This episode finishes up the discussion of the eviyl fool and describes the salient characteristics of the kesil fool, the third level fool. Both the simple minded fool (pethey) and the eviyl fool are reachable. Though the eviyl fool is quarrelsome and close-minded, he hasn't "graduated" to full blown wickedness. The best strategy to reach the eviyl fool is dialogue that takes the winner/loser dynamic completely off the table. Eviyl fools want to be right all the time, so what would happen if they met a believer who doesn't contradict them, but humbly acknowledges that he is a wayward soul, always in need of correction? When believers communicate that they are often "wrong" based on God's standard, the only one that really matters, they are essentially tilling the soil of the eviyl's mind, where seeds of correction might germinate. The latter part of the program introduces the "kesil" fool, who, adds wickedness and deceit to the fool package, for "the mind of fools ("kesilim") is in the house of pleasure."
Caveats on Navigating Fooldom
The episode begins by addressing possible misinterpretations of Matthew 5:22 where Christ says, "whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell." Calling someone a fool here amounted to declaring that someone is worthless, a value judgment contradicted by the image of God in all men. We judge behavior not intrinsic worth. Along these lines, the program warns against rigidly labeling people, where we identify someone, for example, as a "nabal" fool. We can assess and identify behavior (in ourselves and others) that is characteristic of a certain level fool, without labeling or boxing them in as such. All saints are recovering fools who periodically act "foolish," though their fundamental identity is the "righteousness of God in Christ." (2 Corinthians 5:21) The episode lastly suggests strategies to subtly correct the eviyl fool. Since he/she is hypersensitive about being right all the time, try to avoid dialogue that makes one party "right" and the other party "wrong." Validate the opinions of others, when possible, maybe stating "I can see why you think that.." Then ask a question that is informed by a correct Biblical understanding. "What do you think of this take on the issue? Dialogue doesn't have to have "winners" and "losers," so try to take that zero-sum-game approach to conversation off the table.
Don’t Cast Pearls before Eviyl
This episode surveys descriptions of the second level fool described in Proverbs, the "eviyl fool." Unlike the pethey fool who is very teachable, to the point of credulity, the eviyl fool despises wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7) "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes" (Proverbs 12:15), and he hates correction. The insecurity of eviyl fools often manifests in quarrelsome behavior: they're not content to be right in their own eyes, for they need to be right in the eyes of others. "Any fool will quarrel." (Proverbs 20:3) Correcting an eviyl fool accomplishes little. "When a wise man has a controversy with a foolish man, the foolish man either rages or laughs, and there is no rest." (Proverbs 29:9) Wisdom is a threat to fools who hate correction, so predictably rage and/or scoffing are designed to protect the fragile self-image of the fool. This fool is so resistant to correction, that foolishness doesn't depart, "though you pound a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain." (Proverbs 27:22)
The Foolishness of Fools is Deceit
"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 Unhindered Descent of a Fool
homosexuality, degrading passions, depraved mind
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.