Foolish Mortals

I've come across (once again) a concept from Scripture that doesn't line up with our current understanding. The concept is a "fool." We think of a fool as someone who lacks understanding, who may act unwisely on a given occasion, or even someone who appears ridiculous. But we make a mistake if we port those definitions into the biblical concept.

A fool isn't simply unaware; he makes evil plans (Isa 32:6). He enjoys wicked schemes (Prov 10:23) and proclaims folly (Prov 12:23). He mocks sin (Prov 14:9) and speaks perversity (Prov 19:1) and commits sexual immorality (Prov 6:32). He spurns parents' discipline (Prov 15:5), despises his mother (Prov 15:20), and brings grief to his parents (Prov 17:25). In biblical terms, then, a fool isn't poor informed or merely lacking understanding; a fool is a rebel against God.

In this light, it's interesting -- probably not the best term ... frightening? -- that Scripture says, "Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child." (Prov 22:15) Understanding now that "foolishness" is not a mere lack of education, a simple failure to act wisely on occasion, but rebellion against God, this text says it is deeply seated in a child's heart. God said, The intention of man's heart is evil from his youth." (Gen 8:21). That's not a ringing endorsement of the innate goodness of the human being. David wrote, "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me." (Psa 51:5). Sin is part of our structure from childhood. "Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child." So what is the solution? The rest of the verse.

Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him. (Prov 22:15)

Well, that doesn't work in today's world, does it? Of course, the premise of today's world is that people are basically good, so they automatically dismiss the verse to begin with. And we shouldn't really be surprised. The world is hostile to God (Rom 8:7). It's what we expect. Scripture tells us that God disciplines His children (Prov 3:11-12; Heb 12:5-6). Indeed, these texts irrevocably tie "discipline" to "love." "The Lord disciplines the one He loves." Hebrews says, "If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons." (Heb 12:8). Proverbs says, "Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him." (Prov 13:24).

We are sinful humans and we are fully capable of taking something God says is good and abusing it. Loving discipline, something God does and commands, is one such thing. We can strip off the love and leave only discipline and it becomes wrong. But to call all corporal punishment "evil" when Scripture commands it and God does it Himself isn't wise. It's foolishness. And for a believer to refuse to do what God says because the world has a different idea puts him or her in the Old Testament category of a fool.