I was fascinated today when I asked an extremely well educated man to read a few sentences from John Dewey, twentieth century American philosopher and educational reformer from the university of Chicago and Columbia. Before reading the passage he asked, “Who is John Dewey?” I was startled for a moment and then realized just how focused one can become. His many years of education were obviously not in liberal studies but very honed in the sciences. I was also impressed that he did not hesitate to ask what he did not know instead of faking it.
When other people do not think as we or see the same things as we, often we are quick to think less of them. However, life is so very full of things to learn and we have but a short time in which to do so. Some people are amazingly informed and bright about a few things, while some of us know a little about a lot of things. I am one of the latter. There is no area in which I can claim to be an expert. But I do so enjoy having a nodding acquaintance with a broad spectrum of things.
When I was a pastor I soon learned my congregations were filled with people who knew enormous amounts of things about topics I barely knew existed. It is why when I talk to young pastors I counsel them to do a lot of fact checking before they say something from the pulpit. People do not think less of you when you acknowledge you do not know something. But you can lose a lot of face by pretending to know when you don’t know.
Jesus has always fascinated me in that as God He knew all. But He sacrificed all that to be human. Luke 2:52 speaks of His growing in wisdom. When He took on humanity He took on beginnings as we. So often when we speak of Jesus’ sacrifice we think only of the cross. It was so much more than that.
Written by Roger Bothwell on September 7, 2012
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org