Conventional Wisdom Has Limits
Newsweek magazine has a feature in which conventional wisdom is applied to various events and people in the news. “Conventional wisdom” has grown to be the benchmark of approval for all things, be it morals, ethics or natural science. The shortcoming of conventional wisdom is that it is tied to public opinion, which often changes hourly.
Paul said “But with me it is a small thing that I should be judged by you or any human court. I do not even judge myself.” –I Corinthians 4:3. He refused to give conventional wisdom the final say. Public opinion is important, but he assigned it to the status of a lower court on his standard of judgment. Thinking people follow Paul’s lead.
Conventional wisdom has its collective mind made up and settled; often on the right side of things, often on the wrong. The emotionally charged debate over abortion has been settled, as far as conventional wisdom goes. Popular opinion declares the practice to be a woman’s right, and will allow no further debate on the subject.
Scripture disagrees, in passages such as Jeremiah 1:5, where God speaks of calling the prophet while he was still in the womb. A thoughtful study of Psalm 139:16 leads one to think of the wonder of DNA, and of the great potential of each unborn child. It would seem to leave the door open for a reasonable debate on the subject. Is it right to take a life when it becomes inconvenient? The wisdom of the ages invites all to “Come now and let us reason together.” –Isaiah 1:18.
Conventional wisdom pronounces enthusiastic approval with the practice of homosexuality. Gays are to be free from discrimination. Of course, given the intrinsic worth of every human soul, each individual deserves to be treated with positive regard and respect—See John 3:16. However, divine judgment remains unchanged. The Old Testament condemns homosexuality as an abomination. (Leviticus 18:22). Two instances of holy history describe the consequences of this lifestyle run amok. In both Sodom in Genesis 19 and Gibeah of Judges 19, homosexual men act violently toward innocent victims, and the result is the destruction of the cities and surrounding areas. Violence is always a consequence whenever lust has free reign.
The New Testament pronounces judgment against lifestyles of unrestrained lust, including homosexuality and fornication in I Corinthians 6:9-10 and Romans 1:26-27. Paul rejects the final authority of conventional wisdom in I Corinthians 4:4. “It is the Lord who judges.” Paul’s appeal was echoed at the Nuremburg war trials in 1946 by Special Prosecutor Robert Jackson, who reminded the genocidal Nazis that they were all subject to an authority higher than that of Hitler.
The end results of conventional wisdom find it lacking as a reliable benchmark. Judges 21:25 describes a season of chaos and violence, when a tribe in Israel was nearly wiped out because of its arrogant and abominable lifestyle. The writer reveals the cause: “All the people did what was right in their own eyes.” May God save us from conventional wisdom. Rather, we should do as Jesus said, “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” –John 7:24.
Paul said “But with me it is a small thing that I should be judged by you or any human court. I do not even judge myself.” –I Corinthians 4:3. He refused to give conventional wisdom the final say. Public opinion is important, but he assigned it to the status of a lower court on his standard of judgment. Thinking people follow Paul’s lead.
Conventional wisdom has its collective mind made up and settled; often on the right side of things, often on the wrong. The emotionally charged debate over abortion has been settled, as far as conventional wisdom goes. Popular opinion declares the practice to be a woman’s right, and will allow no further debate on the subject.
Scripture disagrees, in passages such as Jeremiah 1:5, where God speaks of calling the prophet while he was still in the womb. A thoughtful study of Psalm 139:16 leads one to think of the wonder of DNA, and of the great potential of each unborn child. It would seem to leave the door open for a reasonable debate on the subject. Is it right to take a life when it becomes inconvenient? The wisdom of the ages invites all to “Come now and let us reason together.” –Isaiah 1:18.
Conventional wisdom pronounces enthusiastic approval with the practice of homosexuality. Gays are to be free from discrimination. Of course, given the intrinsic worth of every human soul, each individual deserves to be treated with positive regard and respect—See John 3:16. However, divine judgment remains unchanged. The Old Testament condemns homosexuality as an abomination. (Leviticus 18:22). Two instances of holy history describe the consequences of this lifestyle run amok. In both Sodom in Genesis 19 and Gibeah of Judges 19, homosexual men act violently toward innocent victims, and the result is the destruction of the cities and surrounding areas. Violence is always a consequence whenever lust has free reign.
The New Testament pronounces judgment against lifestyles of unrestrained lust, including homosexuality and fornication in I Corinthians 6:9-10 and Romans 1:26-27. Paul rejects the final authority of conventional wisdom in I Corinthians 4:4. “It is the Lord who judges.” Paul’s appeal was echoed at the Nuremburg war trials in 1946 by Special Prosecutor Robert Jackson, who reminded the genocidal Nazis that they were all subject to an authority higher than that of Hitler.
The end results of conventional wisdom find it lacking as a reliable benchmark. Judges 21:25 describes a season of chaos and violence, when a tribe in Israel was nearly wiped out because of its arrogant and abominable lifestyle. The writer reveals the cause: “All the people did what was right in their own eyes.” May God save us from conventional wisdom. Rather, we should do as Jesus said, “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” –John 7:24.
posted by Unknown @ 9:32 AM
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