From: kilroy@gboro.glassboro.edu (Dr Nancy's Sweetie)
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.christia
Subject: Re: Historical Legal Proof
Summary: So, anything foolish is acceptable for Christians?
Keywords: foolishness, wisdom, misleading, `Woof!'
Date: 7 Oct 92 00:40:49 GMT
Organization: Rowan College of New Jersey
Disclaimer: Brandy the WonderDog says "Hey, that's my disc!"


There has been some discussion of Josh McDowell; basically, I said that while
apologetics can be a worthwhile exercise, and while some of what Mr McDowell
writes is useful, much of what he produces is not very good.

In reply, Stephen Klepzig has posted one of the most abused passages in the
New Testament: 1 Corinthians 1:17-29.  He specifically likes verse 25:

> 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the
>    weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.

This verse is often used to defend foolishness on the part of Christians.
If you say that somebody has done something ridiculous, he replies by saying
"What's foolishness to you is wisdom to God!", as if God approves of every
single stupid thing done by Christians.

I think this attitude -- the claim that ANYTHING foolish is okay if you say
that you're doing it for Christ -- is execrable.  I do not think for a single
second that Paul is saying `Be foolish because that is what God wants'.  I
think that Paul is saying "The Gospel of Christ sounds foolish to men, but
that's because they don't know God's wisdom."


Suppose I said "I just found Noah's Ark in my basement, which proves that
Genesis is true".  Somebody might argue that I was being foolish, but then I
could say "No, the foolishness of God is wiser than men's wisdom!"

Or I could paint myself green and carry a big sign saying "Christianity is
about painting yourself green, so go to a church with a paintbrush today!"
And when someone complained, I would say "God's foolishness is wiser than
your wisdom!"

There are a million other examples -- and I really don't need to make any
up, because there's enough silliness going on around us right now.  Do you
really mean to say that anything silly done by a Christian is good?


It is my contention that Josh McDowell writes books in which he makes false
claims and misleads his readers.  If you want to defend such methods of
spreading the Gospel as "God's foolishness", that's your business.  But Jesus
said that he was the Truth, and I personally believe that misleading people is
inconsistent with Christianity -- even if you mislead them in the hope they
will convert.

I think that the mistakes Mr McDowell makes are honest ones; he isn't trying
to deceive anybody.  But misleading people by accident is not much of an
improvement; following Jesus requires careful attention to what you say, and
making false claims because you don't know what you are talking about is
dereliction of duty.  I think Mr McDowell's inconsistent claims have nothing
to do with the foolishness of God; they are the foolishness of Josh McDowell.
Using God's name as an excuse every time somebody points out your mistakes
makes it easier to avoid facing your own shortcomings; but I don't think God
approves of making false claims.


If what we believe is true, we have nothing to fear from a serious and direct
analysis of the facts; we have no reason to shrink from stating ALL the
evidence, including the parts that are not in our favor.  I suspect that when
an apologist presents only half the facts, it is because he is unsure of his
faith and is afraid to confront anything which might call his current ideas
into doubt.  So far as I can make out, Josh McDowell does not want to consider
the possibility that some of his beliefs are wrong -- so he just doesn't deal
with any evidence that might dispute them.  It appears that Mr McDowell wants
an easy, wide road with no hard questions and no need for self-examination.

Somehow, that doesn't seem like the kind of thing God intended Christianity
to be.

And I can't imagine how anyone interprets the Bible to encourage misleading
others or deceiving one's self.


Darren F Provine / kilroy@gboro.glassboro.edu
"Is it hypocritical to speak for truth while hiding?" -- Jim Meritt
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.christia