Caulfield Evangelical Methodist Church
- Weekly Pastoral Message -

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"Continuing steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine" Acts 2:42

Weekly Pastoral Message prepared by Rev. Murray Adamthwaite
for Sunday 10th August 1997

From the Pastor: Wisdom and Folly I

Traditionally wisdom has been held to reside with upper classes, the educated class, or the ruling class. Today that outlook is cried down as "elitism" (as if shouting a derogatory slogan is sufficient refutation). In its place wisdom is held to reside with the people, the masses, or the social consensus. This is the guide to political policy, to morality, truth and falsehood in all kinds of matters, including religious.

Of course, it should readily be seen that the opinions of the masses are shifting sands: they can be, and are, manipulated by minorities such as media journalists, pressure groups, or politicians who themselves may have no more real wisdom than the average citizen.

Moses, in anticipation of the apostasy of Israel, or if you like, the shift in its social consensus, expressed the yearning, "Would that they were wise ... that they would consider their latter end." (Deuteronomy 32:29). This is a large part of true wisdom, to consider one's latter end, both individually and collectively. Failure, or worse refusal, to think about final ends is therefore the height of folly. What then is the final end of a life of: Self-serving? sexual indulgence? alcohol consumption? addiction to gambling? or last but not least, irreverent Godlessness? The outcome can only be permanent loss and death. The truth of the proverb cannot be escaped, "There is a way that seems right, but its end is the way of death" (Proverbs 14:12).

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Caulfield Evangelical Methodist Church
Please email comments to: cemc@genesis.net.au
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