Intellectual or inspired learning?

I think you're making false dichotomies here. Many of the most passtionate defenders of God's word are educated people, not just college but beyond. Many here who defend the 6 days of creation, for example, have seminary training or degrees.

Some people who are not educated can be very wrong about how they interpret the Bible. Not being educated does not make one more innocent or somehow more pure with God's word. I don't think there is such a thing as "innocent" understanding of the Bible. And what is an "intense theological degree?"

This is that old stereotype of the humble uneducated Christian vs. the slick Christian with a seminary degree. These are stereotypes only.

 

Learning is a good thing. Don't throw the baby out with the bath water. I would like to have some seminary training, but God just has prompted me enough to make it happen.

I do think sometimes people get too dependent on themselves and not depend enough on the Spirit of God in understanding scripture. But that is a flaw in the person, not the education.

 

Also, what's with the "intellectual vs. inspired" idea? Only God's words in the Bible are inspired. People aren't.

Intellect, reason, thinking, and logic are all based in God's character.

 

A true education demonstrates how much there is to learn rather than resting on how much one has learned.

I never allowed a church to publish my degrees for fear that some would take pride in their "degreed" pastor, rather than rest on the word their pastor taught and preached.

Besides, opening our mouths can establish our degree of learning or lack thereof, so, why broadcast it in advance?

Cheers,

Jim

 

Before continuing I would like to request that you list the people you (and I suppose we) are talking about.

Who is this? Otherwise its just gossip.

 

You noticed that have you. I've been here for 8 years, and noticed it the first couple of months. the people and names have changed, this has not. Some people beleive education gives the right to think they are better then the rest of us, and they and only they have a solid grounded relationship with God, no one else can ever be satisfying to God because they are uneducated.

 

I'll take your rebuke (however, I'm not nearly as educated as most here seem to be). I will say this I look at these type of forums as discussion tools for myself seeking to learn something. Sometimes just to debate. Some times to throw ideas out there to see what people say. I never look at these forums as social sites. Not really because I'm hidden behind the computer screen and can obtain a sense of anonymity. I overlook the fact that this is actually a social site where people actually get to know each other and befriend each other. I'm so use to doing that in the world out side the net I'm inept at it online. So what I display here isn't what my family sees or my friends or aquantences. So if I seem uncaring I'm sorry. Or if I seem full of myself I apologize as well. I like debating even if I don't agree with a particular point just for the fun of it but people here are very serious about what they are putting forward. So, I will attempt to keep in mind what you say and maybe get to know a few of you along the way.

 

But God created us in his image and gave us a mind and the ability to reason. We are supposed to use it. The fact we can't understand like God is not an excuse to not use reason and intellect.

I don't know what you mean by "inspiration." It is not all we have. In fact, I don't think we have it at all, except that we have God's inspired word. But we use reason to read it, and we are taught by the Holy Spirit. But we also use our mind.

I think you are making a mistake of thinking that using the mind or reason is somehow against the Bible, but it isn't. And improving knowledge and learning is a good thing.

 

How do you know these people are not intellectual? You seem to want to make being intellectual a bad thing.

Taking an anti-intellectual stand can be reverse snobbery, you know. Not all snobby people are "intellectual" or smart or educated. I've known quite a few uneducated snobs. Pride is a universal flaw.

 

And I'm saying is that a lot of educated folks make an effort to live out the Bible.

I don't think anyone has said that and I doubt very many believe it.

Being uneducated doesn't make one more godly either.

Most of the false teachers I know of are uneducated.

 

Why do educated people bother you so much?

I've come across this before - on the BB and elsewhere. I call it reverse snobbery. It gives some people permission, in their minds, to knock others. You've already done that, by saying there are people on the BB who are 'intelllectual' and were not kind to you. Why don't you settle it with them? It's not nice to start a whole thread on it.