The fool and his folly
Proverbs tell us much about the fool and his folly. The fool is one is says in his heart that there is not God (Psalms 14:1-3). Their folly flows from this heart. A godless heart; a heart that set against God and that cannot please God. So, why do we, when asked or challenged by the fool, present them with evidences for God when the evidence of God has been made plain to them? ”18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.” Romans 1:18-23.
When we put evidences in front of the fool for them to weigh we are putting God on trial with the fool as the judge. Jesus Himself said, “do not put the Lord your God to the test,” yet we do this on a regular basis when we attempt to “prove” God to the fool.
However, Proverbs 26:4-5, “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.” We are not to play these “evidence” games with the fool. We see in Proverbs 1:7, that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge . . .” and in Proverbs 9:10 says, “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” So we know from scripture that in God is where we must start for knowledge and wisdom, therefore for anyone to know anything for certain, they must begin with God. But we when we start with the evidences for God to the fool whose heart is set against God we are not starting with Him. We, therefore, are in error.
To answer a fool according to their folly mean pointing out that it is not possible for them to know what they know with certainty. And, if they could possibly be wrong then whatever point they are making is invalid. It is time for Christians to stop participating in fruitless debates that are nothing more than mental exercises. If we must confront the fool, then do so with scripture. The evidence has been made plain to them.
