Nincompoop is one of the many synonyms listed in the thesaurus for the word fool. Here are some others: halfwit, ignoramus, imbecile, ninny, twerp, jughead, numbskull, goofball, dingbat, and moron among many others.
The reason I looked up the word "fool" in the dictionary was because of what King Solomon wrote as recorded in Proverbs 18:13
"He that answereth a matter before he heareth it,
it is folly and shame unto him."
it is folly and shame unto him."
The lesson of that statement is this: If we approach any question, study, or subject, with our minds already made up as to what the true answer is, we are foolish. Preconceived notions are the halmark of a foolish approach to learning truth.
Do we have "favorite" doctrines, that we accepted years ago, that we just cannot let go of, even in light of substantiated evidence to the contrary? Do we approach new understanding with a set of old rules that it must conform to before we will accept it. If so, it is an exercise in folly. We assume the identity of a fool who resists growth. We then find ourselves on the path to becoming a halfwit nincompoop.
Most bible students have a list of things that they previously accepted as truth on their journey toward spiritual growth. In most cases, not one of these precepts were something they learned themselves. Instead, it was told to them by someone else (usually older than them) who themselves put pieces of information together from other sources.
Most people are followers. They will follow a person that gets their attention more than others. After a while they develop an allegiance to that person. Soon, they will believe whatever that person teaches.
If there is a central theme that one believes, it is much better and safer, to have come to that conclusion from several sources. It is better to have read widely; to have studied widely, and then to "search the scriptures to see whether these things are so" (Acts 17:11).
Instead of simply worshipping God and studying the Bible, nearly all people line themselves up on the foolish path of "organizing" into a group. Such groups determine what their collective set of beliefs are, and thus the individual disappears.
How in the world can everyone believe the same thing at the same time? Imagine a foot race of sixty people where everyone is running flat out as fast at they can, and everyone is neck to neck. Sooner or later some are going to fall behind. A religious group is just like that.
But if you ask those who fall behind, they will say they believe what the ones out ahead of them believe, even though they haven't understood it yet! They have an answer to a question they haven't even understood yet, simply because the leaders of the "organization" have one.
By definition, such a person is a nincompoop, exercising a life of religious folly.
I have been a nincompoop. Years ago, the wit and mannerisms of certain teachers of a religious organization caught my attention. To my own satisfaction, I proved several of their precepts were undoubtedly true. And, they still are!
As the years went by, I accepted several other of their precepts as true without doubting. I was building on the confidence I had in that organization.
Reading literature outside those of that organization was frowned upon, and even forbidden. So, I really only had the Bible itself as "outside" literature. I studied, and I studied. Inconsistencies arose, even as infighting and arrogance blossomed between leaders within the organization. It was self-destructing.
After separating myself from that organization, I found that many of the true precepts, might infact be true, but they had nothing whatsoever to do with me. They were given by God for another people of another time. They made their own covenant by mixing God's old covenant with Isreal with His new covenant with Israel. And, since Moses was dead, they themselves sat in Moses' seat.
Being no longer a halfwit, I now enjoy the research work of many independent scholars who love searching out the truth of God.
Do we have "favorite" doctrines, that we accepted years ago, that we just cannot let go of, even in light of substantiated evidence to the contrary? Do we approach new understanding with a set of old rules that it must conform to before we will accept it. If so, it is an exercise in folly. We assume the identity of a fool who resists growth. We then find ourselves on the path to becoming a halfwit nincompoop.
Most bible students have a list of things that they previously accepted as truth on their journey toward spiritual growth. In most cases, not one of these precepts were something they learned themselves. Instead, it was told to them by someone else (usually older than them) who themselves put pieces of information together from other sources.
Most people are followers. They will follow a person that gets their attention more than others. After a while they develop an allegiance to that person. Soon, they will believe whatever that person teaches.
If there is a central theme that one believes, it is much better and safer, to have come to that conclusion from several sources. It is better to have read widely; to have studied widely, and then to "search the scriptures to see whether these things are so" (Acts 17:11).
Instead of simply worshipping God and studying the Bible, nearly all people line themselves up on the foolish path of "organizing" into a group. Such groups determine what their collective set of beliefs are, and thus the individual disappears.
How in the world can everyone believe the same thing at the same time? Imagine a foot race of sixty people where everyone is running flat out as fast at they can, and everyone is neck to neck. Sooner or later some are going to fall behind. A religious group is just like that.
But if you ask those who fall behind, they will say they believe what the ones out ahead of them believe, even though they haven't understood it yet! They have an answer to a question they haven't even understood yet, simply because the leaders of the "organization" have one.
By definition, such a person is a nincompoop, exercising a life of religious folly.
I have been a nincompoop. Years ago, the wit and mannerisms of certain teachers of a religious organization caught my attention. To my own satisfaction, I proved several of their precepts were undoubtedly true. And, they still are!
As the years went by, I accepted several other of their precepts as true without doubting. I was building on the confidence I had in that organization.
Reading literature outside those of that organization was frowned upon, and even forbidden. So, I really only had the Bible itself as "outside" literature. I studied, and I studied. Inconsistencies arose, even as infighting and arrogance blossomed between leaders within the organization. It was self-destructing.
After separating myself from that organization, I found that many of the true precepts, might infact be true, but they had nothing whatsoever to do with me. They were given by God for another people of another time. They made their own covenant by mixing God's old covenant with Isreal with His new covenant with Israel. And, since Moses was dead, they themselves sat in Moses' seat.
Being no longer a halfwit, I now enjoy the research work of many independent scholars who love searching out the truth of God.
"It is the glory of God to conceal a thing:
but the honour of kings is to search out a matter."
Proverbs 25:2
but the honour of kings is to search out a matter."
Proverbs 25:2
If we have been deceived, it's our own fault for not being true to ourselves! To come out of self deception we must first admit that we DO have preconceived notions. Do I need to repeat that several times, or will you just please sit back and contemplate on it?
It's ok to have opinions, but (now listen), are they your OWN, or have you been packing around the opinions of someone else for years? They may be your opinions now, even though they started out as someone elses. You may have proven them in the past to your own satisfaction. That is just the danger. I'm saying now is the time to go back and reprove everything to yourself. Can you do such a thing? Is it possible to discard "cherished" errors? Only you can tell.
Don't be a nincompoop. Don't be foolish. There should be no one, no one, between you and God, except for Jesus Christ. Now's the time to jettison all the poop others have told you to believe. Now's the time to wake up and do the work necessary to learn, and to grow spiritually!
Can you see God, or is there someone standing in front of you? How's the view?
If you haven't read the article CHURCH GRADUATION, now would be a good time to read it.
Good luck my friend.
It's ok to have opinions, but (now listen), are they your OWN, or have you been packing around the opinions of someone else for years? They may be your opinions now, even though they started out as someone elses. You may have proven them in the past to your own satisfaction. That is just the danger. I'm saying now is the time to go back and reprove everything to yourself. Can you do such a thing? Is it possible to discard "cherished" errors? Only you can tell.
Don't be a nincompoop. Don't be foolish. There should be no one, no one, between you and God, except for Jesus Christ. Now's the time to jettison all the poop others have told you to believe. Now's the time to wake up and do the work necessary to learn, and to grow spiritually!
Can you see God, or is there someone standing in front of you? How's the view?
If you haven't read the article CHURCH GRADUATION, now would be a good time to read it.
Good luck my friend.
1 comment:
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