Fools

I visited my mother-in-law last month and spent much time watching television, which I normally don’t do, especially the show—Young Sheldon. Sheldon, an Atheist boy with a Christian mother, is confronted with religion throughout his life, and the possibility of a God who created everything. He questions the existence of a Creator due to lack of empirical evidence, but at the same time read the entire Bible wanting to know what it says and shows respect for his mother’s faith. It was a very funny show, and we shared a few laughs, especially when Sheldon often asks provacative questions during sermons and Bible studies. I couldn’t help but notice some elements of the sitcom that made me think, even though it’s fiction.

You could be the smartest person in the room and still be a fool

There are undeniably intelligent individuals on this planet, yet they remain ignorant of a profound truth: that an intelligent being is responsible for the creation of all that exists in the universe. They may possess extensive knowledge about creation itself, yet they completely overlook the significance of knowing the Creator behind it all. This is akin to scrutinizing a painting—analyzing brush strokes, interpreting its meaning, and identifying its historical context—all the while neglecting to acknowledge the artist, as if the artwork simply materialized from nothing without purpose or origin. It’s equally foolish to stand at the base of Mount Rushmore and declare, ‘It’s amazing how rainwater carved out these three distinct faces for all to see!’

Psalm 14:1 and 53:1 both have a line in the verses that says, “The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” And why is the God-denying man a fool? David Guzik points out:

• He denies what is plainly evident.
• He believes in tremendous effect with no cause.
• He denies a moral authority in the universe.
• He believes only what can be proven by the scientific method.
• He takes a dramatic, losing chance on his supposition that there is no God without considering the alternative that there is.
• He refuses to be persuaded by the many powerful arguments for the existence of God.

Guzik also points out in his commentary that there are many arguments for the existance of God; among them are these:

• The Cosmological Argument: The existence of the universe means there must be a creator God.
• The Teleological Argument: The existence of design in the universe means there must be a designer God.
• The Anthropological Argument: The unique nature and character of humanity means there must be a relational God.
• The Moral Argument: The existence of morality means there must be a governing God.¹

You could be the holiest person in the room, and also be a fool

At the same time, you could be the holiest person in the room and also be a fool. A person who stays in their “holy huddle” and never get out into the world and share the Creator with those who desperitely need to know Him.

Proverbs 11:30 declares, “…he who wins souls is wise.” Therefore, by definition is that those who do not win souls are unwise, and I would dare say, “foolish,” because preaching the gospel and making disciples is commanded by the Lord in His Word.

And He [Jesus] said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

Mark 16:15 NKJV

He goes on to say in the gospel of Matthew…

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV

Nevertheless, there are groups people on this planet who worship God in their own way, never get out into the public to proclaim Him. Here are several.

Monastic and Cloistered Religious Orders

Groups like the Carthusians, Trappists, and Poor Clares, for instance, live lives dedicated to prayer, silence, fasting, solitude, manual labor, and simplicity. Their whole existence is oriented around God, living apart from the rest of the world, creating a profound atmosphere of spiritual reflection. By embracing these practices, they seek to deepen their connection with the divine, fostering an inner peace that allows them to turn their focus entirely on their spiritual journey. They take vows of enclosure and seclusion completely isolated from the world, avoiding the distractions and temptations of modern society to maintain a life of undisturbed contemplation. Some even take vows of silence, as though to seem more holy by internal contemplation.

The Amish

Even though the Amish seem to live lives of holiness that are based in the teachings of Jesus and the Sermon on the Mount. They believe seperation from the world based on verses like Romans 12:2 and James 4:4 is essential to remain spiritually pure and obedient to the Lord. Yet, many of their beliefs are based on traditionalist views in keeping with the “old ways” and distance themselves from the corruption of pride, materialism, vanity, violence, and sin. It’s not so much that they are holy unto God, but to preserve their community, values, and traditional structure without electricity, television, and the conveniences of modern society.

Fools for Christ

I understand that these are the extreme cases of which extra-holy Christians lock themselves in seclusion to deepen their connection with God. But the Apostle Paul addresses this problem in the Corinthian church and the spiritual pride that he had to break through. The text reads:

“You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us—and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you! For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.”

1 Corinthians 4:8-13 NKJV

Here, Paul uses a mix of irony, sarcasm, and honesty as subtle as a flying axe to confront the pride and arrogance of some believers in the Corinthian church. Paul’s goal was to humble them and remind them of the true nature of Christian leadership and discipleship. The Corinthians were acting as though they had already arrived spiritually and reigning in God’s kingdom without suffering hardship, and he contrasts this with the reality of the apostles’ lives.

From verses 9 to 13, Paul paints a vivid picture of the suffering and humiliation that he and other apostles endure: “sentenced to death,” fools for Christ,” “weak,” “specticle to the world,” “dishonored,” “hunger and thirst,” “poorly clothed,” “beaten,” and “homeless.”

But what do we see from 12 to 13 how they responded to mistreatment: “When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have been made the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.”

It’s a good practice of mine before I go into battle with the world on the streets to share the gospel that I present myself as a living sacrifice—which is my reasonable worship (Romans 12:1)—but also that I am ready to be made a fool for Christ’s sake. I must decrease so He would increase. My pride must be taken out of the way so that He would be lifted up. Because we know that this life will vanish away as fog on a sunny day, but eternity will last forever. Just like we should overcome fear in sharing our faith, we also should learn to overcome the second evangelism-killer—embarrassment. So, before you go out to share your faith in Jesus Christ, look in the mirror and say to yourself, “I am ready to be made a fool for Christ’s sake.”

1. Guzik, David. “Study Guide for Psalm 14.” Blue Letter Bible. 6/2022. Web. 5 Sep, 2025. https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/guzik_david/study-guide/psalm/psalm-14.cfm.
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