We live in a
society that thinks of education only in the realm of relevance. All
most students are concerned with is their grade point average. And they
are eager to do as little as possible in order to achieve a GPA that is
acceptable. Scholarship is a dying concept. In addition, some
students who don't want to work use the excuse of relevance to hide
their laziness. And, honestly, who really knows what will be relevant
to their life somewhere in the future?
But what does the Bible say about the significance of education--of obtaining knowledge? In I Kings 4:29-34 we are told that Solomon had an opportunity to share his faith with multitudes of people. They all came because they were attracted by his wisdom. And the passage tells us that Solomon was not just wise in discernment but in philosophy, poetry, music, and biology. We also know that he was an architect, horticulturist, and administrator. Knowing all those things and excelling in all those things gave him opportunities as one of God's witnesses.
In Daniel 1 we find that Daniel and his three friends were the best students in the entire group that went through Nebuchadnezzar's Academy. What that means is they were experts in Chaldean history, religion, astronomy, and even astrology. All the things that the Chaldeans thought were important, the four Hebrew children mastered. They knew the lies better than those who believed they were the truth. And tell me, did those four young men have an impact as God's witnesses? In fact, I can't prove it, but I think I know where the Magi got their information about the coming of the King of the Jews and when to expect Him. That information, I believe, was passed on by those who learned of them from Daniel.
In Acts 7:22 Stephen tells us that Moses was learned in all the knowledge of Egypt. He knew all their math, religion, architecture, medicine, government, etc. And do you know what the next line says? He was a man "mighty in word and deed." Did Moses have an impact on his culture?
In Acts 26:14-15 Paul is describing his conversion experience on the road to Damascus. He says that Jesus speaking from Heaven said, "It is hard for you to kick against the goads." Did you know that is a direct quote from a play by Aeschylus--line 1624 in "Agamemnon"? Now why would Jesus quote a play by a pagan Greek dramatist to the future Apostle Paul? Because He knew that Paul was familiar with the play and would know exactly what He meant. Paul, too, at times quoted poets and philosophers when trying to reach out to people with the Gospel.
What I'm trying to say is that the knowledge one gains from scholarship gives that person additional opportunities to relate to the people in the culture in which they live. The more areas of common ground I have with others the more ways I have of reaching them with the truth.
The church needs scholars. We need to be learners not for some grade point or future job opportunity, but in order to have every opportunity to relate to, and thus reach, the dying people around us. We must understand our world, its ideas, its lies, and its viewpoints. Certainly the impact of the lives of Solomon, Daniel, Moses, and Paul should reaffirm that for us. They were men "mighty in words and deeds." They were Christian scholars.
But what does the Bible say about the significance of education--of obtaining knowledge? In I Kings 4:29-34 we are told that Solomon had an opportunity to share his faith with multitudes of people. They all came because they were attracted by his wisdom. And the passage tells us that Solomon was not just wise in discernment but in philosophy, poetry, music, and biology. We also know that he was an architect, horticulturist, and administrator. Knowing all those things and excelling in all those things gave him opportunities as one of God's witnesses.
In Daniel 1 we find that Daniel and his three friends were the best students in the entire group that went through Nebuchadnezzar's Academy. What that means is they were experts in Chaldean history, religion, astronomy, and even astrology. All the things that the Chaldeans thought were important, the four Hebrew children mastered. They knew the lies better than those who believed they were the truth. And tell me, did those four young men have an impact as God's witnesses? In fact, I can't prove it, but I think I know where the Magi got their information about the coming of the King of the Jews and when to expect Him. That information, I believe, was passed on by those who learned of them from Daniel.
In Acts 7:22 Stephen tells us that Moses was learned in all the knowledge of Egypt. He knew all their math, religion, architecture, medicine, government, etc. And do you know what the next line says? He was a man "mighty in word and deed." Did Moses have an impact on his culture?
In Acts 26:14-15 Paul is describing his conversion experience on the road to Damascus. He says that Jesus speaking from Heaven said, "It is hard for you to kick against the goads." Did you know that is a direct quote from a play by Aeschylus--line 1624 in "Agamemnon"? Now why would Jesus quote a play by a pagan Greek dramatist to the future Apostle Paul? Because He knew that Paul was familiar with the play and would know exactly what He meant. Paul, too, at times quoted poets and philosophers when trying to reach out to people with the Gospel.
What I'm trying to say is that the knowledge one gains from scholarship gives that person additional opportunities to relate to the people in the culture in which they live. The more areas of common ground I have with others the more ways I have of reaching them with the truth.
The church needs scholars. We need to be learners not for some grade point or future job opportunity, but in order to have every opportunity to relate to, and thus reach, the dying people around us. We must understand our world, its ideas, its lies, and its viewpoints. Certainly the impact of the lives of Solomon, Daniel, Moses, and Paul should reaffirm that for us. They were men "mighty in words and deeds." They were Christian scholars.
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