Synonyms of absurdity: craziness, foolishness, idiocy, insanity, stupidity,
illogicalness, irrationality, ridiculousness, senselessness (flapdoodleness!),
unreasonableness, and as pertaining to the spiritual realm – sinfulness (I
might as well not beat around the bush here!).
Why do I describe taking spiritual advice from the world or
embracing the world’s interpretation of the Bible as going into theological
absurdity as a believer? It only has to be in one area, but often that is not the case. Let me begin by asking you some questions from a
physical perspective that any sane, sensible person would answer by way of
“No.”
Would you approach a man blind from birth and ask him for
directions to xyz? Would you employ such a one as a tour guide? Would you get
into an automobile with a totally blind person behind the wheel? Would you
charter an aircraft if you knew that the pilot was blind? Would you ask a blind
man to teach your children how to read? As silly as these interrogatives are, this is
precisely what believers do when they seek spiritual advice from the lost or
buy into the world’s interpretation of the Bible, going theologically absurd!
This wouldn’t be so concerning if it was limited and random
among a small percentage of self-marginalized believers, HI-HO
(half-in/half-out), but I fear that it is metastasizing throughout the body of
believers, at least in America. It is evidenced by the treatment of God’s Word
nowadays. Isn’t it ironic that we have more biblical information today than at any
time in human history, and yet, ignorance of God’s Word is rampant in our
American culture among those claiming to be Christians?
So, from a spiritual point of view, why would any believer
decide to go to a spiritually blind man or woman for spiritual advice on
anything or adopt their spin on the Word? Let me provide at least five
possible reasons why believers would do so:
(1) loving the things of the world more than God,
(2) failing to acknowledge and submit to the Scriptures as the
rule of life,
(3) disagreeing with the Bible on some matters,
(4) wanting more information than the Bible is providing (palm
readers, readers of tarot cards, psychics, necromancers, and the like; cf. Lev
19:31; Deut 18:10-12), and
(5) intentional ignorance of the Word, et al.
We have a tendency to forget what it was like to be lost. I want
to give a general sampling of the world of the lost to remind us where we were
once spiritually before Jesus entered our life. Why in the world would we as
children of light, having escaped from the claw-like clutches of the darkness by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ alone (Eph 2:8-9), turn right around
(or wrong around) and go back to the walkers of darkness to get an opinion or
advice concerning the things of God? Also,
we cannot rule out the possibility of some pretending to be Christians while
harboring a deep love for the world (cf. Jas 4:4).
It doesn’t matter how esteemed the lost are by the world; it
doesn’t matter how knowledgeable, rich, powerful, or nice the lost may be. If they are lost, if they do not know Christ, they are spiritually
blind by “the god of this age” [Satan] due to willful unbelief (2 Cor 4:4). In short, they are the enemy of God. The
worldview of the unsaved is fundamentally different, incompatible, and hostile
to a Christian worldview. It is in opposition to God, God’s Word, and His
people.
Let me provide some samplings of the overall spiritual condition
and behavior of the world of the lost, without getting into the nitty gritty.
They are condemned because of unbelief (Jn 3:18)
The wrath of God abides on them (Jn 3:36)
They do not follow Christ (Jn 8:12)
They do not hear God’s Word because they are not of God (Jn
8:47)
They walk in darkness and have no idea where they are going (Jn 12:35)
None of them understand and none seek after God (Rom 3:11)
They are haters of God (Rom 1:30)
Not one of them does good (Rom 3:12)
They are sinners and falling short of the glory of God (Rom
3:23)
They do not have the Spirit of Christ (Rom 8:9)
The message of the cross is foolishness to them (1 Cor
1:18)
They are perishing (1 Cor 1:18)
They are unrighteous and will not inherit the kingdom of God (1
Cor 6:9)
They are spiritually blinded because of unbelief (2 Cor 4:4)
They are dead in trespasses and sins (Eph 2:1)
They walk according to the course of this world, according to
the prince of the power of the air (Eph 2:2)
They ae the sons of disobedience (Eph 2:2)
They are conducting themselves in the lusts of their flesh (Eph
2:3)
They are fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind
(Eph 2:3)
They are by nature children of wrath (Eph 2:3)
They are without Christ (Eph 2:12)
They have no hope and are without God in the world (Eph 2:12)
They are afar off (Eph 2:17)
They have no access to the Father (Eph 2:18)
They are in darkness (Eph 5:8)
They are the enemies of the cross of Christ (Php 3:18)
They set their mind on earthly things (Php 3:20)
They are alienated and enemies in their minds by wicked works (Col 1:21)
They are outside (1 Thess 4:12)
They do not know God or obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
(2 Thes 1:8)
They shall be punished with everlasting destruction (2 Thes 1:9)
They are lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God (2 Tim
3:4)
They have a form of godliness but deny its power (2 Tim 3:5)
They are always learning and never able to come to the knowledge
of the truth (2 Tim 3:7)
They love the world; therefore, the love of the Father is not in
them (1 Jn 2:15)
They are passing away (1 Jn 2:17)
They are attracted to the temporary philosophies and ideologies
of the world, not to doing the will of God (1 Jn 2:17)
These examples should reveal how unwise it is for any genuine
believer to resort to the world as a spiritual resource! I am not advocating here to dismiss
biblical information, as long as it is accurate, concerning Bible facts, learning the
biblical languages of Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic, treating the Bible as a
literary work, memorizing Scripture, and so forth. Saved or lost alike can do
those things. I have picked up on some things that I missed from the most
unlikely of sources.
What is concerning is children of light seeking the darkness to
shed light on biblical truth; this is not an uncommon practice, particularly in
theology-lite churches that take full advantage of the gateways to the world
that opposes God, His Word, and His people: the lust of the flesh, the lust of
the eyes, and the pride of life (1 Jn 2:16). The spinning of feel-good messages
around those things are very attractive to the sin nature and will invariably draw followers.
Remember the bug zapper in part 1; there is just enough light to attract
gullible people to the zapper. Even a broken clock is right twice a day!
In Part 3 we will see in more detail why it is impossible for
the world to impart spiritual truth to the body of Christ that will
substantiate why it is an absurdity to listen to these guys! I suggested
at least five reasons above why a believer will do this. The commonality
between them is they are all sins against God. This is the reason behind the
reasons of going theologically absurd; sin is in the camp. We learn from 1 Cor
2:9 that the truth or wisdom of God cannot be discovered through observation
(objective, empirical evidence), “eye has not seen, nor ear heard,” nor is it
through the subjective, rationalities of the mind, “the heart of man.”
Check this out, “But God has revealed them [“the things which God has prepared for those who love Him”] to us through His Spirit” (1 Cor 2:10, emphasis mine). And there, my, friend, is the key to my blatant assertion! <><
Check this out, “But God has revealed them [“the things which God has prepared for those who love Him”] to us through His Spirit” (1 Cor 2:10, emphasis mine). And there, my, friend, is the key to my blatant assertion! <><
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psa
119:105)
Thot: It is only the light of the Word that reveals the darkness
of spiritual error.
Tender moment: Come home to the Word and avoid the absurdity.
Tender moment: Come home to the Word and avoid the absurdity.
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| To Part 3 |
