Folly Herself Speaks:
Whatever mortals commonly say about me - and I am not unaware of how
bad Folly's reputation is, even among the biggest fools of all - still it is
quite clear that I myself, the very person now standing before you, I and I
alone, through my divine radiance, pour forth joy into the hearts of both
gods and men alike. - Erasmus
The quote above is taken from the book "The Praise of Folly" by a Nothern Renaissance Humanist named Desiderius Erasmus. The book, "The Praise of Folly" is written as an oration from the 1st person perspective of a 16th century Court Jester, or Folly herself. The fool gives a speech on who he believes himself to be and he speaks as if he were quite knowledgeable and knew what he was talking about. The whole point of the oration was so that people could see how folly views herself. Folly believes that she is witty, well-read, well-equipped, and ready to create logical arguments at any given time to why she is right. Although we see the fool as just a fool, the fool makes a great point by stating that he "pours forth joy into both gods and men alike." The point that folly tries to make is that although some may know that he is nothing more than just a fool, people still listen to what he has to say.
I want people to understand why my blog-site is called the praise of folly. Yes, it is named after a piece of literature, but it goes much further than that. I write the praise of folly in order to try to humble myself. I am not perfect. I am nothing more than a fool, in and of myself. I am the epitome of the fool that the book of proverbs continually refers back to so many times. I can do nothing right.
But, I have been saved by grace through faith. And this is not by my own doing, but this is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8). I want people to read what I write and know that it is not coming from a man who believes that he in someway is better. I do not boast in myself, rather I call myself a fool. I boast about Christ, who can take the fool and make him wise. I am nothing without Christ and these are not just meaningless words. I make constant mistakes, and I write to give advice, yes sometimes, but I also wish to share with you all my temptations and failures.
When the fool speaks people listen. This is clear from just looking at some celebrity lifestyles. We are constantly in-tune with what happens in Hollywood, and much of it is foolish. But, when folly speaks we tend to open up and listen. We let down our guard. We do not try to argue with it, because there is no sense in arguing. I am the fool who speaks words from the wise. People wonder why God would use even the most foolish of men to speak "wisdom" into this world. But, the "Foolishness of God is wiser than men, and weakness of God is stronger than men" (1 Corinthians 1:25).
"God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God." - 1Corinthians 1:28-29
In the presence of God we cannot boast of ourselves, because we are nothing. Man is nothing without God. I am nothing without my savior. I am just a fool. But, because of grace I am a fool who has a heart to speak words of wisdom and I hope that as you read my blogs you would read them as the people gathered around to listen to folly speak. They gave folly a chance to speak. They thought it was funny that he would even speak about himself in such a way because all he was, was just a fool. But, at least give me a chance to speak.
Because when folly speaks people listen.
I want people to understand why my blog-site is called the praise of folly. Yes, it is named after a piece of literature, but it goes much further than that. I write the praise of folly in order to try to humble myself. I am not perfect. I am nothing more than a fool, in and of myself. I am the epitome of the fool that the book of proverbs continually refers back to so many times. I can do nothing right.
But, I have been saved by grace through faith. And this is not by my own doing, but this is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8). I want people to read what I write and know that it is not coming from a man who believes that he in someway is better. I do not boast in myself, rather I call myself a fool. I boast about Christ, who can take the fool and make him wise. I am nothing without Christ and these are not just meaningless words. I make constant mistakes, and I write to give advice, yes sometimes, but I also wish to share with you all my temptations and failures.
When the fool speaks people listen. This is clear from just looking at some celebrity lifestyles. We are constantly in-tune with what happens in Hollywood, and much of it is foolish. But, when folly speaks we tend to open up and listen. We let down our guard. We do not try to argue with it, because there is no sense in arguing. I am the fool who speaks words from the wise. People wonder why God would use even the most foolish of men to speak "wisdom" into this world. But, the "Foolishness of God is wiser than men, and weakness of God is stronger than men" (1 Corinthians 1:25).
"God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God." - 1Corinthians 1:28-29
In the presence of God we cannot boast of ourselves, because we are nothing. Man is nothing without God. I am nothing without my savior. I am just a fool. But, because of grace I am a fool who has a heart to speak words of wisdom and I hope that as you read my blogs you would read them as the people gathered around to listen to folly speak. They gave folly a chance to speak. They thought it was funny that he would even speak about himself in such a way because all he was, was just a fool. But, at least give me a chance to speak.
Because when folly speaks people listen.
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