Warp speed is great for Star Trek…but not for the brain!

Probing Proverbs 12:8 A sensible person wins admiration, but a warped mind is despised.

When most people hear a statement that makes sense, they can accept it, even if they do not agree with it. But when someone states something that sounds twisted, our opinion of that person is affected.

These are actual statements; the names have been left out because the people that made them have already been ridiculed!

A Mayor said answering accusations that he failed to pay his taxes: "I haven't committed a crime. What I did was fail to comply with the law."

A Congressman said at a press conference to answer questions about the House Bank scandal. "They gave me a book of checks.  They didn't ask for any deposits."

A Presidential advisor explaining the $1000 in cash and watches two journalists gave him after he helped arrange a private interview for them with First Lady. "I didn't accept it. I received it."

A Mayor defending his city: "Outside of the killings, our city has one of the lowest crime rates in the country."

A member of a pesticide review board, on chlordane "Sure, it's going to kill a lot of people, but they may be dying of something else anyway."

Mayor of a city: "The streets are safe in our city. It's only the people who make them unsafe." 

A chief economist of the World Bank, explaining why the US should export toxic wastes to Third World countries "I've always thought that under populated countries in Africa are                   vastly under polluted."

When you hear things like this you just shake your head! Now, before I go on, let me deal with a “hot” issue in the Church. “Judging!” I cannot count the times that I have heard Christians misapply the statements from Scripture about not judging others. Sadly, most times it is done from a spiritually arrogant attitude by the one, who in reality is judging you!

Jesus never said we are to “check our brains” at the door! We, of all people should use wisdom, especially because we can ask for it from God:

James 1:5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

Far too many believers, due to a terrible interpretation of what Jesus said about judging, act like we are not to assess anything a person says or does. That is not what Jesus was talking about. Throughout all the Scriptures it is clear we are not to condemn individuals, that is only for God to do, nor are we to assume we know the motives, again only God knows the heart. However, we are commanded to use wisdom and discernment! Taking a stand on what Scripture plainly calls sin, is not judging, it is simply stating the Truth we believe from God’s Word. 

NOW, the problem comes with the WAY many do it! Whenever I share from the Word to those that are asking, I do it firmly, but I try to do it gently. I make it clear they can disagree and do not have to see the Word of God as authoritative, that is their choice and they will be accountable only to God for that. When I witness actions or hear statements that expose evil or what the Word of God would call wrong, I have the right to assess it that way. That does not give me the right to demean individuals, think less of them or condemn them. I do have the right to take the stand that God’s Word calls such actions or beliefs wrong, if the Scriptures clearly state so. It should never be personal nor should I sound superior. If anything, if the Holy Spirit is in control of the conservation, I should be concerned for the individual that is in error. That error could cost them greatly in eternity! For example, I do not understand why individuals who disagree about their beliefs in faith feel the need to kill? What that exposes to me is their insecurity about their own beliefs. There was a famous comic I used to really enjoy, but then he decided he was the EXPERT on truth and began insulting and demeaning those that do not agree with his opinions. Interestingly, he would state that I am an idiot to believe what someone else wrote, but he wants me to accept his rendition of truth as Truth! If I don’t he does not just agree to disagree, he attacks, demeans and enjoins others to ridicule. I feel sorry for this man, to be so insecure that you must hurt others.

This Proverb puts forth a thought that has been proven over time. Two of the key words bring the truth right to us.

When someone is “sensible” others will notice it. They will value and even appreciate that person’s point of view. Consider what this word communicates:

  

"Sensible" in Hebrew is

[sekel /seh·kel] - relates to an intelligent knowledge of the reason. There is the process of thinking through a complex arrangement of thoughts resulting in a wise dealing and use of good practical common sense. It also involves one in what he considers, or pays attention to. Still another usage of the verb is to have insight or comprehension. The man who would boast of anything should boast that he has insight into, and knows the Lord!

No matter the personality; serious, comical, light hearted, disciplined or easy going, this person has a depth in their thought process that seeks real answers for real problems, genuine value in the issues of life and simple approaches to difficult circumstances.

That is what makes this person held in admiration by those around him.

On the other hand, the individual that thinks warped, or has a ”twisted” view of truth will later find himself or herself disrespected and even ridiculed by others. If you think by saying “what is truth” you are showing your brilliance, Pilate did that because he did not want to deal with the truth! Most of life’s truths are very apparent, and we try to avoid dealing with them when the truth may make us uncomfortable! This person, because they twist truth, is seen by others in a negative way, which in a sense makes them despised. Consider what this word means:

"Despised" in Hebrew is a compound word:
(Labuz) -  לְ (lĕ) – Toward; Those around this person are feeling toward them these adjectives -  בּוּז [buwz / booz] - Contempt, put to shame; be laughed at; despise to the point of rejection; to be regarded by others as unimportant or insignificant.

This is a pitiful situation! The individual that is “waxing lyrical” thinks they are so profound and deep…but those around them may agree they are deep, but not in knowledge, perhaps deep in nonsense!

Remember this golden rule: “When approaching Truth: when the plain sense makes common sense, seek no other sense, lest you make nonsense!

Matthew 15:11 It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth.”

Luke 6:45 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.

Meditation: What about you? Do you spend your time trying to sound profound, or discovering what is profound? Is Truth subjective to you or objective? Do you have standards and where do they come from? When you speak on “weighty” issues what do others think? Why?