But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. (2 Timothy 2:23)
Speculations Of A Half-Educated Mind
The curiosity of the human mind has always engendered questions that lead to great discoveries. Wanting to know what is beyond the horizon took man around the globe to discover new lands. Science always pokes the curious mind to look deeper into the complex world and its endless discoveries. The human art of investigation has fueled the souls of men to look deeper, longer, and with greater effort to know what is unknown. For all of its value, human curiosity has benefited civilization. For all its worth, human wisdom also falls victim to speculations that lead to ignorance. It seems contrary that seeking knowledge can produce ignorance, but this happens often in the human cycle of curiosity. This can happen all too often in the study of God’s word.
One of the great challenges to the Christian faith in the first two centuries was Gnosticism. Gnostics relied more on human wisdom to discover truth rather than on the word of God. Gnostic teachings emphasized personal spiritual growth and rejected the institutions of authority, traditions, and teachings of the first-century disciples. Paul warned that the growth of human wisdom was a form of foolish, ignorant dispute. The Contemporary English Version suggests these foolish and ignorant disputes are “stupid and senseless arguments.” These discussions have no value. They are useless because they rest on speculation, disinformation, and conclusions not grounded in truth, since God has not revealed those things to the world.
It is important to understand that the Bible is not a book that answers every question a man may have about all things. The Bible does not discuss myriads of topics because God did not include them in the holy text. They are left out because they have nothing to do with the purpose of Scripture: to show man how he can save himself. The human mind wants to know what happened before the world began and whether certain things took place in eternity. The most common question is where Cain got his wife. One old preacher remarked that, when asked about Cain’s wife, the individual should not be so interested in another man’s wife. Moses declared that the secret things belong to God alone. Why? Because God chose to reveal what man needs to know to be saved, and that is all.
When a man is drowning, he does not ask who made the flotation device, how it works, what the chemical makeup of the agent that makes the device buoyant is, or why the color yellow was chosen. All he wants to know is how the device will save his life. Paul correctly pointed out that foolish, ignorant disputes lead to strife, trouble, and quarrels over useless things. God did not tell the world where Satan came from because it has nothing to do with salvation. Speculating about such a subject is stupid because God has not revealed it. If God has not revealed something, who is man to answer? The word of God is unlimited in its message of grace, but it limits itself to the grace of God. Curiosity is a healthy way to look into the word of God, but it must be used with caution. When the mind begins to wander into the areas outside the revealed word, what is known in scripture, it becomes an exercise in spiritual futility. The greater tragedy is allowing Satan to use foolish and ignorant disputes to destroy congregations, families, and souls. He revels in the stupid questions because he knows it will keep the mind away from truth. Remember not to strive about questions without value, which can lead to the destruction of a soul. Profane and idle babblings bring ungodly hearts. The gospel is given for godly edification, which is in faith
