Believers differ from the world's intellectuals because they have the mind of Christ and a relationship with God, while the world's wisdom, no matter how brilliant, cannot know or satisfy the soul.
Les Feldick makes clear that a believer can have a great education and a brilliant mind, and that can honor Christ. But the moment an unbeliever places all his faith in the wisdom of this world, that wisdom is nothing. This difference is not about being odd or foolish-looking; it is a different way of thinking and living that the world can sense but cannot understand.
1 Corinthians 2:16 — This verse states that believers have the mind of Christ, which is the foundational difference between them and the world's intellectuals.
2 Corinthians 6:14 — Paul's command to not be unequally yoked with unbelievers shows that believers are to live a separated life, not merely hold different opinions.
Scripture draws a clear line between the believer and the wisdom of the world. The apostle Paul asks, "What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?" and commands believers not to be "unequally yoked together with unbelievers" (2 Corinthians 6:14-15). The world's teachers and intellectuals, left to themselves, are described by Jude as "clouds without water"—things that promise refreshment but deliver nothing (Jude 1:12). John adds that "the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not," even though believers are already called the sons of God (1 John 3:1). Paul also reminds believers that before they knew God they served "them which by nature are no gods," but now they are "known of God" (Galatians 4:8-9).
Les Feldick pulls the question away from raw intelligence. He says it is perfectly fine for a believer to have a great education and a brilliant mind—that can be Christ-honoring. The real problem is when an unbeliever puts all his faith in the so-called wisdom of this world, because that wisdom is nothing. Les points to Paul at Mars Hill, where the Athenian philosophers dismissed the apostle as a "babbler" for preaching the resurrection. That is how the world's intellectuals have always responded to the gospel. The difference, Les explains, is not that Christians are odd or long-faced. God intends believers to be separate from the world, just as Israel was separated from Egypt, but not as strange-looking people. Believers have more reason for joy than anyone in this perplexing world. The separation is a lifestyle difference: the world should know where we stand, and a true born-again child of God will be a good citizen in the community. Les also warns that many church members are only "mixed multitude" hangers-on—unsaved people who like the social side of church but never experience salvation. A true believer, in contrast, has a relationship with God and knows the Word in a way the world—and even nominal church members—do not. That is why the world does not know believers, just as it did not know the Lord Jesus Himself.
Yes, according to Les. For a believer, it is fine to have a great education and a brilliant mind; that can actually honor Christ. The problem is not education itself, but when an unbeliever places all his faith in the so-called wisdom of this world, which Paul calls nothing. Les illustrates this with Paul before the Athenian philosophers, who called him a "babbler" when he preached the resurrection.
No. Les is emphatic that Christians are not to be oddballs or walk with a long face. In fact, believers have more reason to be joyful than anyone. God's intent is separation from the world's lifestyle, not weirdness. The world should know where a Christian stands, and a true child of God will be a good citizen. That outward difference is visible in ordinary life.
Les compares unsaved church members to the mixed multitude that followed Israel out of Egypt—unbelievers who were hanging on to see what would happen. These are church members who enjoy the social environment and the music but have no appetite for the "nitty-gritty" of studying the Word or living a testimony. True born-again believers are different from such false professors.
The Scripture says the world does not know believers because it did not know Christ (1 John 3:1). Les puts it practically: even a believer's own church people may sense he is different because he has gained a knowledge of the Word, and some will think he is odd. But the truth is that the ones who don't know the Book are the ones who are truly odd.
Les describes false teachers and prophets as motivated by materialism, like Balaam. They are "clouds without water" in Scripture—they appear to offer something but give nothing that satisfies. This contrasts with true believers, whose lives are shaped by God's Word and who are known by God.
False Teachers Are Clouds Without Water
Les uses Jude's description of false teachers—clouds without water—to show that the world's teachers, though they may excite or promise much, cannot satisfy; true believers are different because their lives are rooted in God's Word.
Separation Without Oddness
Les explains that God intended Israel to be separated from Egypt and likewise intends believers to be different from the world, but different does not mean oddball or long-faced—believers should be joyful.
The World Should Know Where We Stand
Les quotes Paul's command to be not unequally yoked with unbelievers and says the world should be able to see the believer's separation by his behavior and lifestyle.
The Mixed Multitude
Les compares unsaved church members to the mixed multitude that followed Israel out of Egypt—people who hang on to religion for social reasons but have never been born again.
Worldly Wisdom Is Nothing
Les says a believer can have a great education and a brilliant mind, and that can honor Christ, but the unbeliever who trusts in this world's wisdom has nothing; worldly philosophers called Paul a babbler.
Known by God
Les contrasts the unbeliever, who has no relationship with God, with the believer, whom God knows intimately; this difference of relationship is the root of the believer's different mindset.
The World Knoweth Us Not
Les applies 1 John 3:1: the world doesn't know believers because it didn't know Christ; believers may seem odd to church people, but it is the people who don't know the Book who are actually odd.
A Visible Lifestyle
Les says a true born-again child of God becomes visible to friends, relatives, and the community as a good citizen—so the difference is not intellectual superiority but a lifestyle transformed by God.
1 Corinthians 2:16: For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.
This verse states the believer's new resource—the mind of Christ—which is precisely what the world's intellectuals lack.
2 Corinthians 6:14: Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
Paul bases the command for separation on the fact that a believer has no genuine fellowship with unbelief.
Galatians 4:8: Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
Paul reminds believers that before knowing God they served things that are not gods; the contrast shows the difference a relationship with God makes.
1 John 3:1: Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
The world's inability to recognize believers is tied to its failure to recognize Christ.
Jude 1:12: These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
This describes false teachers as clouds without water, a picture of intellectuals and teachers who offer nothing satisfying.
No. Les Feldick says a believer with a great education and a brilliant mind is fine, and it can be Christ-honoring. The problem is when an unbeliever trusts in the wisdom of this world, which is nothing. Education is not the issue; where you place your faith is.
No. Les says believers are to be different but not oddballs. They have reason to be joyful, and they should be good citizens. The separation God wants is a lifestyle difference, not a strange outward appearance.
Les points to Paul at Mars Hill, where Athenian philosophers called him a babbler. Their problem was trusting their own wisdom. A believer, by contrast, is known by God and has a relationship with Him, which is the only true source of understanding.
Watch the Teaching: Why Unbelievers Can't Understand the Bible — 1 Corinthians 2 Explained