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."
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.