tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082372264562171646.post6250622210385456450..comments2023-05-29T05:33:16.905-04:00Comments on High Mileage Hermeneutics: A Response to “I'm Calling For A Reformation!”Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082372264562171646.post-16612195285349751182010-12-21T12:16:09.459-05:002010-12-21T12:16:09.459-05:00A good word Nate! I too have been around some Chri...A good word Nate! I too have been around some Christians who pretend like there are no challenges to our faith... I also find that to be unhelpful. <br /><br />Jacob, thansk for the encouragement.Philhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14570067899126974274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082372264562171646.post-25497477195427094332010-12-21T11:28:44.715-05:002010-12-21T11:28:44.715-05:00Phil,
Good thoughts, to be sure. I feel like you ...Phil,<br /><br />Good thoughts, to be sure. I feel like you are trying very hard to get an angle on some thoughts that I have wrestled with as well in my limited pursuit of "higher education". Through processing this I have arrived at a couple thoughts I would like to toss into the ring.<br /><br />First of all, one HUGE challenge that would have to be addressed: for a Christian college or university to contend in the sphere if academics, they have to conform to state ordained prerequisites to be recognized as an accredited institution. To put it another way - they have to be conformed to this world.<br /><br />This creates a gigantic moral wrestling match that I think most Christians, and thereby the institutions they create, if honest to the heart, know remain unsettled. It is truly a narrow road to walk - the line between honesty with natural facts and science, and the supernatural life lead by the Spirit of Christ.<br /><br />The pitfalls in this, I believe to be - we are left with the disquieting chasms of either disconnecting our faith, ministry and institutions from rigorous intellectual exercise, or subjugating them to the oversight of the worldly and potentially evil, who have limited or no connection to that Confusing and Bright Light.<br /><br />Neither of these conclusions is desirable - I spent the better part of my childhood and adolescence surrounded by believers who had isolated themselves from intellectual scrutiny and insulated themselves with circular reasoning and strawmen to qualify great evils committed in the name of God. <br /><br />At the same time, the lump of this world is frequently robbed of the leven it desperately needs to rise above its sordid state by the very people who have been commissioned to spread it! If we need to separate our faith from the scrutiny of the world - how weak our faith must be! <br /><br />All the same: to try to compare the pursuits of the Spirit and the fruit that must come with it, to the pursuit of worldly knowledge is pure foolishness. The desire for higher learning urged by the Spirit of Christ will continue to lead to the fruit of the Spirit, in whatever sphere of influence. The pursuit of higher learning for any other purpose will lead to the fruits of that purpose... self-glorification, power without moral constraint, darkness.<br /><br />It is my great desire that the people of God in their pursuit of understanding would first an foremost seek out our Great Sister Wisdom, cultivate a heart that is sensitive to that still, small Voice and integrate the fruits born out of the Spirit that is residing in us into all of our pursuits - intellectual or otherwise. Peace and Grace to you! -Nate ButlerNathan Butlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05859529046200441743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082372264562171646.post-10748320464859564402010-12-21T10:11:30.222-05:002010-12-21T10:11:30.222-05:00Thanks for your kind words Phil! I feel the same w...Thanks for your kind words Phil! I feel the same way about you! I hear you loud and clear on the point about a difference between "worldly wisdom" and "Godly wisdom." This is the lesson that well-known theologian Henri Nouwen learned when he left his academic position at Harvard University to live with mentally handicapped people at the L'Arche community of Daybreak in Toronto, Canada. The residents there did not care about his degrees, titles, and acclaim, but rather his openness to love them, see them, and hold them. Through the weakness and vulnerability of one of the disabled residents, Adam Arnett, Nouwen learned the way of Jesus, His life, passion, death, and resurrection. What the world sees as foolishness, God uses as a great source of grace and blessing.Jacob Dodsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00952924704053494798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2082372264562171646.post-17231008608232301852010-12-21T08:51:27.032-05:002010-12-21T08:51:27.032-05:00Very helpful insights Jacob...I would be your frie...Very helpful insights Jacob...I would be your friend even if you weren't so intelligent. There are a couple of things that I would like to add to the discussion. As you know, in seminary there is often the encouragement for students to attend (what you have identified as) secular institutions. The thought is that if you attend one of these institutions you will be more objective, and have the appearance of someone who is more intelligent. I would like to challenge this idea. I believe that Christians can be called to these institutions according to their specific calling, but by in large I think Christian students should avoid them. I would like to propose two reasons for consideration. First, there is a difference between "worldly wisdom" and "Godly wisdom." They are not the same. We have all read scholars who assert some very unbiblical ideas under the covering of "intellectual honesty." Since human wisdom naturally and necessarily falls short of God's wisdom, than our "wisdom" will always fall short of the truth, without God's help. Second, earning a PhD means becoming an expert, and if you attend a secular institution you will likely become and expert of ideas that are untrue in relation to Biblical and Theological studies. Just some thoughtsPhilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14570067899126974274noreply@blogger.com