“The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd” (Ecclesiastes 12:11)
It has been said that insanity can be defined as doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result. This, undoubtedly, refers to actions that will inevitably result in the same outcome, if performed exactly the same way. A simple example to understand this cliché can be a person who keeps dipping his hand in water, expecting for it to come out dry. Needless to say that this repeated action will always have the same result. For this reason, a person performing this same action nonstop, adamant that their hand will eventually rise from the water dry, will be believed to be either insane or foolish. Yet, it is intriguing to realize that the vast majority of mankind is guilty of this madness. Paul concurs with this conclusion for he asks, “But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why have you made me like this?’” (Romans 9:20, emphasis added)? There is no question that humanity has persisted to contend with the Almighty, believing that the outcome can change. This unfortunate rebellion is made manifest in man’s insistence to worship God as he wills and not as He commands it. In writing to the church at Colosse, Paul warns that “these things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh” (Colossians 2:23, emphasis added). Let us recall that the Holy Spirit, through Paul’s quill, was speaking out against false doctrines (such as the worship of angels) that were becoming a menace to the church in Colosse (Colossians 2:18-23). Indisputably, false teachings have always been a demonic snare for the people of God. Therefore, it is essential to be diligent in spotting these false doctrines in order to avoid being entangled in them. Observe that Paul notes that false doctrine has an “appearance of wisdom.” This detail is extremely valuable to help anyone determine if the doctrine they hear is pure or adulterated. Yet, there is an additional detail that Peter, too, gives the reader in order to expose truth from fiction. Peter explains that “by covetousness they exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber” (2nd Peter 2:3, emphasis added). The act of being covetous is defined as an inordinate desire for wealth or possessions or for another’s possessions (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary). According to this definition, the covetousness that the apostle Peter describes is a person’s yearning for power, respect, and honor that belong to God. It is why the apostle Paul reveals that these forms of worship are “self-imposed religion.” On the surface these manners of worship appear to honor God, but in actuality insult Him. This action is what Paul describes as the clay replying against the Potter (Romans 9:20). God has declared what His worship is, but man continues to insist on giving God that which He does not want. Mankind fails to accept this obvious truth, thus he persists in wanting to force God to accept it, disregarding what He has declared as His worship. However, because these false teachings are man made there is one other detail that must not be overlooked. When Christ ascended into heaven and the Holy Spirit descended into the world, a new form of doctrine was born (Acts 1:9-11, 2:1-47). Twelve fishermen from Galilee were spreading news throughout Israel that their long awaited Messiah had already arrived. These men were proclaiming that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ and that the chief priests had killed Him on the cross, but that He had conquered death by resurrecting from the dead. Remember that for centuries, Judaism had been the only form of worship known to them as the religion that had been established and approved by Jehovah God. This is important because it illuminates how difficult and challenging the transition from Judaism into Christianity actually was. Additionally, we must keep in mind the lethal threat that false prophets and teachers have always been (and still are) to God’s people. Undeniably, there had previously been ungodly men who self-proclaimed to be the Christ and were exposed as frauds. As a result, Peter and the eleven’s Gospel would not be readily accepted by the religious leaders of that era. Especially considering that the one heralded as the Christ was the same man executed by them under the accusation of blasphemy, although the true motive for His murder was envy (Mark 15:9-10). For this reason, it is astonishing to read that the formula to proving if their doctrine was pure came from one of their own. Gamaliel, a Pharisee member of the Sanhedrin, righteously assessed “if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it – lest you even be found to fight against God” (Acts 5:38-39, emphasis added). Behold, the detail that must not, cannot, be left unseen! In his address to his fellow councilmen, Gamaliel reminds them of two other cases that when their leaders were removed, the movement quickly disappeared. Gamaliel wisely understood the Psalmists words of God’s sovereignty for what “He commanded…it stood fast” (Psalm 33:9b). This revered doctor of the law was prudent in laying aside his personal opinion and feelings toward Jesus of Nazareth and His disciples. What Gamaliel did was allow God to confirm or deny if He indeed had established Christianity. He had the foresight to look beyond the appearance of the men who stood before him, and he was able to listen diligently to what they had to say. Gamaliel was not rash to either accept or reject the apostle’s doctrine. He did not cling to the tradition of his fathers as a means to utterly dismiss Christianity. Instead, Gamaliel relied upon God’s Divine nature of being eternal to provide the appropriate answer and to avoid a senseless battle against Him. This he was able to do, because he understood well the insanity of wanting to pick a fight with the Almighty. Yet, despite Gamaliel’s wise council, the Sanhedrin took heed but for only a brief moment. Regrettably, even today man persists on wanting to give God that which He does not want, foolishly kindling a consuming fire.