Probably any Christian with a sense of personal evangelism has heard something like this before. Usually we would say, hopefully in a gentle-spirited manner, something like the following:

"I am afraid many well-meaning brethren have joined themselves to denominational concepts by proclaiming that only members of the Church of Christ (denomination) go to heaven. This is not a Biblical concept. However, Jesus plainly taught that only He was the way to eternal life. This is a highly offensive statement to the non-Christian world, both then and now. Jesus got killed for it, along with most of his disciples. In our multicultural world, the challenge might take the form of, "You Christians think you are the only ones God saves." That is a better assessment of the situation. Sinners turned Christians are the only ones the Bible offers the hope of salvation. The good news was and is that, unlike what is true with racism, nationalism, class distinctions and sectarianism, anyone can have access to that eternal saving grace of God through the blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus taught through His apostles that the only way to eternal life was by being in Christ, in His body, which is His church. The church of Christ is nothing other than those who are in Christ. It is almost tautalogous in its simplicity. So if I were to say only the church of Christ will be saved, that is exactly the simple truth Jesus taught. That is how I mean it, but may not be how you would understand it, given the denominational landscape of today. Only those in Christ have hope of salvation. And The Word tells us what it means and how to be in Christ. It is not me teaching the narrow way, but rather what the Bible teaches."

Notice that last line: it isn’t me, it’s God’s Word doing the pronouncing. Preachers, elders, teachers and saints have taken great comfort in realizing that we do not do the judging of eternal destiny. If teaching the Word of God to others or to ourselves condemns, it is the Word that does that. We are not responsible for pronouncing damnation on others, or even able to do so. Nonetheless, we are responsible for teaching the whole of God’s Word, which does pronounce damnation on the world at large. Of course we need to make sure it is God’s Word we teach by providing the book, chapter and verse where His Word so speaks – as the oracles of God. When we teach in such a way, we should expect the usual reaction will be to shoot the messenger, which was Stephen’s point – just before they killed him.

Application to the case in point:
If one cites God’s Word to define foolish behaviors and points out examples of exactly the type of foolish behavior in some human endeavor, one is not speaking a personal judgement, but merely passing on the Word of God. When the preacher brings a lesson from Matthew 7:24-27 on the foolish man who built on the sand, he is not guilty of violating the prohibition of Matthew 5:22, nor was Jesus guilty of breaking his own proscription. If we identify as foolish one who has heard the words of Jesus but failed to act on them, we are not guilty of calling the man a fool. Jesus Christ did that. Jesus wasn't violating His own proscription in Luke 24:25 when he said the two travelers were foolish for not believing the prophets. Paul was not breaking Jesus' command when he said the Gentiles were fools because of specific behavior, Romans 1:22. Nor was he breaking the command when he noted that those who disbelieve the resurrection are fools, 1 Corinthians 15:36. Nor was he breaking the command when he wrote of his own brethren as having become fools for returning to law, Galatians 3:1. Matthew 5:22 is clearly not a proscription against correctly using the term "fool" to describe what God's Word has already defined is the behavior of fools. It is a proscription against the hypocrisy of such pronoucements made in anger as if of our own self-affirming wisdom defines the standard of wisdom to which others shall be judged. To put it another way, a person's foolishness is not a matter of anyone's personal judgement. God makes that judgement, not human wisdom. God has clearly spoken in His word to define what makes one a fool. We are remise if we ignore God's definition of folly, foolishness and the fool. (edited 9-25-00, HR)

If one denies God's existence, Psalms 14:1 and Psalms 53:1 says that man is a fool.
I don't hear any Mt 5:22 outcry against those who use this verse to characterize those who deny God.

In the same way, God's word says
If one answers before he hears the question, that man is said to be a fool. Proverbs 18:13.
If I recognize that this verse applies to me, it is not the preacher with whom I have a complaint for calling me a fool, but rather the word of God. Nor may I complain about the preacher if I suspect he cited this verse explicitly with my behavior in mind. It is my own guilt complaining. If I am not guilty of the behavior, then I am not guilty of playing the fool. It remains for me in the face of such a charge to demonstrate innocence of the foolish behavior, not to malign the correct scriptural designation of such behavior as foolish. Unless, of course, I am actually guilty of the foolish behavior, in which case I have two options. 1) wisely repent of the behavior, or 2) foolishly attack the character of the one pointing out my foolishness by claiming he sins to call anyone (especially me) a fool. Two seems rather more common than one, and serves to seal the orginal assessment of foolishness.

If a man seeks out quarrels, that man is said to be a fool. Proverbs 20:3
I know men with whom I agree in particular on some controversial issue, but who seem to enjoy seeking out a quarrel with others. I suspect you do as well. We have seen such a spirit of divisiveness at work for two millennia. The Wise Man said to the quarrelsome man with whom I agree, as much as to the quarrelsome man with whom I disagree, that such is the way of foolishness. The Bible calls both men fools.

The Wise Man says concerning fools to leave their presence if one wishes to hear words of wisdom. The wise man says concerning those who practice foolish ways to be careful even if and then how you might respond to them, Proverbs 26:4-5.

So we should all be careful of acting the fool. Christians are not exempt. I certainly am not exempt. In prohibiting us from pronouncing a man a fool on the basis of our own angry wisdom, Jesus goes on to tell us what to do when brother has aught against brother, Matthew 5:23-26. He said go to that brother to seek reconciliation, instead of going to the altar. He goes on to offer the wisdom that it is better to work it out between us, rather than let the Judge do it. I suppose we should do the same before going to the court of the Internet as well, even if one has already been tried and e-xecuted there.

Speaking of e-xecutions, Jesus well said anyone who says to his brother "thou fool" shall be in danger of gehenna fire. As anyone knows who has pointed out the foolishness of those within the camp, he is indeed held guilty of such impertinence and the fires of scorn are poured upon him. Nonetheless this did not stop Jesus from telling us clearly who the fool is: one who has built his house on sand, instead of obedience to God. Jesus knew the fiery wrath of the Pharisees for plainly calling them the fools they were, Mt 23:17. They helped get Him crucified for that. But God did not abandon His soul to Sheol. However, the repeated use of of gehenna in the Sermon on the Mount indicates that Jesus had more in mind than simply being cast into the perpetually burning garbage heap of the Hinnom valley. So I believe He is here indicating that judgement is just upon those who lash out with unjustified ad hominem attacks born of anger. It would be a damnable thing to label others the fool simply because they happen to disagree with me, making me mad. Judgement cometh. It is quite another thing to stand up with reasoned patience, not anger, among the crowd to point out the emperor indeed has no clothes, at great personal risk of the certain fiery retribution. I'll take my place, scorched face at the feet of my crucified Lord on the day of judgement, trusting in His mercy, rather than stand with those who use demagoguery to defend Him. God didn't appreciate it at all when Job's friends defended Him with false spiritual reasoning.  (added 9-15-2000, HR)

God's Word says to answer before hearing is the way of the fool. If the shoe fits ...   God's Word says to stir up quarrels in the camp is the way of the fool. If the shoe fits ...     Maybe the discomfort some are having over my quoting these proverbs with respect to their methods is not so much a deep concern for my sorry soul as it is a case of tight fitting shoes. I would think if they were so dismayed over my soul's destiny, they would have followed the rest of Jesus' instruction following Matt 5:22 in verses 23-25. That part about coming to me personally, privately, directly to work things out. I am dismayed to realize so many men of God have apparently been skipping church for much of the year.  (added 9-15-2000, HR)

Our foolish sands we build on can take many forms. In the case at hand, it is foolishness demanding that sound Biblical faith accept a view of the age of the earth concerning which the Bible is silent, and which nature contraindicates. Physicians, heal thyselves. "Since the Bible does not tell us the age of the earth, then there is no lack of harmony between it and the so-called discoveries of modern science. It matters not how old they say the earth is, the Bible says, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth..." That fits any figure they come up with."  (J. Needham, GospelAnchor.com, Sept 13, 2000)   Yet in spite of this, this very one is demanding that we must accept his view, the "Biblical" view (?), concerning the age of the earth. It is foolishness. (added 9-15-2000, HR)

However, there is another form of foolishness: righteous foolishness, 1 Corinthians 4:10. This is the fool who submits himself to the foolishness of the cross and the good news of grace. May we always be that type of fool.

Sincerely,
Hill Roberts