I've written articles and developed hypotheses about holiness. I've attempted to vaguely quantify maturity, sapience, spiritual growth, perfection, and more. I've defined stupidity (or Biblical foolishness) as the opposite of these virtues. I've tried to understand why stupidity runs right across the unsaved and the saved.

In other words, why are self-professing believers, as a lot, so blindingly stupid? Why do they lack Godly discernment? Why do they not put their money where their professing mouths are? Why don't they walk the walk? Why are they "too busy" to be with the Lord? Why do they vote leftist? Why can they not even manage their own money wisely? Why do they parent so badly, raising self-centered, entitled brats or emotionally stunted, immature infants? Why do so-called believers fail to know God's Word, let alone conform to His will? Why can they not see Truth, preferring instead to cling to their delusions?

In winding around and around the symptoms, I've proposed various causes of stupidity (or its opposite). I've tried to discover not only the immediate causes but also the deeper causes. My ultimate goal has been to learn the root cause--the deepest impetus--the one thing that, if repented, all the rest would fall into Godly place. For all the intellectual pursuit, the answer appears to be the simplest I could have imagined. (Such is often a confirmation of accuracy.)

I believe the root cause of stupidity, among believers and unbelievers alike, is simply the willful violation of the First Commandment:

You shall have no other gods before Me. (Exodus 20:3, NASB)

(I don't know that I have the patience at this moment to connect the dots for anyone too slow or dense to figure out how the violation of this one Commandment leads to all stupidity. Knowing the willfulness involved in breaking this Commandment, I'm finding it difficult presently to empathize with those wanting such enlightenment.)

I find it ironic that this is the very Commandment Lucifer broke when he chose to disobey the Lord. All selfishness comes back to this sin. All disbelief, of course, derives from this as well. What I find most disturbing, though, is just how many believers--at least in my Western culture--flagrantly violate this First Commandment in almost all that they do.

As part of my pledge to show God's grace, and in spite of my utter disgust for the state of today's church (here, I don't mean the corporations but the vast majority of professing believers), I must remind all of the Gospel. Anyone may call upon the Lord. When you do so sincerely--when He is your God above all other gods--He will hear your repentance and offer forgiveness. Better still, don't just settle for sneaking into heaven by the skin of your teeth, but shoot for a position of honor in service to the King; forsake all other gods, bar none, and love the Lord God Almighty without holding back. Or as God says, "Don't be stupid. Be perfect." (Ephesians 5:17; Matthew 5:48).