Value Adjustment
Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 1 Corinthians 1:20
Foolish – Eve got some good advice. If you want to be like the gods, you have to break the one God’s rule. If you want to do things your way, you have to ignore what God says. If you really want to make someone of yourself, you’ll have to take control of your destiny. It was good advice from the world’s point of view. The only problem is that those who love the world become enemies of God.
Paul could have pointed to the same lesson in the Torah when he chastised the Corinthians over their hierarchical disunity. Having just berated them for creating divisions among themselves, he goes on to demonstrate that God’s way makes a mockery of the world’s distinctions. Notice the context. First, Paul remarks that the typical method of gaining superiority is pointless in the Body. In Paul’s day, men did not display degrees to achieve status. They cited their mentors. In this case, some claimed authority on the basis of their connection to Peter. Some claimed Apollos. Some even claimed they sat under Yeshua (top that one!). Paul pushes it all aside. God’s ways are counter-intuitive. What does not promote unity among believers is not in alignment with God.
Paul expands this mentoring heritage to include three classes of notable celebrities: the wise men, the scribes and the debaters. Who are these people? In Paul’s vernacular, wise men are most likely Jewish sages. They were often found in the company of scribes. They were the depositories of generations of tradition and teaching, recognized for their insight and understanding. All of this is critically important to the continuance of the Jewish community. But when it came to Yeshua HaMashiach, they missed it. God’s plan was more subtle than even they could imagine. The fact that they did not recognize Emmanuel isn’t the problem. There is always forgiveness. The problem is that claiming to be wise, they overlooked the “foolish” of God. They didn’t account for God’s gentle humility and upside-down ways. If we were to look for these kind of men today, I am quite sure we could find many. They are religious, respected and recognized. Perhaps you have one or two as your own experts. But if they don’t reflect the character of the Messiah, then their wisdom won’t mean much in the long run.
Scribes were the legal experts of the day. They also had their claim to fame. They knew every tiny detail of the Scriptures. You’ll remember that Herod asked them where the Messiah was to be born. Scribes knew their Bible, but they didn’t understand what it meant. They could quote “chapter and verse” but they failed to see the plan of God weaving its way through the words. Today we encounter many scribes. Their view of Scripture is a proof-text pantheon, but they often miss the power of the covenants. They don’t connect all the dots. These teachers give us doctrine instead of discipleship.
Finally, the debaters. Paul speaks from experience. The rabbis had a house of disputation, an academy where argument about the interpretation of Scripture continued day after day. In fact, if you read rabbinic commentary even today, you will soon discover one debate after another. There is no doubt that we have done a great job of following this tradition. Thirty two thousand denominations would make any suzetetes (disputer) proud.
What motivates Paul to pick on these three? They were all common fixtures of the religious world. These are not pagan businessmen. These are men of the cloth, men in the “church,” men who knew the Word. But they lacked the one characteristic that Paul claims is paramount to righteousness. They lacked a deep and abiding desire for unity. God does not divide His house. We do. Where we divide, we make ourselves foolish. That is the Greek verb moraino, from moros. We do not become morons, stupid. That is the Greek meaning. We become morally worthless. That is the Hebrew connotation. Form without substance equals moral worthlessness.
Unity. The clarion call of God to all His children. How did we miss it? Maybe we followed a wise man, a scribe or a disputer?
Topical Index: made foolish, moraino, unity, wise, scribe, debater, 1 Corinthians 1:20
Gen 49:5 Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations.
Gen 49:6 O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall.
Gen 49:7 Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.
The context of the above passage is that Jacob prophesying over his sons Levi and Simeon. For their act of cruelty and self-will against the men of Shechem. God does cause them to be divided in the land. Perhaps the unity of such behavior is not beneficial.
Shalom all.
To me, this article is in danger of giving the impression that unity is all-important. It does not balance the time for unity with the time for division.
Do you believe in unity at any price? I trust not. The scripture is clear that there is a time for seperation and division (1 Corinthians 5:1-13). Unity must be based on righteouness and truth. Not the reverse.
JW’s and Mormons profess biblical faith but I trust nobody within the true body of Meshiach reading this would dream of joining with them.
Might I suggest that seperation and division based on rivalry and self-righteous pride is bad (as the article rightly suggests) whilst seperation and division based on righteouness and truth is both necessary and good (which the article omits)?
The beautiful Havdalah ceremony at the end of Shabbat says it perfectly…
Blessed are you, YHWH, our God, King of the Universe
Who divides between holy and profane
between light and darkness, between Israel and the peoples
between the seventh day and the six days of work
Blessed are You, YHWH, who divides between holy and profane.
Thanks for both of the above comments. Of course, unity at any cost is not the objective. But unity is still the call to all who are followers. We are separated from the world by this call, but we are all called by the same God. To stand apart from our brothers and sisters is inappropriate. Disagreement in theological trivialities is not grounds for dividing the Body.
Agreed, Skip but your point assumes (correctly, in my view) that one must first be sure of whom truly belongs to the Body and that one has to be able to distinguish between what are ‘theological trivialities’ as you put it and fundamental (if its still OK to use that word!) biblical truth.
When one is humbly yet courageously able to distinguish between biblically moral behaviour and biblically immoral behaviour and between the true sheep and the charlatan and between what one can ‘agree to disagree on’ and what one cannot then a seperation is still necessary and good.
Shalom,
Well stated brother! Judge not but most certainly be able and willing to discern the ways of HaDerech from those of Olam Hazeh!
Unity is necessary … AMONG BRETHREN … however unity with gers (non-true believers) and toleration for false ways is a recipe for disaster … as it is written.
Skip is right on the mark here … it is not about knowledge but about application of truth in behavior that is wisdom … and true union! Ultimately Mashaich’s union is premised upon servitude and humility … but HE is a Wholly Righteous and HOLY LORD … as such the union must be premised upon truth with divisions existing only between believers and non-believers!
This being stated, as Ken points out correctly in my view, is that not all who claim to be of Mashiach are of Mashiach. Fellowship with just anyone claiming to be “for Christ” is certainly not part of my agenda … fellowship comes by way of a standard and that standard is obedience to the everlasting covenant. Conversely … just as Mashiach came to call not the healthy but the sick … so too is our calling! As such we must understand that many see things through the blindness of inherited teachings and these misguided children should be lovingly engaged when The LORD presents such opportunities. And so we present the truth … and when the theological debates and walls go up … well then it is time to simply back off!
IT is SO GOOD to have you back.
I have missed the daily interaction my brother … sometimes the traveling gets a bit much …. I know that you are no stranger to this … how you keep in tune with your schedule and hopping around just amazes me!
I am saddened to hear of your recent kidney stone issue. I’ve heard the pain is horrific! You will remain in my prayers and I praise The LORD that you continue to faithfully provide the foundation for such a wonderful venue!
Man … I was hungrier than I thought! 🙂 … You continue to be a humble but excellent master chef!
Seems to me that the biblical material always stresses unity within the ranks of those who follow YHWH and resistance to all other ways. Open arms to all who are willing to come in, no matter how long or how much dialogue that requires, but standing firm on the precepts and positions of the revelation.
We should note that ‘unity’ to Orthodox Jews means ‘Oneness’ not ‘togetherness’ – that is, ‘only God’. Any sense of ‘togetherness’ (community, for instance) would be so that everything points (directly) to God and God alone. We become nothing together in God – rather than, we join together for God… if you see what I mean.
In my opinion l agree with skip because we always think and act the way we were teaching in our churches? let’s take a look at isaiah 56: 1,2 and if you’re not the original destinatary of these words( the holy nation or people,jew by blood it doesn’t mean you’re not a rebel in front of Elohim)and we’re extranger, we’re covered in versicles 6 and 7.
“IN ESSENTIALS UNITY, IN NON-ESSENTIALS LIBERTY, IN ALL THINGS CHARITY.”
and to read a little of the history of the above quote, here is one source: http://www9.georgetown.edu/faculty/jod/augustine/quote.html
There can be no doubt our G-d is a G-d of unity, wholeness, and “oneness.” (shalom).
2 Corinthians 5.19 sheds a little further light for us: “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” “Reconciling the world” I would say is a G-d sized task! What would be our “common denominator?” Where do Jew and Gentile find common ground? Male and female? Rich and poor? Black and white? Educated/illiterate? East-West-North and South- we all find “unity” in the cross of Christ. All (and more importantly- “each” are welcomed here.
I really am simple enough to believe G-d’s favorite number (if He has a favorite) is one. “The two shall become one flesh.” The message and purpose of the gospel is “reconcilitation and restoration of relationships- both vertically (with G-d) and horizontally (with each other). The delight of Hasatan is separation and carried to its finish, “Death” – the ultimate separation.
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” (Psalm 133.1)
I am reminded of another point of unity that I learned from Skip. Unity is NOT sameness or agreement. Unity is first, and foremost, voluntary, mutual love (sacrifice) and respect (submission). This is fundamental to marriage, but in many ways serves to define relationships within the community. Yes, there is a time to divide and a time to unite (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). The question is, How do we discern the change in season? When I consider another human being – created in the image and likeness of the Creator, and possessing His authority – when do I decide I can no longer be in unity with them? Is it when they no longer see what I see; know what I know; or believe what I believe? When? How?
“Unity is first, and foremost, voluntary, mutual love (sacrifice) and respect (submission).”
You are so right, Roderick – as long as we recognise that we don’t try to do this in isolation from God. There is a tendency, though, to look at things differently – good Christians, in my experience, try to “love your neighbour” when the ways to do that present themselves, and live a life of submission whenever God asks anything – in other words, as these things present themselves or come to mind. However, the observant Jew wakes each day to ‘a new life’; they enter each day loving God and their neighbour completely, totally submitted to fulfilling all of the mitzvot (commandments). There is no other reality; they are one with God. They do enter the day thinking, “I will try to do my best as a believer today” thinking they can offer that to God as their service and witness.
So, when can you no longer be in unity with the others in the Community. [By the way, did you know that Orthodox Jews believe that we are only “in the image and likeness of the Creator” when we are in unity with Him? In other words, it is a given.] Well, if someone is in disobedience to God’s commands they have disturbed the unity – they have created a different reality than the one where all there is is God – it is our responsibility to gently point out their error to them, in the hope that they will recognise the seriousness of the situation, repent and return. If they refuse to correct their error, Scripture says they are to be treated as an unbeliever. In the ancient days they would be put out of the camp. God commands that we are to ‘hate’ them. But that does not countermand the instruction to ‘love our neighbour’. We hate them because of their unwillingness to conquer the evil desires within them (because this is idolotry), but we love them due to that aspect of good that is buried within them – the Godliness that may still be revived by our love.
[So much for backing off and stopping posting “But the Jew…” comments!]
“[By the way, did you know that Orthodox Jews believe that we are only “in the image and likeness of the Creator” when we are in unity with Him? In other words, it is a given.] ”
Sorry – typing too fast – this should have said, “In other words, it is NOT a given.” And I missed a question mark off the end of Roderick’s question.
“They do enter the day thinking, “I will try to do my best as a believer today” thinking they can offer that to God as their service and witness.”
And – a further mistake – this should say “They DON’T enter the day…”
[I’m posting more since I said I’d step back…!]
Yeshua’s words in Matt 10:34-36 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth; I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother… And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
Paul disputed daily, withstood Peter to the face, cursed Elymas blind, told the Corinthians not to even eat with such a one, and to deliver such an one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.
When Eli refused to deal with the sin of his sons, God accused him of honoring his sons above God. The Philistines captured the ark of God, both of Eli’s sons were killed, and when blind Eli heard the news he fell, broke his neck, and died.
I do understand that these incidents were not “trivialities,” but Yeshua and Paul offended everywhere they went. There are serious consequences for tolerating sin in the ranks.
And then there are the prophets… Heschel’s book on this subject is one quotable line after another; e.g.,
“The prophet is a lonely man. He alienates the wicked as well as the pious, the cynics as well as the believers, the priests and the princes, the judges and the false prophets. But to be a prophet means to challenge and to defy and to cast out fear.”
“When a prophet is accepted and deified, his message is lost. The prophet is only useful so long as he is stoned as a public nuisance, calling us to repentance, disturbing our comfortable routines, breaking our respectable idols, shattering our sacred conventions. …challenging the apparently holy, revered, and awesome. Beliefs cherished as certainties, institutions endowed with supreme sanctity, he exposes as scandalous pretensions.”
These don’t sound like ear-tickling words to me.
Ian and Tara’s description of ‘unity’ above seems very accurate, and allows the balance we need.
I currently have friends in a small town, attempting to deal with a “Pastor” who has twice been caught and convicted of having sex with little boys in the rest rooms off the Interstate. He runs a large church, a Christian School and college, and is the president of the Ministerial Association for the surrounding area. The other pastors in the area turn their heads and preach sermons on unity and David and Saul, warning their congregations not to disturb the unity of the Christian community in the area, and to respect his office as one where God has placed him. Sorry, but the cost to the children involved is much too high.
Another awesome teaching with profound application for us as members of the body of Christ.
This statement especially stands out to me: “God does not divide His house. We do. Where we divide, we make ourselves foolish.”
I’m not nearly as scholarly as other readers but am wise enough and have experienced enough to know that this is very true.