"Ephesians 4:22 commands Christians to ""lay aside the old self which is being corrupted by the lusts of deceit."" The old idolatrous self pursued desires outside of the parameters of God. Lusts of deceit typically promise immediate gratification but hide costs over the long term, resulting in repetitive satisfaction of seemingly innocuous lusts. Corruption nevertheless sets in. Repetition ossifies lusts, and the old self is practically defined by the lust which is now an habitual practice. The periodic drinker becomes a drunkard, the occasional gossiper an egregious slanderer, the ""recreational user,"" a full blown drug-addict. The costs are now plainly evident, but the fool characteristically doubles down, and rationalizes his slavery. (""I can quit anytime I want, he loudly protests"") The fool originally contracted the lusts of deceit to serve the old self; now lusts are the master and the old self the servant, who has been thoroughly corrupted by the lusts of deceit. The Scriptures address this root of deception: ""The foolishness of fools is deceit."" (Proverbs 14:8) The practice of engaging lusts (foolishness) among fools reinforces self-deception. In any event, the foolishness of fools doesn't instantly leave when saints confess Christ. The episode notes that the old self is presently BEING corrupted by the lusts of deceit. All Christians are in the process of sanctification in which the Holy Spirit helps the believer identify with the new man in Christ, which is ""created in righteousness and holiness of the truth."" (24) This identification founded on TRUTH is the antidote to the DECEIT of fools. Believers then must regularly put on Christ, while they lay aside the old self, making no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts. (Romans 14:17)
The Depraved Mind, a Servant of Lusts
The fool's hostility to the knowledge of God leads to a mind that no longer serves its original purpose, that of discovering the works of God and co-laboring with Him, giving Him glory. The depraved mind of a fool instead serves a different purpose, the advancement of an idol god largely defined by unrestrained lusts. This episode unpacks the usurpation of the mind in service of idolatry. Paul notes that unbelieving Gentiles "walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart." (Ephesians 4:18) Working backwards through the quote, Gentile hostility to the knowledge of God, based on "hardness of heart" makes them ignorant and disqualifies them as participants in the life of God. Without the knowledge of God (deliberately suppressed), the mind can't possibly serve its original purpose. The understanding is darkened, the mind itself a futile faculty, cut off from the life of God. The consequent "depraved mind" exists to service the idol identity grounded in the big three ("the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life"--1 John 2:16) "Sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness" (Ephesians 4:19) is relatively easy, for the conscience, acting on the inner law of God, has been largely deactivated. The Holy Spirit has given the fool over to a depraved mind that is "callous" and resistant to correction. The litany of character defects in Romans 1:29-31 is predictable: "full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice, gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, and unmerciful."
The Unhindered Descent of a Fool
homosexuality, degrading passions, depraved mind
Even God Doesn’t Restrain the Fool
"The mind of fools is in the house of pleasure." (Ecclesiastes 7:4) This wisdom from Solomon is repeated by Paul in Romans 1:24, from the perspective of God, Who no longer restrains the desire of the fool: "God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity.." This initial "giving over" by God (there are 3) signals the obstinacy of a fool determined to pursue the lust of his heart, set as he is on the house of pleasure. God's gracious restraining influences are persistently ignored, for the fool will have his way, and not even a hundred blows of harsh correction will dissuade him. (Proverbs 17:10) The uncorrectable nature of fool is a prominent feature of fooldom, and God's response of abandoning fools to their folly points to how we should, in some cases, respond to a fool.
Fools Reject Their Purpose
This episode links the discussion of the Biblical fool to the grand narrative of mankind's purpose, restored in salvation. The ultimate purpose of salvation is the restoration of mankind to his original purpose, where he gives God glory in response to beholding God (faith) and regarding the works of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:18) Mankind's fundamental problem since the Fall is idolatry, where man and his works replace God and His works as the consuming focus of life. God initiates restoration: the accumulated sin debt of man is paid for and satisfied in Christ on the cross, and the wages of man's works, all tainted by sin, are paid in full. (Romans 6:23) Repudiation of the old man and his works, coupled with faith in God, is essential for salvation. Consequently, "repentance from dead works" and "faith toward God," ("repent and believe the gospel") are the first two foundational principles of Christianity. (Hebrews 6:1) Christ and His works progressively become the focus of life in Christian sanctification, replacing the idolatrous focus on man and his works. The Biblical fool, fixated on himself and his dead works, suppresses and exchanges the truth of God for a lie. (Romans 1:18-23) He rejects his God-given purpose of reflecting the glory of God while delighting in God and His works. The fool instead finds purpose in pursuing his own glory and ends, shaped entirely by his idolatrous fixation on himself. Perpetual rejection of the knowledge of God and His gracious offer of redemption in Christ leads to "eternal destruction." Christ, on his return, will deal out "retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus." (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9) The Biblical fool then is ultimately held accountable for his WILLFUL ignorance and rejection of the gospel.
The Fool and the Works of God
This episode spells out the Biblical purpose of man, highlighting the folly of a fool in the process. The image of God in man makes mankind unique among all creation. Men and women are endowed with the capacity to appreciate God and His works, and reflect His glory. The Fall seriously impaired this capacity, but never extinguished the hunger for eternity placed in all men. Solomon, for instance, noted that "God has set eternity in the human heart, yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end." (Ecclesiastes 3:11) Eternity invites man to regard the never-ending works of God, which is the unique privilege of those created in the image of God. Regarding the works of the Lord, honoring God as God and giving Him thanks--these make up the fundamental purpose of mankind. Interestingly, the failure to regard the works of the Lord is the sin of the wicked, according to Psalm 28:5. And the fool in Romans 1:18-23 is essentially one who has no regard for the works of the Lord, even denying "God's invisible attributes, eternal power and divine nature" made evident in creation. The fool then is one who rebels against his purpose, exchanging the truth of God for a lie, living for his own glory instead of the glory of his Creator.
Futile Speculations and the Descent of Fools
This episode summarizes the descent of a fool in Romans 1:18-23. The fool's rejection of self-evident truth about God is motivated by the "Great Exchange," in which he exchanges the glory of the incorruptible for an image in the form of corruptible man. The suppression of Truth however is costly, for it atrophies the mind's ability to discern truth from error. A "futile speculation" is reasoning grasping for explanations that deny God's invisible attributes, eternal power and divine nature. The fool then ends up embracing the absurd, exchanging the truth of God for a lie. About half of the episode applies the descent of a fool to cosmology, the science of origins. The Big Bang originally encountered opposition among many scientists, not for lack of evidence, but rather because many were philosophically predisposed against it. A "beginning" suggested that a "causal agent outside of space and time" began...well EVERYTHING. Acceptance of the Big Bang would logically mark the death knell of materialism. In any event, the observed red shift of stars together with the discovery of microwave background radiation led to begrudging acceptance of the Big Bang among scientists. Many however refused to go to materialism's funeral. They instead sought to inject life into the corpse by proposing the absurd: the multiverse and quantum fluctuations "created" our universe. Futile speculations among non-believing cosmologists point to the descent of fools who would rather believe the absurd instead of self-evident truth.
Take the ‘Fooldom’ Inventory!
This episode sets out criteria for determining if one is a fool and invites the listener to honestly assess where he or she lies on the spectrum of "fooldom." The first test is how do you respond to self-evident truths. Are you correctible or do you tend to double-down, rationalize, or call into question the applicability of the Word of God to your life? Regarding the latter, "fools despise wisdom and instruction" (Proverbs 1:7), and "he who hates correction is stupid." (Proverbs 12:1) Secondly, is the objective of life honoring God in gratitude, or is it mostly about satisfying desires? The episode distinguishes God-given desires from lusts, which amount to an idolatrous pursuit of desires without regard for the honor of God and neighbor. Interestingly, the result of partaking of the divine nature is escaping "the corruption that is in the world by lust." (2 Peter 1:4) Eternal life is not a repudiation of God-given desires, but rather a "renegotiation" where expression of desire is subordinated to love of God and neighbor. The above 2 criteria, based on Romans 1:18-23, help believers assess where they are on the spectrum of "fooldom."
The Futility of Fooldom
This episode mostly addresses the devastating consequences of the Fall/Great Exchange on mankind himself. The Fall initiated "Fooldom," the kingdom of fools, in which mankind suppresses truth, worshipping and serving himself, rather than God. "They exchanged the glory of the incorruptible god for and image in the form of corruptible man." (Romans 1:23) Truth is replaced with a lie, the creature is worshipped instead of the Creator. The consequences of this idolatry? Both the mind and emotions of man that were designed to glorify God are now fixated on serving and protecting the new sovereign. No longer glorifying the Creator, God-given desires become self-centered lusts, and the mind is principally employed in pursuit of "the big three," "the lusts of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life." (1 John 2:16) Fear, anxiety, envy, and strife mark the emotional life of idolaters competing in the rat-race of Fooldom. Solomon noted that "all toil and all skill in work come from a man's envy of his neighbor." (Eccles.4:4) The episode finally provides the Biblical solution: Christ reverses the Great Exchange where fools ensnared in fooldom can experience the liberty of the Kingdom of God, if they would embrace Christ as King.
There’s a Fool in ALL of Us
This episode applies the discussion of "fooldom" to believers, who might contend that "suppression of the truth" is not their issue, since they have confessed Christ as Lord. While many Christians have determined to glorify God with their lives, sincerely desiring to reverse the Great Exchange (Romans 1:23), very few believers, if any, have come under the total Lordship of Christ. The flesh is sympathetic to fooldom, leading to "foolish rationalizations" instead of "foolish speculations." Partial submission is the operative detente of the flesh, which naturally rationalizes some disobedience as tolerable. After all, no one is perfect. Rationalization among Christians therefore reflects a common means of suppressing truth, requiring believers to come under the total Lordship of Christ. "Fooldom" then is relevant to believers who take sanctification seriously and want to be conformed into the image of Christ.