Does 1 Cor 3:18-20 promote anti-intellectualism for Christians?

Question

1 Cor 3:18-20 reads:
Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise in their craftiness"; and again, "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile."

I have heard these verses quoted as a reason for Christians not to study science, philosophy or other academic pursuits. It has also been quoted as a reason to not use real world managerial techniques and strategies in churches.

A) What are your thoughts on this?

B) Who makes the best spicy chicken sandwich?

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Chicken!

Answer 1

It simply means that in your quest for knowledge on earth you should never forget that there are things in heaven that you cannot even comprehend. Therefore you should be humble in your wisdom and not be vain thinking you know it all because God sees that as foolishness.

Answer 2

Hey Pablito,

great questions by the way! The passage is not an encouragement for anti-intellecualism. The point is that the wisdom of the world compared to God's wisdom is foolishness. At one point in the gospel Jesus says we've to come to him with the faith of a little child. It doesn't mean that we don't use our reason and intellect after all we are commanded to love the Lord not only with all our hearts- but with all our mind.

A point though is that you may have these super-intellects with PhD(s) and stuff and they come to a conclusion there is no God (and the Bible says the fool has said in his heart there is no God). I read a quote from a Scientist recently where he said: Spontanteous generation doesnt' make sense, but because the only other implication is an intelligent creator he can not acknowledge that and thus chooses to believe in Spontanteous generation. It's not a knowledge problem, but a heart problem.

i think Christians are to study science. In the study of arachaelogy, science, we actually find evidence for a Creator. More than that, we need Christian doctors (to be on the missions field), etc. i am sure in some cases people have turned away from Christ and so i think churches that fear science, and other academic pursuits, are forgetting it's not an issue of just knowledge, but an issue of the heart. The person that is that easily swayed has not been solidly grounded in Christ.

Yes sometimes the church does apply world models to manage the church, but i think each individual technique, strategy is to be evaluted (keeping Biblical principals in mind). IE: When a church decides to do a fundraiser- is there focus to reach people or to raise funds? That's why there are elders, or in Baptist congregations there are votes (so it's not just one person making a decision) but it's a group of people trusting in God, making a Godly decision.

i think Carl's Jr. has a pretty awesome spciy chicken sandwich. I also like Chick-Fil-A a lot...

Chicken! Yum!

Hope that helps,

Nickster

Answer 3

I don't think it promotes anti-intellectualism. It probably means that one shouldn't rely on the wisdom of the world as salvation.

There ARE Christians in academic fields, believe it or not. My bachelor's degree is in history, just so you know. :)

As far as chicken sandwiches are concerned, I'm not sure because I really don't do fast food anymore now that I'm in the process of losing weight. What you can do is buy some chicken patties from the store as well as a bag of bread or hamburger buns. Then, buy a bottle of Frank's Red Hot Sauce and apply either lightly or liberally to your chicken pattie. THERE'S your spicy chicken sandwich :)

Even better than a spicy sandwich is a spicy chicken wrap. I made these while working at a fast food joint in college. Buy a box of Tysons' fried chicken, heat em' up, and wrap them in a relatively large flour or wheat tortilla (taco-sized ones won't work) along with lettuce, tomato, and Frank's red hot sauce :) Or be fancy and use a pita thingy instead.

I also know a killer recipe for calzone but you need to message me first :)

Answer 4

I don't see a problem with studying any of those subject. There are MANY Christians in sciencw and the academics. In fact, the head researcher on the NASA Voyager program is a Christian. When Voyager passed through the rings of Saturn and showed that the rings are interlaced, he was quoted to say something along the lines of ...... "this proves that God has a sence of humor and enjoys making us scientists look foolish."

Regardless of your education or field of study, keep God first in your life and in your mind. When worldly science contradicts Gods Word, bet on Gods Word to be right in the long run.

Answer 5

I think it's more about not getting caught up in a belief that people assume is "wisdom". Remember when people thought the earth was flat? (Ironically Christians at the time). It seems that every few years some previously held scientific or historical theory is adjusted. If you get caught up in one of them you can lose sight of other things.

I think that Jesus wants us intelligent. He, afterall, was quite the witty one when it came to talking to the Pharisees and religious rulers of his age. And he did it very wisely.

I don't know about the sandwiches. I'm a vegetarian, but before I became one, I remember Wendy's was okay.

Answer 6

Yes I have heard those verses used as an anti-intellectual validation for Christians too. I think to understand what you don't agree with you need to know what it is all about first. So studying science, etc. shouldn't have a bad effect but bolster one's belief.

To a degree I can agree with the verse but to use it as an excuse not to ever learn anything outside the Bible is ill advised.

Chicken? I don't deal in chicken. Sorry.

Answer 7

A) I think the point here (and I'm not a Christian) is that to have spiritual beliefs seems absurd to those with a materialist view of the world, which could be considered the "standards of this age"

B) Dont know but I already ate lunch and now you've made me hungry again :)

Answer 8

John Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament

1 Corinthians Chapter 3

They were not natural men; but they were carnal (not spiritual) men, so that the apostle had to feed them with milk and not with meat which was only fit for those that were of full age. That with which they nourished their pride was a proof of this-their divisions into schools of doctrine. Paul, no doubt, had planted; Apollos watered. It was well. But it was God alone who gave the increase. Moreover the apostle had laid the foundation of this building of God, the assembly at Corinth; others had built since-had carried on the work of the edification of souls. Let every one take heed. There was but one foundation; it was laid. But in connection with it, they might teach things solid or worthless and form souls by one or the other-perhaps even introduce souls won by such vain doctrines among the saints. The work would be proved, sooner or later, by some day of trial. If they had wrought in the work of God, with solid materials, the work would stand; if not, it would come to nothing. The effect, the fruit of labour, would be destroyed-the man who had wrought be saved, because he had built on the foundation-had true faith in Christ. Yet the shaking, caused by the failure of all that he had thought genuine, [See Footnote #5] would be apt, for himself, to shake the consciousness of his connection with, and confidence in, the foundation. He should be saved as through the fire. He who had wrought according to God should receive the fruit of his labour. If any one corrupted the temple of God-introduced that which destroyed fundamental truths, he should be destroyed himself.

The subject then is ministerial labour, carried on by means of certain doctrines, either good, worthless, or subversive of the truth; and the fruits which this labour would produce. And there are three cases; the work good as well as the workman; the work vain, but the workman saved; the corrupter of God's temple-here the workman would be destroyed.

Finally, if any one desired to be wise in this world, let him become unintelligent in order to be wise. God counted the wisdom of the wise as foolishness, and would take them in their own craftiness. But in this the saints were below their privileges. All things were theirs, since they were the children of God. "All things are yours"-Paul, Apollos, all things-you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.

Answer 9

IT simply points up the wisdom of God in comparison to the
knowledge that earthling man has (and will ever)attain for himself.
IN this very forum there are any number of people that deny God,
and insist that the science of man is above the knowledge of our
creator.thats why He states in his word..."19" "for the wisdom of
this world is foolishness with GOD;for it is written; he catches the
wise in their own cunning.....more folks would be wise to listen to
and heed that knowledge.

Answer 10

Wow... that *is* creepy. And I truly believe that that was a way to keep the masses under control.

Although, weren't the religious leaders the only edumacated people for many years?

:head spinning, conundrum alert:

And I make the best. I use a vegetarian chick patty and garnish it with lettuce, tomato, Boar's Head horseradish sauce, and peperjack cheese. Tasty and karma-free. :)