Month: February 2025

Friday, February 28, 2025

“Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:…” (1 Corinthians 2:6 KJV).

What wisdom really matters—and what wisdom really does not?

Corinth was approximately a two-day trip west of Athens, the intellectual capital of the ancient world. Philosophers spent much time going to, from, and through Corinth. Here, as a port city, ideas from around the globe were exchanged. The Corinthians, like the rest of the Greeks, held man’s wisdom in high esteem. Imagine, if you will, a statue of a human brain erected there, with worshippers assembled around it to bow and pray. Also known as “free-thinking” and “humanism,” man is his final authority in this system: he believes he is accountable to no one but himself. What he rationalizes will stand and what he does is for his evaluation alone.

Read 1 Corinthians chapter 1: “[17] For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. [18] For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. [19] For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. [20] Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? [21] For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. [22] For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: [23] But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; [24] But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. [25] Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”

Let us go back to the original problem pinpointed in Romans chapter 1….

Thursday, February 27, 2025

“Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:…” (1 Corinthians 2:6 KJV).

What wisdom really matters—and what wisdom really does not?

As a trained scientist (geologist, Earth scientist), I can guarantee you the scientific method concentrates solely on the natural world (not the spiritual world). It is a process of first observing an event, then recording what information you have gathered, and finally hypothesizing (speculating how the incident operates). Through subsequent experiments, you increase learning by amassing more data or information, thereby allowing you to modify your hypothesis or reject it entirely and form a new explanation (which can be tested, then accepted or discarded). Of course, contrary to popular belief, this is not a foolproof, airtight, “beyond-all-suspicion” belief system. Scientists rely heavily on their brains, which are imperfect. Long-held views, accepted by most “experts,” might be disproven later and totally abandoned. Science textbooks are regularly updated to reflect this flux!

Do you remember the aforementioned scientist and educator who influenced me in my university days all those years ago? Unquestionably, he tried to understand an evil society and desperately sought to improve it, but human effort is insufficient to comprehend and overcome sin. Philosophy is simply man making full use of his limited intellectual capacity, endeavoring in his own strength to figure out his origin, life, and purpose. Such a quest has been likened unto a blind man in a dark room looking for a black cat that does not exist! It is truly a hopeless, fruitless search.

Paul the Apostle himself, addressing philosophers (“intellectuals”) in Athens, preached in Acts chapter 17: “[26] And [God] hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; [27] That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: [28] For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.” Think of a blind person stretching forth arms and fingers, groping for a wall, door, window—anything to indicate location or orientation.

Such is the wisdom of this world….

Wednesday, February 26, 2025

“Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:…” (1 Corinthians 2:6 KJV).

What wisdom really matters—and what wisdom really does not?

Back in my early university days (over 15 years ago now!), I was exposed to the scientific career of a famous educator. Our professor played an online video of this long-time researcher, and I was simply fascinated with his insight and experiments. Although not working in my discipline (he was biology-oriented whereas I was geology [Earth science]- oriented), he investigated phenomena I grew to find interesting as well. Even after graduating college, I watched a couple dozen of his online videos as he lectured about scientific principles in his field of study. Undoubtedly, he was an educated, brilliant man—in the eyes of the world, that is. He alluded to the Bible just once, albeit it was a misquote (a religious tradition he assumed was Scripture).

After all these years, I recently did an internet search to see if he was still living. Now over age 90, he was very much alive—long retired from professorship, but still giving lectures and active in his research. Less than a week later, I saw his name in a list of notable deaths. It was a bit startling to me, but, then again, he was quite advanced in age. When I located and read his obituary—some 1,300 words, or almost three pages—it went on and on about his childhood, education, career, and retirement. He attended and graduated from prestigious institutions of higher learning, spending decades as a distinguished professor at a private university. In addition to hosting a television series that would be used to train other “intellectuals,” he wrote hundreds of scholarly articles and a few textbooks on the subject. Moreover, he received numerous awards and led organizations of professionals in his field of study. He and his wife (also highly educated) traveled the world for speaking engagements. The obituary closed without a solitary reference to anything “religious” or “spiritual.” Like many, he was indeed filled the wisdom of men, but was he bursting with the wisdom of God? Obviously not.

Let us see how today’s Scripture is applicable today….