The talk I gave this morning to a group of students was called, “I don’t want to be an idiot.”
The title is the mantra I lived by for years after becoming a Christian… I read and studied, not because I like academics, but simply because I really didn’t want to be stupid.
I gave three things I have learned over the years to the group as things to watch out for if you don’t want to be an idiot.
1. There are two sides to every story.
Proverbs says that “The first to present his case seems right…” We all know that there are two sides to ever story, but few of us actually have the restraint to withhold judgment or to remain intellectually humble when all we’ve heard is one side of a case. The second flows from the first…
2. Study!!
We need to pursue knowledge the way that we pursue “silver and gold.” Now, not many of us are after silver and gold literally, but if we studied the way that we focus on fashion, fun and friends we’d all be a lot smarter, wiser and better able to glorify God. There need to be more Christian lawyers, movie makers, professors and philosophers. We need to encourage young Christians to learn… not simply give them one-liners to throw around as a substitute to knowledge.
3. Beware of Religious Arguments.
We have our defenses up with people who believe differently than us. It is the arguments that come from those on our side or seem to share our religious values that we fall for the easiest. If we don’t want to be idiots, we need to learn to spot bad religious arguments.
There are the ones of motive, such as Satan tempting Jesus in the desert with scripture passages. There are always people who will sound persuasive, but have bad motives or intentions.
There are the ones of zeal without knowledge, such as Peter and the disciples when they were passionate yet still got things wrong (Peter saying that Jesus shouldn’t suffer and die… the disciples who wanted to call down fire on an arrogant city etc.) We often fall victim to bad arguments simply because they come from passionate or well meaning people. We need to be committed to truth more than charisma if we don’t want to play the fool.
Lastly, there are the ones of pride, such as the Pharisees who made religion about themselves more than truth. Pride is deceptive because it echoes truth, but distorts the purpose. Jesus didn’t come to win, but to save. Anyone who is focused on winning rather than saving, tearing down rather than building up, destroying rather than reconciling, triumphing rather than coaching is giving a bad religious argument. In addition, any religious leader who is more focused on controlling than educating is someone to be avoided. If we don’t want to be an idiot we need to be discerning about the heart and purposes of those whom we follow.
I’m becoming more and more convinced that what the world needs is well thought out and well reasoned Christians. Maybe this has always been the case… maybe the reason knowledge and wisdom dominate the pages of the Book of Proverbs is because gravity always pulls toward folly and only through intentionality and focus will followers of God rise to the wisdom and maturity that is necessary to honor God and win the respect of outsiders.
My whole life I grew up with the kind of Christianity that was afraid to reason and stood against anyone who would question or reject the prescribed interpretation of Scripture or world view. That was the test of faith! Could you stand against the evil one and all of his followers (i.e. anyone who believes differently than us)?
I was filled with pat answers, hatred, fear, mistrust and pride. I had so much zeal and so little wisdom, knowledge, love or grace.
It makes me sad to think about it.
But that was what being a “good Christian” was to me. That was what I was taught. I was never taught to think. Never taught to reason. Never given a fair look at the other side of an argument. It was always, “here’s what you would say to that…”
I am so thankful that God is a God of grace, mercy, love and patience! He has certainly put up with a lot from me!
Your teaching has been my first exposure to a Christian who teaches truth and reason. Someone who isn’t full of fear or intimidated by other world-views. Someone who is real and who loves others even if they see things differently.
God has used you to set me free from the tyranny of ignorance and pride. My relationships are changing. My faith is changing. I have so much freedom and joy and feel like I am really learning and experiencing faith (rather than memorizing pat answers). Grace and love have entered my life.
For the first time in my life I feel that I am experiencing true Christianity!