influence" McDurmon is speaking of is cultural influence in the religious/secular realm, I am glad dispensationalists are not promoting it. The Lord calls us to equip the Saints, not the masses of professing Christians who believe they are saved, but are not. THE CHURCH WAS NEVER TO LOWER ITSELF TO THE LEVEL OF THE WORLD, BUT TO RAISE THE WORLD UP TO THE HEIGHTS OF THE CROSS AND CHRIST'S ATONEMENT. If McDurmon wants to know how to do church, consult the manual--the Bible. The book of Acts describes in detail how the apostles established the early church, and it was not by being culturally relevant. Rather, they were set apart in their beliefs and practices.

HOW CAN BIBLE INTERPRETATION BE ARGUED WHEN THE BIBLE IS LEFT OUT?

What truly amazes me is that when debating the value of a literal view of the Bible, those on the opposing side often base their objections on everything BUT the Bible... Because I believe the Bible is the only source of TRUTH [John 14:6], I base my arguments on the Word of God first and foremost. But McDurmon, for example, makes his value judgments based on academics, cultural relevance, and church history--everything but the literal Bible. His review of Late Great Planet Church--the most recent slam again literal dispensationalism--contains not one Bible reference to support its validity. Trying to reason with those like Joel is like a fisherman arguing with a fish the need to breath air... Fish don't believe in the need for air. The result is that the non-literalists have no problem editing the Bible or spiritualizing its meaning, as long as their form of Christianity is culturally relevant and humanly academic.. I was also amazed at the personal attacks Joel used against "dispys," accusing them of not having the academic credentials of the covenantal teachers. What does the Word say about the value of man's credentials? Granted, these academic credentials are often in the realm of Bible study, but even Joel admitted liberalism has watered down the traditional doctrines within academia. That didn't seem to bother him. But if academia is no longer the literal study of the Word, of what value are academic credentials? Have they not become the empty philosophy of man? The number of so-called learned men of wisdom who hold vast religious credentials AND YET BLASPHEME GOD is testimony that diplomas do not guarantee that truth is being taught. SPIRITUAL WISDOM IS OF THE LORD.

THE FOOLISHNESS OF MAN AND WISDOM FROM GOD
That brings us to the word study of FOOLISHNESS. This is not an exhaustive list from the concordance, but brings home the point:

     * Eccl. 7:25 and 10:13 -- Foolishness is equated with wickedness and madness.
     * 1 Cor 1:18-25 -- Paul points out that the wicked consider the very Gospel of Christ's atoning work on the cross as "foolishness." Truth is offensive to those who are lost because truth is spiritually discerned:

"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.' Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe...Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men."

     * 1 Cor 2:13-14 -- "These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

     * 1 Cor 3:18-19 -- "Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, 'He catches the wise in their own craftiness'; and again, 'The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.'"

Not all those with a covenantal viewpoint consider the cross offensive, although leaders of the emergent church "conversation" consider the blood of the cross offensive to the lost they are trying to save... Someone should point out that no one is saved unless their sins are under the blood, but that seems irrelevant to them. I am sure many in the opposing camp do not think dispensationalists are ALL ignorant and unlearned. However, I have heard our position likened to laziness and "hype" so much that it is apparently a prevalent view.

Suffice it to say I am willing to be considered foolish and unlearned by the wise of this world as long as the Lord affirms His truth to me through His Holy Spirit. Our Lord cautioned through Paul that those who consider themselves more wise and academically superior to brothers in Christ are self-deceived. Truth is spiritually discerned and does not REQUIRE a degree. Granted it is wrong to assume degrees that have not been earned; but even the simple can discern the Word through the power of the Holy Spirit.

A SIMPLE STORY

Dr. J. V. McGee would tell a story on his "Through The Bible" radio program. He said that while in seminary, each student was asked to take a turn reading the Bible to an elderly woman who was blind. When it came his turn, J. Vernon dutifully arrived at her home and began to read a random passage. She asked, "And what does that passage mean to you?" Eager to show his wealth of knowledge concerning scripture, Dr. McGee shared what he thought were eloquent insights on the passage.

She listened, then said, "Now, young man, let me tell you what the Lord has revealed to me." Then, she began to expound on the passage, opening the scripture to incredible depths and levels of sensitivity that were far beyond his understanding.

J. Vernon was very humbled and chastened, as were all the self-important young men that were sent to supposedly "teach" this elderly saint. She had no formal education, except the wisdom given her by the Holy Spirit and years of study and meditation on the Word of God.

LOVE OF THE TRUTH

Who will perish in the last days? Those who are deceived because "they did not receive the love of the truth., that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness." 2 Thess 2:10-12

IT IS REALLY QUITE SIMPLE. THE BIBLE IS THE TRUTH. The truth is the Word of God which reveals the Gospel of Jesus Christ by which we may be saved, and the walk by which we can live in this world to glorify God. Those who love the truth do not edit it or consider it offensive or irrelevant. Those who love the truth do not emulate man's wisdom over God's. Those who love the truth understand their own insignificance before God. Those who love the truth do not omit one jot or tittle because it is to them "speculation." As these debates continue in the age of deception, let us seek God's wisdom, not our own. All true wisdom is of Him; the rest is self-deception.

Matthew 11:25"At that time Jesus answered and said, 'I thank You, Father,
Lord of heaven and earth,
that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes."

In Him We Wait, Work, and Watch,
Luke 12:35-59
Sharon

[Prophecy Chat is a weekly commentary of current events in light of Bible prophecy. Sharon L. Clemens is an evangelical, premillennial, dispensational teacher of eschatology. She can be reached for comment or questions by e-mail at farmgrove@verizon.net]


1. Cruden's Complete Concordance, Crusade Edition, by Alexander Cruden, A.M. Zondervan Publishing House, 1968.

2. Late Great Planet Church: A Brief Review by Joel McDurmon of American Vision. pp. 1-3. http://www.lategreatplanetchurch.com/review.shtml. NiceneCouncil.com.

3. Final Warning by Grant R. Jeffrey. "Ephraem and the Pre-Tribulation Rapture." Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, Oregon, 1996. pp. 466-472.