Tuesday, 18 September 2007

• Education v. Inspiration: (False) Dichotomies

  Coming from rural Missouri, I am what you might consider a country boy.  Unless you knew me, then you might call me a 'college boy'.  Of course, to most, these are mutual exclusive. 

  The most violent place we see this divide is perhaps in the ecclesiatical community (violent and ecclesiatical--two words which all to often are crossed and never should be).  There are those on the 'top' who, in the eyes of those on the 'bottom' "learn from books".  Then, there are those on the 'bottom' who, in the eyes of those on the 'top' "resist education". 

  The issue arises from a false dichotomy drawn between 'learning' and 'inspiration'.  Learning, in this context, is considered anything which can be taught by a teacher, or read in a book.  Something which is conveyed in a human way, from human to human.  Inspiration, however, is that which is given in a divine way, most often from God to man, therefore being implying a holy knowledge.  Prophecy, words of knowledge, intercessory prayers, and spontaneous worship often fall in this category. 

  The problem comes from each of the two groups claiming propriety to one or the other of these groups of knowledge.  'Academics' becomes both a title of pride and a slur, as does 'Pentecostal', given those who claim exclusive knowledge of the 'inspired' often label them selves in this manner. 

  What happens in an environment such as this is dangerous.  For those academics who shun inspiration as being unnecessary or non-intelligent (or even anti-intelligent) find themselves locked away in an ivory tower as it were, looking at issues from a perspective which not only isolates them from those for whom they should be doing their research, those whom they would presumedly educate.  The issues become dry, and have little or no life beyond the search for an answer.  The Bible is especially dangerous to view in this way.  The Pharisees are a great example of this. For those that are claiming inspiration is the only way to study, the problem is also isolation, but of a different kind.  Ideas become more and more wild, as each and every whim becomes considered with more and more weight.  Things which, previously, would have been seen as clearly ridiculous become canonical.  Another, diffenrent set of rules emerge, and most often, a single 'most inspired' person rises to the top.  Weird practices become ritual, and hereseys canonical.  I would site both the Essenes and Gnostics as good examples of this.  Mysticism without grounding in study.

  And that is the crux of the issue.  There is no exclusion in the search of knowledge from the Bible.  Study is not the only way, nor is inspiration.  Rather, I believe that there is a spectrum.  There are people who engage with the Bible in a most meaningful way through study, they find that with more and more factual information, more and more scientific, literary, etc...information, they find more and more of God.  There are those as well that find an inspiring experience with God most fulfilling, reveling in times of spontaneous reading, or times when the Bible comes alight to them not through study but seemingly from nowhere, via God's speaking to them.  Neither of these people are wrong.

  However, they must stay on the spectrum!  Those who study the Bible must remember that there needs to be space in their life where God can still speak, against all odds and outside of the facts.  Again, those who enjoy an experience must remember that only through study, can we stay grounded in the Bible.  

  Remember, Paul was Saul, the most Jewish of all Jews and knowledgeable of the law.  He also had a miraculous experience, and continued to walk in miracle ministry.  His grounding in his knowledge of God made it possible for him to experience God's miracles more totally, and God's miracles brought his knowledge of the law to life.   

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