"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction" (Proverbs 1:7, ESV).
"To begin learning you must admit your ignorance." --Socrates
"To begin learning you must admit your ignorance." --Socrates
"Uncertainty is the prerequisite for learning and often its result." (Author Unknown).
We pray to God to open the eyes of our heart and enlighten us, as the illuminating ministry of the Holy Spirit to believers only. Jesus praised the Father that these things were hidden from the "wise and understanding and revealed them to children" (cf. Matt. 11:25, ESV).
Augustine of Hippo said that we believe in order to understand and all knowledge begins in faith: We must start somewhere with some proposition that we cannot prove--it is not a matter of faith vs. reason or facts vs. theory, but which set of presuppositions you are willing to accept and/or whose authority you accept. Most of what we have learned has been by accepting the authority of the mentor or teacher.
It has been said that education is going from an unconscious to a conscious awareness of your ignorance. Plato wrote that Socrates said that to begin learning you must admit your ignorance. To learn you must be teachable: Having a receptive attitude, a willing spirit, an open mind, an obedient and needy heart, and readiness to apply what you learn in expectation of learning in humility of mind and a spirit reverent of the Word.
We pray to God to open the eyes of our heart and enlighten us, as the illuminating ministry of the Holy Spirit to believers only. Jesus praised the Father that these things were hidden from the "wise and understanding and revealed them to children" (cf. Matt. 11:25, ESV).
Augustine of Hippo said that we believe in order to understand and all knowledge begins in faith: We must start somewhere with some proposition that we cannot prove--it is not a matter of faith vs. reason or facts vs. theory, but which set of presuppositions you are willing to accept and/or whose authority you accept. Most of what we have learned has been by accepting the authority of the mentor or teacher.
It has been said that education is going from an unconscious to a conscious awareness of your ignorance. Plato wrote that Socrates said that to begin learning you must admit your ignorance. To learn you must be teachable: Having a receptive attitude, a willing spirit, an open mind, an obedient and needy heart, and readiness to apply what you learn in expectation of learning in humility of mind and a spirit reverent of the Word.
We can learn from anyone, not just professors--God can speak to you through any member of the body of Christ, even a child as Augustine professed. We are exhorted to edify one another in Christ. We don't have to agree on everything either to be used by God in the edification of each other--God will ultimately lead us in the right direction if we trust Him. The question is: Are you listening because God is teaching? The requisite for learning is not having a high IQ, being worldly-wise or savvy, sophisticated, or scholarly, but having the right mindset or frame of mind. Spiritual truth can only be learned in spiritual manners.
We will never arrive at the truth if we think we've already arrived! We must be willing to admit that even we could be wrong! It is not enjoyable to be wrong, but everyone needs to stand corrected at some time. No one has a monopoly on knowledge or knows all the truth, and no one can speak ex-cathedra or pontificate for the body at large. We don't have popes who are the vicar of Christ on earth!
We will never arrive at the truth if we think we've already arrived! We must be willing to admit that even we could be wrong! It is not enjoyable to be wrong, but everyone needs to stand corrected at some time. No one has a monopoly on knowledge or knows all the truth, and no one can speak ex-cathedra or pontificate for the body at large. We don't have popes who are the vicar of Christ on earth!
The eye cannot say to the ear that he has no need of him because all members must coordinate their efforts together and work in harmony and unison (stressing unity, not uniformity). If someone refused to admit that he could be in error or misinformed, that person thinks he knows it all, and no one likes a know-it-all! Knowledge tends to puff up according to 1 Cor. 8:1 and we must learn to apply what we know or it is merely theory and truth gone to seed. We don't seek knowledge for its own sake or as an end in itself, but as a means to an end.
Knowledge can be dangerous! You can know just enough to misuse it and misapply it. Many students of the Word know enough to be dangerous: They haven't learned they shouldn't be quarrelsome, divisive, argumentative, contentious, or judgmental when people disagree. We must learn to agree to disagree without being disagreeable and find common ground to keep in fellowship.
Knowledge can be dangerous! You can know just enough to misuse it and misapply it. Many students of the Word know enough to be dangerous: They haven't learned they shouldn't be quarrelsome, divisive, argumentative, contentious, or judgmental when people disagree. We must learn to agree to disagree without being disagreeable and find common ground to keep in fellowship.
Some people are only half-educated and think they know all the answers. The more educated you get, the more you realize the need to be educated and you realize that God puts no premium on ignorance (which is not a virtue). Contrary to popular opinion, ignorance is not bliss! We will be judged for willful ignorance or knowledge that we had the opportunity to know and refused (missed opportunities, etc.). Soli Deo Gloria!
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