How to Fight for Truth Without Being “Wise in Your Own Eyes”

I try to seek wisdom — I also try not to be “wise in my own eyes.”

Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them (Proverbs 26:12).
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding (Proverbs 4:6–7).

There is danger in thinking we have arrived.

Doubtless you are the only people who matter, and wisdom will die with you! (Job 12:2).
Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? (Job 38:3)

As someone who publicly advocates a specific worldview and set of values, I am no skeptic — and no moderate. I have full confidence in what I teach.

I challenge common Christian assumptions about philosophic topics. I challenge supposed ideals such as blind faith, self-sacrifice, and collectivism.

I champion biblical faith as being a rational faith, biblical morality as being a rational and self-interested morality, and biblical society as being an individualistic society.

I reject common viewpoints and argue for the uncommon. To the main questions troubling our world, I know good answers. Uncommon answers.

To some readers, this claim would suggest that I have become “wise in my own eyes.” Perhaps. Others will have to judge that matter based on all the evidence. I am not in a position to be totally objective about the question.

But I have no reason to suspect I am “wise in my own eyes” in any foolish sense. Instead, I am a man captivated by the wisdom I have discovered from others. I simply seek to share that wisdom widely.

For anyone concerned, here is what I think about my own wisdom:

On occasion, I can be foolish in my actions. I do have a good mind. Not a great one, but a good one. I have learned from giants.

I am limited. I work within those limitations. I am no academic, nor a naturally talented entrepreneur. I am a teacher at heart: a collector, an explainer, and a translator of ideas.

Not only am I not a genius — I’m not even particularly well-read. Not yet. But, unlike many in my generation, at least I know it.

My knowledge and understanding of Scripture is better than that of the average pastor. That is not a high bar, as anyone who reads very much Scripture and visits many churches can attest.

I do not know history as well as I should. I have not read most of the great works of the Western tradition, or even most of Augustine or Calvin or the systematics or comparable giants.

Van Til? I am working on it.

I’ll never read the “philosophers” of the 20th Century (sorry; not sorry).

I know the right philosophy — I can say that proudly.

I am among the few so far who know true philosophy in a form that can be explicitly communicated and transferred.

Right now I am one of perhaps 100 or 1000 people in the world who fully understand and are committed to propagating the outlook Christians need.

That number is growing.

It is the philosophy outlined in our first 9 podcasts at ChristianIntellectual.com and most briefly in the following video:

These are powerful ideas. And uncommon.

God willing, these ideas will radically change the world within the lifetime of my children.

Granted, it is a bold claim. I have dedicated my career to proving it.

This dream makes me audacious. To some, it makes me ridiculous. I have no time for them.

Despite what some have told me to my face, this dream does not necessarily make me arrogant. It does not necessarily make me “wise in my own eyes.”

Certain ideas are wise — and worth fighting for. It’s not bragging if I can prove it.