Musings from a Pastor, Educator, Wife, and Mother





Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Lifelong Learning

Isn't it amazing what we think we know?  What makes individuals an expert on anything?  Is it how many degrees they have? Is it how many years of experience they have had? Is it a personal passion for a topic?  These questions may be easy to answer if we are talking about being a meteorologist or a doctor.  For example, I may be really interested in human anatomy, but that doesn't mean you should come to me when you are having chest pains.  And I have a lot of personal experience with erratic Virginia weather, having lived here my whole life, but I can't look to the sky and tell you for certain if those clouds forming determine a hail storm  (I have a friend, Bonnie, who could tell you probably. Because it is of her interests and experience).

But how do we answer these questions when it comes to talking about and learning about our faith? Who do you trust to guide you in lifelong learning about the Bible, Faith, and Christian Life?  As an ordained minister with degrees in Divinity and Christian Education I find that I can be a bit of a snob about this.  I want pastors to be educated, to have gone to seminary and earned degrees in ministry. I worked hard for my education so I get a little peeved when ministers from other denominations at times don't have any credentials such as this.  I fear that those who follow those leaders may be lead astray.  This is my bias, I will be honest and not one that is always true. 

But I do not find myself believing that pastors are the only people who can teach other Christians about the faith.  For some, this is the norm, the only individuals that are trusted to interpret the Scriptures, to help guide our spiritual life are the ministers.  I wonder at what age that changes?  It is okay  faithful volunteers to teach our little children the Bible stories.  At what stage of life does the shift happen where only scholars can guide other adults in the faith? Middle School? High School?  After college?  As adults we find often that we distrust others.  We worry that other adults may not have done their homework adequately or that they may stir in their own personal biases in Bible Studies or Sunday School Forums.  I am not saying that this does not happen but when we walk into the doors of our churches and our sanctuaries, aren't we supposed to suspend our distrust and disbelief in humanity?  Aren't we called to be one body? 

I believe in the priesthood of all believers.  And I believe in the beauty of many voices and interpretations of the Scripture, that in dialogue we can all learn from one another.  I believe that we can never know all that there is to know about the Bible, no matter how many degrees we have.  This does not mean that we will all have the exact same level of knowledge, or we will all agree about the Bible message and how it intersects with our lives today.  But, that is OK!  Surely, as Peter, James & John followed Jesus they didn't always hear the same message.  And yet, they were vital to the faith and the future of the Church.  

With that being said, I suppose my point is this: while it does take a special, dedicated individual to lead our congregations in prayer, in study of the Scripture, and other writings from individuals who are faithfully engaging the Bible... there are many faithful Christians who fit that description who are guiding many people in thoughtful theological discussions the world over.  And there are many who fit the description who are afraid to step forward and participate in this way. 

We can all teach, preach, and learn from one another.  And we ALL have more to learn.  I think that is a beautiful thing because it means that God is never finished being at work in and through us.   Let us not relegate Sunday School to children only.  Let us not think that Bible Study only happens successfully when the pastor leads it.  And let us not think that one Bible Study will ever be enough.  Let us be open to new ways of engaging in the Word.  Let us stretch ourselves beyond what is comfortable. Let us admit we haven't immersed ourselves in the Bible narrative (I haven't). Let us admit that we cannot recite all the psalms (I can't). Let us be honest that we don't know all of the historical context of our faith (I don't).  Let us confess that we do not have an answer for all of the questions that come up about our faith (I don't and won't). It is time to stop pretending and embrace the fact that this is OK! Let us be present in a lifetime of Christian learning. Let us not doubt that we can listen and learn, speak and educate, together.  Amen.

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