May the mumbling commence!
Chasing the wisdom of humanity is useless. Pursuing godly wisdom is another thing entirely. Godly wisdom leads to life, while worldly wisdom leads to death. Read from James chapter three:
Are there some wise and understanding men among you? Then your lives will be an example of the humility that is born of true wisdom. But if your heart is full of rivalry and bitter jealousy, then do not boast of your wisdom – don't deny the truth that you must recognize in your inmost heart. You may acquire a certain superficial wisdom, but it does not come from God – it comes from this world, from your own lower nature, even from the devil. For wherever you find jealousy and rivalry you also find disharmony and all other kinds of evil.
The wisdom that comes from God is first utterly pure, then peace-loving, gentle, approachable, full of tolerant thoughts and kindly actions, with no breath of favoritism or hint of hypocrisy. And the wise are peace-makers who go on quietly sowing for a harvest of righteousness – in other people and in themselves. (Verses13-18)
There are many things in this world that masquerade as wisdom but produce only rivalry and jealousy and arrogance. These wisdoms are only superficial. They do not come from God but from the world. They promote the disharmony of the devil instead of the harmony of God.
Carefully examine anything that calls itself wisdom and promotes disharmony. It is suspect.
True, godly wisdom has another MO. Godly wisdom is pure, peace-loving, gentle, approachable, kindly, and righteous-seeking. There is to be no favoritism or hypocrisy. To obtain these attitudes, Christians must seek to see all issues from the perspective of the disadvantaged and the vulnerable.
Too often, the Scriptures are used by a dominate power to condone their own self-centered agendas. Remember that Scriptures were once used to condone and even promote the institution of slavery. Remember that Scriptures are often used to exclude women from church leadership positions. Scriptures are also used to condone issues of racism and classism.
When these things and things similar to them happen, Satan smiles. We often create artificial divisions and pretend they are insurmountable. But, what do they look like from God’s vantage point – the viewpoint of the vulnerable, the oppressed, and the disadvantaged? We must answer this question together and include all perspectives.
Satan sees open and compassionate dialogue and trembles with fear. Let us add our voices and stories. Let us lend our ears to the voices and stories of others.
May it be so.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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