We evangelicals have been accused of being anti-intellectual—and it seems a fair assessment. Things that require concentration are often dismissed as “not of God.” We reject complexity and nuance. Some of us won’t read anything that requires us to turn off our music. Preachers have to hold our hands for challenging topics. I have heard the following comments. Have you?
I want to have a childlike faith
Man, I don’t know about all those big words, I just love Jesus
I’m just a country boy with a passion for Christ.
What would Jesus say to these comments?
I think Jesus would say: “Childlike faith is great, but do you want to be a child forever?
“If you really love Me, you will study this scripture until you figure it out. Being a country boy is no reason to be stupid, is it? Stop justifying your laziness.”
LAZINESS. That’s what anti-intellectualism is, and it is the plague of churches filled with good, godly people, people who love Jesus but have grown accustomed to American church culture. That is a culture that makes many demands on our time–there are services, pot-luck dinners, and events all week long–and many demands on our energy as we cook and clean and volunteer in roles too numerous to count. It is a warm affirming culture and a blessing to the members and families who have embraced it.
But this demanding culture makes few demands on our minds.
Those in the pews often have college degrees, even multiple degrees. Many work in intellectually challenging careers with impressive professional titles. But because of the culture of anti-intellectualism, some are surprised if the pastor dares to mention church history, shocked if he asks them to read something for homework. If a preacher pulls out a “ten-dollar word” like soteriology, he will have to spend five minutes explaining the word and “begging the pardon” of his congregation. (How dare you use a word we don’t know?)
Of course, this is not true of every member of every church. Our churches have many fine members with incisive minds!
But there are those among us that seem unwilling to study. Our frontier roots have left us with a historical mistrust of higher education. We tend to fear big-city journalists, big-city preachers, and most of all, big-city professors. We associate deep thinking and serious books with liberalism and falling away from God. There are probably solid historical reasons for this skeptical attitude about intellectualism and education.
But consider the examples of Moses, Daniel, Solomon, Jesus, Paul, and others. Education is a tool–a tool that God can use powerfully in the hands of His people.
The writer of Hebrews, whom I believe to be Paul, finds himself discussing a complicated topic, and offers an aside:
“We have a great deal to say about this, and it’s difficult to explain, since YOU HAVE BECOME TOO LAZY TO UNDERSTAND. Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the basic principles … again. You need milk, not solid food” Hebrews 5:11-12.
Beware a lazy faith. When you read a tough passage, WRESTLE WITH IT! Grab it by the lapels, wrestle it to the floor, and keep fighting until you have MASTERED IT! NEVER GIVE UP! Never be lazy.
Never pretend like being mentally soft makes you more pure or your faith more wholesome in God’s eyes. It does not. God sees laziness for what it is.
“STUDY TO SHOW THYSELF APPROVED….” 2 Timothy 2:15.
If you want to know the mind of God, learn to use your own.
ΑΩ
Household Words: 