____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER ____________________________________________________ "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ November 10, 2002 ____________________________________________________ Table of Contents: 1) Answer Not a Fool? -- or Answer Him? (Tom Edwards) 2) Serpents and Doves (David Smitherman) 3) Will Your Children Go to Heaven? (Jim R. Everett) 4) News & Notes ____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________ Answer Not a Fool? -- Or Answer Him? by Tom Edwards "ANSWER NOT a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. ANSWER A FOOL according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit" (Prov. 26:4,5, emph. mine). Confusing? "Which is it?," someone might ask. Are these two verses in conflict? Was one to not answer a fool, or was one to answer him? This seeming contradiction had caused some rabbis, according to Albert Barnes, to have questioned the canonical authority of this book. But are these verses a discrepancy that casts doubt on the written word of God? Let's look more into this. Answer Not a Fool Though there are four different Hebrew words in the Old Testament that are each rendered as "fool," and a fifth Hebrew word translated "to play the fool," the Hebrew word for "fool" ("kesil") in our main passage under consideration is the most common one used in the Proverbs for this term. It is also translated, however, as "stupid" (Psa. 49:10, NASB) and "foolish" (Prov. 10:1, NASB). In verses where this Hebrew word is used, the "fools" are described as those who "hate knowledge" (Prov. 1:22), are destroyed by complacency (1:32), "display dishonor" (3:35), are "a grief to [their] mother" (10:1), spread slander (10:18), and find it a "sport" in "[D]oing wickedness" (10:23). Their "heart...proclaims folly" (12:23) and "displays folly" (13:16), and they find it an "an abomination...to turn away from evil" (13:19). They will cause their "companion...to suffer harm" (13:20) and will obstruct from words of knowledge (14:7). Their "foolishness...is deceit" (14:8). They are "arrogant and careless" (14:16). Their "mouth...spouts folly" (15:2) and "feeds on folly" (15:14). They despise their mother (15:20), do not accept rebuke well (17:10), and are worse to meet in their folly than to "meet a bear robbed of her cubs" (17:12). They have "no sense" (17:16). They bring "no joy," but "sorrow" and "grief" to their father and "bitterness" to their mother (17:21,25); and they do "...not delight in understanding, but in only revealing...[their] own mind" (18:2). Their "...lips bring strife, and...[their] mouth calls for blows" (18:6). Their mouth also is their "ruin, and...[their] lips are the snare of...[their] soul" (18:7). They "despise...wisdom" (23:9) and "always" lose their "temper" (29:11), and "anger resides in...[their] bosom" (Eccl. 7:9). All of the above references contain the Hebrew word that is translated as "fool" in our main passage under consideration. We are, therefore, given more insight into what that fool really is. No wonder we do have to be careful in our dealing with him. For if we are not, we might easily address him in the same wrongful manner -- of speech and conduct -- that he is addressing us. As W. Clarkson writes, "Folly is contagious, and we are all in some danger of catching it." With this in mind, let us look again at Proverbs 26:4. The warning -- to not answer a fool "according to his folly" -- is so that one does not become "like him." As we have noted above, the fool is one who is characterized with harboring anger, losing his temper, engendering strife, spreading slander, speaking foolishly, and taking pleasure in being ungodly. Do you remember the last time you tried to teach the truth to a person like that? It can be a challenge. And if we're not careful, we might find our voices going up a few decibels before we're through, and our blood really pulsing through our veins. Yes, the world can sometimes test the Christian's patience; and it is sad and a shame when heated disputes can ensue, tempers flare, rages run, foolish exaggerations be spouted, the mud of thoughtless insults be thoroughly slung, along with many other later-regretted words said that can't be undone. In humility, one is later made to feel the fool for having descended into such a pit of shameful speech and behavior. With head hung low, one walks away acutely thinking, "Man, I sure muffed that one up." Oh, to have the heart and wisdom of Christ. When He was "...reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously" (1 Pet. 2:23). Jesus never responded in like manner to those who cast verbal abuse upon Him. Rather, He prayed that they might be forgiven (Luke 23:34). Christ was always motivated by love -- though a stern love at times, as when he cast out the moneychangers from the temple (John 2:13-17). To retaliate, to return like for like, when it comes to foolish, insulting, or other ungodly treatment, one must become like those who are given to such; and this, therefore, is what the wisdom of God is instructing us not to do. In other words, don't become like a fool (in your speech and manner) when answering a fool! You might be tempted to -- but don't! As it is rendered in the New American Standard Bible, "Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will also be like him." Answer a Fool Now that one was shown HOW NOT TO answer a fool, one is then exhorted to answer him -- and, the implication being, that it is to be done wisely and reprovingly. Proverbs 26:5 also points out the result of such: it is so the fool "will not be wise in his own eyes." The right answer given to him -- and in the right manner -- is intended to help him see the error in his own wrongful thinking, and so that he will deceive himself no longer. For it appears that the very thing that is making him foolish is that which he perceives as being his "wisdom." This reminds us of Solomon's statement that "He who trusts in his own heart is a fool..." (Prov. 28:26); and is not this the equivalent of what the psalmist meant by one who views himself as being "wise in his own eyes"? So Proverbs 26:4,5 involves two main issues: 1) how not to deal with a fool -- don't become like one yourself when giving an answer; and 2) how to answer a fool. From this passage, we can infer that one was to answer the fool wisely and reprovingly, with proper speech and dignified conduct -- rather than in the wrongful manner of a fool. ___________________________________________ Serpents and Doves by David Smitherman "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves" (Matt. 10:16). Serpents and doves -- two creatures that have little in common. And yet, in the development of our character, we are to be "as" they are in some respects. Quite a paradox, isn't it? Well, much of the Christian's character is a paradox. For instance... We are to control our tongue (Jas. 3:1-f) but also speak boldly (Eph. 6:20). There is no virtue in a bold tongue that is uncontrolled or one so controlled that it is never bold. Our tongues need a "controlled boldness" in order to rebuke sin both publicly (Gal. 2:11-f) and privately (Matt. 18:15). Though the consequences may be unpleasant (Mk. 6:16-18) we must speak boldly, and when occasion demands it our bold tongues must be blunt (Matt. 23:15). Fear of saying a wrong thing should not keep us from saying the right thing (Matt. 10:26-27). "Silence is not always golden, sometimes it is just plain yellow." Paul's humility (1 Cor. 15:9) and yet his confidence (2 Tim. 4:7-8) exemplify yet another paradox. Humility should not breed timidity but neither should confidence give rise to arrogance. Humility will keep us aware of our own weaknesses but should never cause a hesitancy to point out sin in the lives of others (1 Cor. 5:1-13). We are humbled by our liability to err in opinions and understanding of Truth, but are confident that there are some things of which we are sure that cannot be compromised (Gal. 2:5). The virtue of longsuffering (Gal. 5:22) must be balanced by intolerance (Col. 2:4, 8, 16, 18). Longsuffering is needed as attempts are made to progress toward maturity, but intolerance is demanded when progress is not made and goals not reached (1 Cor. 3:1-3; Heb. 5:11-f). It is one thing to suffer long with sinners as they attempt to conquer sin but quite another to tolerate wrongdoing (Rev. 2:15-16; 20-21). We must certainly care what others think about us (Matt. 5:13-16) but at the same time think little of how others evaluate us (Gal. 1:10). The virtue of living to influence others (Phil. 2:12-16) can so easily become the vice of living to please others (Gal. 2:11-f). Some are prone "by nature" to be "as serpents" or "as doves" and the Devil uses our "natural inclinations" to cause an imbalanced character. He would have us emphasize what comes easily and de-emphasize what doesn't. As a consequence we often go to extremes: either a pseudo-sophisticated person who thinks that "cultured" people avoid bold speech, confident affirmations, intolerance of sin, and conduct that may "offend" others; or a crudeness that is abusive in speech, arrogant, intolerant, and unconcerned about what others may think. The development of a balanced, yet paradoxical, character does not come quickly (Heb. 5:12 - "by reason of time") nor is it easy (1 Cor. 9:25 - "striveth...self control"), but there are no short cuts to maturity. ___________________________________________ Will Your Children Go to Heaven? by Jim R. Everett Several years ago some congregations began to explore why we were losing so many of our young people. One congregation discovered a correlation between the interest the parents manifest in their assembling practices and the faithfulness of their children. They discovered that the greatest impact on the children came from their parents, not from the preacher, elders or Bible class teachers and special congregational teaching work. The statistics were very alarming and revealing. When both parents were spiritually minded and active in assembling 93% of the children remained faithful. However, if only one of the parents was faithful that number dropped to 73%. Then, when both parents were only reasonably active and faithful in their worship and study, only 53% of the young people stayed with their faith. PARENTS, READ THIS NEXT STATISTIC CAREFULLY -- WHEN BOTH PARENTS ATTENDED INFREQUENTLY THE PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN WHO REMAINED FAITHFUL TO THE LORD DROPPED TO 6%!!! Your interest and attendance say a lot to your children. It tells them about your faith, values and priorities. Whether or not your children go to heaven, to a great degree, depends on you. Do you want your children to go to heaven? We answer that question at every assembly time, don't we? ___________________________________________ News & Notes The Gospel Meeting at the Park Forest church of Christ in Baton Rouge begins today (November 10) and will last through Friday. Weeknights: 7:30. The speaker will be Joseph Casimier of Avondale, Arizona. His sermon topics will be as follows: Sunday: 1) "Faith" 2) "God Who Makes the Broken Beautiful" 3) "Harvest Time" Monday: "Nevertheless" Tuesday: "The Lord Built a House" Wednesday: "An Example of Conversion" Thursday: "Romans 14" Friday: "Be Ye Also Ready" For more information, call 273-1105. ________________________________________ MYRTLE STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST 1022 Myrtle Street Denham Springs, LA 70726 (225) 664-8208 Sunday: 9:15 AM, 10:00 AM, 4:00 PM Wednesday: 7:00 PM evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (225) 667-4520 e-mail: tedwards@onemain.com web site: http://home.onemain.com/~tedwards/go ________________________________________