Last Holiday Bible Questions

This is a bit tricky. On the one hand, you would assume people that have more education are more likely to be closer to God. We see that with some of the people you mentioned.

On the other hand, there is a very real danger in letting all the education go to our head, and not our heart. In those cases, it did not help get the person closer to God.

My favorite preacher, Spurgeon, had very little formal training. Nevertheless, he was a very well educated man. He realized the importance of education in the role of the pastor.

I firmly believe that both the intelligent and the ignorant are fully capable of having equally deep fellowship with God.

 

I would compare your question to being in love.

I am just as much in love with ("spiritually fulfilled", "joyful", "great relationship", etc.) my wife now as when I married her 24 years ago, even though now I know a great deal more about her life story, background, preferences and nuances as when I married her so many years ago.

I think the love/joy/fellowship/relationship is just as true and valid then as now. But the more time invested in listening, thinking, "studying" and knowing her family's past heritage has also paid dividends in its own special way.

--
Eric Pement

 

Knowledge and wisdom increasing together is always a good thing but merely increasing knowledge can give one a false sense of accomplishment.

 

It is very easy for those with a lot of education to start to rely on their intellect. I am saying this because this is what happened to me. It took a total crash in my life to finally cause me to say, literally and out loud "You are God and I am not; have mercy on me."

The closest relationship with God comes with humility, prayer, and obedience to Him. Intellectual knowledge and studying can be wonderful and enlightening in many ways, but they will not cause you to become closer to God. Personal relationships are a result of personal time spent on the relationship itself, not just reading or studying about it.

So don't worry if you do not have the formal education you want to have, or have not read all you think you should have or want to. None of that is required for a relationship with our Lord.

Read your Bible. Know it. Spend time in prayer and reference every moment of your life to Christ, looking for His direction, through the Holy Spirit in you, for each decision you make, each word you say, each action you take. Be HIS.

That is how you and He will become ever closer.

 

Well said, Helen (and everyone else so far).

Some of the best Christians I've ever known were humble, quiet people with only a high school education, but who knew how to walk with God like Enoch did. I remember Joe L., a Polish immigrant who attended Calvary Baptist Church in Wheaton, IL, in the 1950's. He truly walked with God, loved to witness for Christ, and loved even the smallest people in the church--us kids!

That church was founded and pastored by John R. Rice (forgive me for another JRR story, but those of you who know me know why. ). Dr. Rice once told me he purposefully aimed his books at the common man rather than the scholar, and this is true, as anyone who has read his books can attest. Oftentimes a Bible scholar (not all of them, of course, nor even most of them) is an arrogant man, because the Bible says, "Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies" (1 Cor. 8:1). He who gains great knowledge without great wisdom runs great risks.

A certain well known Presbyterian theologian once said, "John R. Rice writes for idiots!" Dr. Rice's facetious reply was, "Someone has to. God made so many of them!"