Stoned-Campbell Disciple

“A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
but only in expressing personal opinion” (Pr 18.2, NRSV)

“Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser.
Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more” (Pr 9.9, NLT)

“An intelligent mind acquires knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge” (Pr 18.15, NRSV)

What if Eva was ill and we had to take her to the doctor. We arrive at the clinic to be greeted by a sign that said of the “doctor:” “I do not believe in medical school. I do not believe one must learn to practice medicine. I do not read medical books and articles, I see no need in that. Books and articles are like bronchitis.”

That doctor would not touch Eva and we would likely report him (or her) to the medical review board.

In my class on Sunday mornings we are studying Proverbs. It is amazing how often Proverbs exhorts us to be “learners.” In fact “fools” have a common trait in Proverbs, “they hate knowledge” (1.22,29). Those who are opposite of fools “acquire intelligence” (8.5), they love learning.

“O simple ones learn prudence
acquire intelligence, you who lack it.” (Pr 8.5, NRSV)

This is stated over and over in numerous ways in Proverbs.

But, Proverbs asserts, fools despise instruction. They are already filled with their own sure insights. The wise operate with the “fear of the Lord” and learn, gain insight, acquire knowledge. Knowledge in Proverbs is not only “religious” knowledge. The wise study, and learn about, everything.

Proverbs is all about being a student. The Book of Proverbs does not claim the wise person knows everything. In fact it is just the opposite. A person is wise because he or she recognizes they do not know and are therefore always in a posture of learning. What makes them wise is that when “instruction” is given to such a person “they will gain in learning” and “become wiser still” (9.9). They add to their knowledge base and even revise what they think they know.

“Give instruction to the wise and they become wiser still;
teach the righteous and they gain in the learning of wisdom” (Pr 9.9).

A person is wise because given the opportunity to learn, rather than being threatened they welcome fresh learning. In a sense they are wise because like the Greek Sage Socrates they understand they do not know more than they do know. They consult “sources” precisely because they know they do not know everything about anything. (An oral source is no different than a written source, it is information beyond oneself).

Consulting a source, reading a book, is an act of humility. It is a confession that I do NOT know. It is an admission that I am not infallible.

“Fools,” the Book of Proverbs tells us, rather than learning and gaining knowledge they love only their own opinion of reality whether accurate or not.

“A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
but only in expressing personal opinion” (18.2, NRSV)

We find these even today. Sometimes we find those who project themselves as teachers and leaders of God’s people who publicly proclaim their antipathy for learning, for reading, for gaining knowledge (like our imaginary doctor). Proverbs says to run away from such people.

The New Testament states quite clearly that those who claim to be teachers are first the kind of seekers of wisdom, knowledge and understanding we see extolled in Proverbs. The NT actually says that most people should NOT be teachers of God’s word.

“My brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers” (James/Jacob 3.1, CEB).

Jesus himself trained men and women for three full years before he unleashed them upon creation. The disciples literally called Jesus “rabbi” and he was recognized as such. Jesus took his disciples to Messianic Graduate School of Religion.

Paul was a PhD who studied with Gamaliel, one of the legendary scholars of Judaism. When Luke says Paul studied at the feet of Gamaliel that is equivalent to someone saying “I did my PhD with Albert Einstein or Stephen Hawking,” today.

Daniel was also a PhD. He was already highly educated “versed in every branch of wisdom, endowed with knowledge and insight” (1.4). But then he was shipped off to Babylon and sent to the University of Babylon for a PhD where he was educated in Aramaic (Babylonian language), literature, etc for a full three years (1.5). Daniel is the dictionary definition of the “wise” person from Proverbs.

“An intelligent mind acquires knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.” (18.5, NRSV)

We can illustrate this many times over.

Thankfully God does not require us ministers to be scholars. But God absolutely expects those who claim to be teachers of God’s family to be learners/students, first. Many want to be teachers but, like Proverbs 18.2, love nothing quite as much as their own unexamined opinion. The history of Christianity littered with the results.

Fortunately most of the ministers I know are dedicated, humble and doing just as Proverbs expects. They are seeking to learn God’s word with depth and understanding. I want to be among them.

But I do come across more than few that proclaim loudly their disdain for learning (I haven’t read a commentator in years!), almost as if a badge of honor. It is not! Paul could be channeling the Book of Proverbs when he noted about those causing so much trouble in the congregation where Timothy was located in Ephesus.

“They want to be teachers of Law without understanding either what they are saying or what they are talking about with such confidence.” (1 Timothy 1.7, CEB).

Read a book, by some one who is recognized in that field as an authority. Do not be afraid to dig into an article that has lots of words, again by some one who is recognized by peers as one qualified to write on the matter at hand. The wise SEEK “instruction like silver and knowledge rather than fine gold” (Proverbs 8.10, NRSV).

Even Paul said, “bring the BOOKS” (2 Timothy 4.13).

The people listening to those who claim to be teachers EXPECT (like that doctor with Eva) that you have “studied” so you know how to “properly interpret” the Bible (2 Timothy 2.15, NLT, CEB, etc).

Children, like Eva, are not intimidated by a book. They love them and devour them. Let’s be like Eva!

This entry was posted on Thursday, June 20th, 2024 at 2:18 pm and is filed under Discipleship, Ministry, Proverbs, Reading. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.