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….
333 Words of Grace 