Reclaiming Intellectual Engagement in Christian Faith

 

Summary

In today's reflection, we explored the pervasive issue of anti-intellectualism within both the broader society and the Christian community. This trend, which has historical roots, often stems from a misinterpretation of biblical texts, such as 1 Corinthians 8:1, which states, "Knowledge puffs up." This has led some Christians to view intellectual pursuits with suspicion, fearing that they may lead to arrogance or a departure from faith. However, this perspective overlooks the biblical call to love God with all our minds and to engage deeply with His truth.

We examined historical figures like Jerome and Augustine, who grappled with the tension between intellectual pursuits and spiritual devotion. Jerome, despite his vow to abandon secular learning, ultimately contributed significantly to Christian scholarship. Augustine, on the other hand, highlighted the distinction between knowledge and wisdom, using his mother Monica as an example of profound wisdom without formal education. This underscores the idea that while knowledge is valuable, it must be coupled with wisdom and humility.

The sermon also traced the historical shift in American Christianity from a strong intellectual foundation to a more experience-driven faith. This shift was influenced by cultural changes, such as the democratization of society and the rise of frontier religions that emphasized personal experience over formal education. This led to a decline in theological rigor and an increase in anti-intellectual sentiment.

Despite these challenges, there is a call to reclaim the intellectual heritage of Christianity. We are reminded that our faith is rooted in historical truth and that we are called to engage with the world intellectually. This involves defending the faith, challenging secular thought, and encouraging both believers and non-believers to reflect deeply on the truth of the Gospel. By doing so, we honor God with our minds and contribute to the flourishing of both religion and theology.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Misuse of Knowledge: The phrase "knowledge puffs up" is often misinterpreted to discourage intellectual pursuits. However, the true issue is not knowledge itself but the misuse and distortion of it, which can lead to arrogance. Christians are called to seek knowledge with humility and wisdom, using it to glorify God and serve others. [10:03]

2. Balancing Knowledge and Wisdom: Augustine's reflection on his mother Monica illustrates the distinction between knowledge and wisdom. While knowledge is important, it must be accompanied by wisdom, which is the ability to apply knowledge in a way that honors God and benefits others. This balance is crucial for a healthy Christian life. [09:02]

3. The Historical Shift in American Christianity: The 19th century saw a shift from an intellectual to an experience-driven faith in American Christianity. This was influenced by cultural changes and led to a decline in theological rigor. Understanding this history helps us recognize the importance of maintaining a strong intellectual foundation in our faith. [19:06]

4. The Role of Eschatology: Different eschatological views have influenced Christian attitudes towards intellectual engagement. While postmillennialism encouraged optimism and engagement, premillennialism often led to a retreat from intellectual pursuits. Recognizing these influences can help us develop a more balanced and engaged faith. [34:08]

5. The Call to Intellectual Engagement: Despite the challenges of anti-intellectualism, Christians are called to engage deeply with the world intellectually. This involves defending the faith, challenging secular thought, and encouraging reflection on the truth of the Gospel. By doing so, we honor God with our minds and contribute to the flourishing of both religion and theology. [49:56]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:28] - Introduction to Anti-Intellectualism
- [01:28] - Anti-Intellectualism in Christianity
- [02:23] - Misinterpretation of 1 Corinthians 8:1
- [04:06] - Jerome's Intellectual Struggle
- [07:16] - Balancing Learning and Devotion
- [09:02] - Augustine on Knowledge and Wisdom
- [13:15] - American Christianity's Shift
- [19:06] - Democratization of Christianity
- [24:55] - Experience Over Education
- [26:23] - Eschatology and Intellectual Retreat
- [34:08] - Premillennialism's Impact
- [37:52] - Importance of Intellectual Defense
- [44:05] - The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind
- [49:56] - Call to Intellectual Engagement

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. 1 Corinthians 8:1 - "Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up."
2. Matthew 22:37 - "Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'"
3. Romans 12:2 - "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

---

Observation Questions:

1. What does the phrase "knowledge puffs up" mean in the context of 1 Corinthians 8:1, and how has it been misinterpreted according to the sermon? [02:23]

2. How did historical figures like Jerome and Augustine illustrate the tension between intellectual pursuits and spiritual devotion? [04:06]

3. What cultural changes in the 19th century contributed to the shift from an intellectual to an experience-driven faith in American Christianity? [19:06]

4. How did different eschatological views influence Christian attitudes towards intellectual engagement? [34:08]

---

Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the sermon suggest Christians should balance the pursuit of knowledge with the need for wisdom and humility? [09:02]

2. In what ways does the sermon propose that anti-intellectualism has affected the Christian community, and what are the potential dangers of this trend? [35:20]

3. How does the historical shift in American Christianity from intellectualism to experience-driven faith reflect broader cultural changes, and what lessons can be learned from this history? [19:06]

4. What role does the sermon suggest eschatology plays in shaping Christian engagement with intellectual pursuits, and how can this understanding impact one's faith journey? [34:08]

---

Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own attitude towards intellectual pursuits. Do you find yourself wary of them, and if so, why? How can you seek knowledge with humility and wisdom? [10:03]

2. Consider the balance between knowledge and wisdom in your life. How can you ensure that your pursuit of knowledge is accompanied by wisdom that honors God and benefits others? [09:02]

3. How can you actively engage with the world intellectually while maintaining a strong foundation in your faith? What steps can you take to challenge secular thought and defend the truth of the Gospel? [49:56]

4. In what ways can you contribute to reclaiming the intellectual heritage of Christianity in your community or church? How can you encourage others to reflect deeply on the truth of the Gospel? [49:56]

5. Think about a time when you may have retreated from intellectual engagement due to fear or misunderstanding. How can you overcome these barriers and embrace a more balanced and engaged faith? [35:20]

6. How can you apply the call to love God with all your mind in your daily life? What specific actions can you take to deepen your understanding of God's truth? [11:26]

7. Identify one area in your life where you can challenge yourself to think more deeply and critically about your faith. What resources or practices can you incorporate to support this growth? [49:56]

Devotional

Day 1: The True Purpose of Knowledge
Christians often misinterpret the phrase "knowledge puffs up" from 1 Corinthians 8:1, leading to a suspicion of intellectual pursuits. However, the issue is not knowledge itself but its misuse, which can result in arrogance. True Christian knowledge should be sought with humility and wisdom, aiming to glorify God and serve others. By understanding this, believers can embrace intellectual growth as a means to deepen their faith and positively impact the world. [10:03]

"For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity." (Proverbs 2:6-7, ESV)

Reflection: Consider an area where you have been hesitant to pursue knowledge due to fear of arrogance. How can you approach this pursuit with humility and a desire to serve others?


Day 2: The Balance of Knowledge and Wisdom
Augustine's reflection on his mother Monica highlights the distinction between knowledge and wisdom. While knowledge is important, it must be accompanied by wisdom, which is the ability to apply knowledge in a way that honors God and benefits others. This balance is crucial for a healthy Christian life, as it ensures that intellectual pursuits are grounded in spiritual maturity and humility. [09:02]

"Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom." (James 3:13, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a recent decision where you relied solely on knowledge. How might incorporating wisdom have changed your approach or outcome?


Day 3: The Shift in American Christianity
In the 19th century, American Christianity experienced a shift from an intellectual foundation to a more experience-driven faith. This change, influenced by cultural factors, led to a decline in theological rigor and an increase in anti-intellectual sentiment. Understanding this history helps believers recognize the importance of maintaining a strong intellectual foundation in their faith, ensuring that personal experiences are informed by sound doctrine and theological understanding. [19:06]

"Therefore, let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God." (Hebrews 6:1, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on your own faith journey. How can you ensure that your personal experiences are supported by a solid understanding of Christian doctrine?


Day 4: Eschatology and Intellectual Engagement
Different eschatological views have influenced Christian attitudes towards intellectual engagement. While postmillennialism encouraged optimism and engagement, premillennialism often led to a retreat from intellectual pursuits. Recognizing these influences can help believers develop a more balanced and engaged faith, encouraging them to actively participate in intellectual discussions and defend their beliefs with confidence. [34:08]

"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." (Colossians 3:2, ESV)

Reflection: Consider your own views on the future and how they influence your engagement with intellectual pursuits. How can you cultivate a mindset that encourages active participation in theological discussions?


Day 5: The Call to Intellectual Engagement
Despite the challenges of anti-intellectualism, Christians are called to engage deeply with the world intellectually. This involves defending the faith, challenging secular thought, and encouraging reflection on the truth of the Gospel. By doing so, believers honor God with their minds and contribute to the flourishing of both religion and theology, ensuring that their faith is both intellectually robust and spiritually vibrant. [49:56]

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a secular idea or belief that challenges your faith. How can you engage with it intellectually to defend your beliefs and encourage others to reflect on the truth of the Gospel?

Quotes

"R.C. talked about what a very anti-intellectual world we live in, and we do, don’t we? And my task today is to talk a little bit about how anti-intellectualism has invaded the Christian world. It’s not only a problem out there. It’s a problem also in the Christian world." [00:01:30]

"There was a strand of Christianity that said knowledge inevitably makes you arrogant. Knowledge will inevitably make you think more highly of yourself than you ought to. And the antidote to that problem is to flee knowledge. One of the classic examples of the temptation in that direction comes from one of the most educated Christians in the ancient world, one of the most intellectual Christians in the ancient world, namely Jerome." [00:03:48]

"Even the great church father Augustine reflected on some of the tension when he said, “You know, it is possible to have great wisdom without much knowledge. And it’s possible to have great knowledge and no wisdom at all.” Wisdom, ‘sapientia,’ contrasted with knowledge ‘scientia.’ And the great illustration for him was his mother, a very pious woman, a very devout woman, Monica, a woman who prayed earnestly for her son in all of the misadventures of his early life, and then was profoundly moved that the Spirit of God took hold of Augustine and brought him to Christ." [00:07:58]

"Paul is talking about knowledge that’s been distorted and misused. And we all know that that’s possible with knowledge, don’t we? Knowledge can easily be distorted and misused. It can be distorted in a way that leads us away from the truth. And certainly in the history of the church and in the history of intellectual thought outside the church, we’ve seen many people who thought of themselves as profoundly wise and knowledgeable, but we know were wrong altogether." [00:09:45]

"But we can be thankful that in the face of that kind of Christian anti-intellectualism, there has always been a strong assertion that God does want us to love Him with all our minds. I think you find that verse in the Bible. God wants us to love Him with all our minds. He wants us to use our best mental faculties to plumb the depths of His truth, to defend that truth in an unbelieving world, to make that truth known in this world." [00:11:30]

"American Christianity began with a strong commitment to the importance of education, of knowledge, and of careful using of the mind for the sake of God. One of the first things the Puritans did in New England was to establish a Calvinistic college, a little place called Harvard. And when they began to fear that Harvard was going a little liberal after about 80 years, they started another little Calvinistic college called Yale." [00:13:50]

"And so there was this stress upon equality and experience, and it came to be supported and undergirded, supported and undergirded by an attitude towards eschatology. In the early part of the nineteenth century, almost all Protestant Christians were postmillennialists. They were confident that history was moving in the direction of the ever growing success and triumph of the church, and that the church would preach Christ in a way that would bring vast multitudes, not only of America, but around the world, into the church to know Jesus Christ." [00:26:04]

"Christianity is fully capable of a glorious and convincing, intellectual, defense and propagation. We are not people who have embraced a religion born out of a myth, born out of an untruth, or born out of a kind of spirituality that is divorced from history and truth in this world. Our religion says precisely the opposite. Our religion is born out of history. Our religion is born in truth. Our Savior is the one who said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”" [00:36:17]

"An intellectual defense of the faith is important to encourage Christians and to challenge non-Christians to pause, to think, to reflect. The saddest thing about conceding that in some sense we live in a post-Christian world is that it almost allows and validates people saying, “Well, it’s a post-Christian world.” That means Christianity is passé. I don’t need to think about it. I don’t need to reflect on it. It’s just old-fashioned." [00:38:12]

"God calls us to the renewing of our minds. God calls us to loving Him with all our minds. God calls us to recognize that our Savior is the truth, to remind us that our Savior said to us, “If you abide in My Word, you are My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” The truth of Christ’s Word, the truth that is in Christ is the truth that sets free." [00:49:02]

"And the way for us to testify to that Christ is not by being anti-intellectual, but to use the minds God has given us to serve Him, to think His thoughts after Him, to think carefully and deeply about things, so that we can say that in our day and in the days to come we don’t want just religion to prosper, but we want theology to prosper, the true theology born out of a careful study of God’s Word, so that God may be glorified, that the truth of Christ might be exalted and many may be drawn to a true and profound saving knowledge of Christ." [00:49:56]

"And we pray, O Lord, that we might be those who reject both ignorance and vain curiosity, and pursue according to Your Word a useful knowledge to glorify Christ, to build up His church, to defend the truth, and to see many set free by the truth. Hear us and bless us we pray. In Jesus’ name, amen." [00:51:20]

Chatbot

  • I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Aug 11, 2015. Do you have any questions about it?

Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?