Philosophical Arsonists - Proverbs 29:8

Scorners set a city aflame, But wise men turn away anger. Proverbs 29:8

As I sit here are write this day's "Little Bit of Wisdom," I am in a local bookstore in front of the political section.  No place is really a better example of our proverb today that this section.  Scorners in America are setting our nation aflame.  Hopefully before our nation bursts into a conflagration of mutually hated political groups - racial groups - and economic groups, we will have wise men rise up who will turn away our anger and propose solutions for our nation - without all the incindiary rhetoric.

The scorner is the one who is causing so much harm in this proverb.  The Hebrew word used here is "lason" and it means a scoffer, a mocker and refers to someone who is foolish, arrogant, and who believes their own bragging talk.  Elsewhere in the Scriptures this one is referred to as a babbler.  Their lack of wisdom from God makes them think that they themselves are god.  Thus they begin to consider themselves infallible on certain matters.  Their lack of any Biblical wisdom also means that they have a worldview that is based out of a fallen, selfish, God-despising heart.  They laugh and scoff at the 10 commandments - and think that life is far better without the Word of God clouding their minds and thinking.  These men come up with philosophies that reject God, exalt man - and that in the end encourage sin and wickedness.  Their scorning talk about God and how life should be - sets the city on fire.  What is meant here is that they inflame the minds of the people against God and His ways.

As history progresses we watch God rejected - and the world set on fire again and again with philosophies that bring destruction to mankind.  Darwin's theory of orgins that rejects God seems innocent enough - but the philosophies that degenerated out of it have caused great destruction.  Adolph Hitler took Darwin's theory seriously and came to believe that the Germanic people were the super-race.  The logical conclusion of Darwinian origins was that survival of the fittest required the destruction of the weaker and less desirable elements of the world so that the next step of evolution could come unhindered.  That kind of "inflamed thinking" led him and the leadership in Germany to systematically murder over 6 million people.  In the African continent we've watched in horror as philosophies and the inflamed rhetoric of national and racist pride have led one tribe and ethnic group to practice an ethnic cleansing of another group which they hate.  The ensuing slaughter that took place in the name of ethnic pride was nothing short of a nightmare.  When men reject God and His Word - bad things happen.  When the hiss of their viper-like philosophies begins to catch the world around them on fire - the end game makes for destruction on a scale that is hard to comprehend. 

Wise men know that such passions are rottenness in men's bones.  Their desire is to be the sons of God who are peacemakers.  They seek to turn away wrath - knowing that these passions when loosed are like pandora's box.  They are difficult, if not impossible to recapture.  All of Europe was set on fire by the twin philosophies of Nazism and Facism.  The world has yet to see the full damage that has resulted from the godless political philosophy of Communism.  Wise men will do all that they can to expose these false philosophies for what they are - the dangerous fires of scoffers who desire to set an entire city - if not an entire country aflame. 

There is an ultimate end to the scorner's tale.  Their will be an eternal fire that will burn the adversaries of God.  The ultimate scorner, Satan himself, has be behind the carnage that is produced by rejecting God and His Word.  He started it all with the question, "Has God said?" in the garden - and has been asking that question to the sons of Adam ever since.  All their wicked philosophies are simply the lie he uttered to Eve when he said, "You will not die!"  He has sought to inflame minds to think that God is withholding something from them when He forbids sin.  Countless billions have listened to his lies - and unfortunately they will be ultimately set afire for eternity in the lake of fire for their rebellion.  But . . . a wise man will turn away wrath.  Mankind deserves the wrath of God that will come for their rebellion.  But the Lord God has provided a way of salvation in Jesus Christ.  He has poured out wrath on His only begotten Son - having Him bear the wrath and punishment on the cross.  He died, was buried, and resurrected on the third day - all according to God's wise plan to turn away wrath.  Now, truly wise man take the good news of that truth - of that infinite mercy - and proclaim a provision of grace to rebels.  These wise men - as they watch the Spirit of God convict men of their sin - show them Jesus Christ - and grant them repentance and faith - turn away wrath one person at a time.  May God increase their number among mankind - and may the flames of the scorners be put out in the minds of those who are granted that His glorious grace that comes through Jesus Christ His Son.