Too smart for God?

[Sarah]

o.k.  I can't help it....but my brother often makes comments like this in general(not toward me particularily)...and it annoys the heck out of me.  He talks about how not many smart or wise are called.  How those who aren't studied are chosen and have more faith than the 'educated'.  The scripture does say that not many wise are called.....but it bugs me.

I love to learn.  I feel like someone ties my hands behind my back when they critisize being smart and education.  God gave me this brain and why is he then putting me down for using it to think.  I'm not saying I'm super smart...by no means...but I don't like feeling guilty for using critical thinking.   :sigh:

[Kept]

I was reading one thread on another board and it was talking in some parts about how christians for the most part must be rather unintelligent. lol

and it does say God chooses the foolish things to confound the wise

but take heart Sarah

all our wisdom is as foolishness

even the wisest of us is foolish compared to God so sounds like we are all in the same boat to me

kept

[LadyPan]

1 Corinthians 1:17
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

1 Corinthians 1:20
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

1 Corinthians 1:21
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

1 Corinthians 3:19
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise in their craftiness"

and from myself... education does not make one wise... in this day and age education may do exactly the opposite... Try not to let your brother and others worry you too much Sarah... when all is said and done, they aren't the ones you need to impress... are they?...  :girlheart:

[ragamuffin34]

o.k.  I can't help it....but my brother often makes comments like this in general(not toward me particularily)...and it annoys the heck out of me.  He talks about how not many smart or wise are called.  How those who aren't studied are chosen and have more faith than the 'educated'.  The scripture does say that not many wise are called.....but it bugs me.

I love to learn.  I feel like someone ties my hands behind my back when they critisize being smart and education.  God gave me this brain and why is he then putting me down for using it to think.  I'm not saying I'm super smart...by no means...but I don't like feeling guilty for using critical thinking.   :sigh:

I understand your frustrations.  The Bible also says that we should love God with all our MINDS as well as our hearts, souls, strengths, etc.  I think critical thinking can help advance the kingdom - both by questioning those aspects of cultural Christianity that are harmful and even evil, and by questioning those aspects of secular culture that are dehumanizing and demoralizing.

[firstborn888]

He talks about how not many smart or wise are called. 

It says 'not many'. It does not say 'not any'. :thumbsup:

   blessings,
  - byron

[Kratos]

I think God is refering to those who are wise in the wisdom of this world and through the processes of the carnal mind. The mind of the spirit receives the true wisdom by impartation from God. Once this impartation is received, it is retained and repeated by use of a strong and well disciplined mind. God made us that way. It is just a mistake to think that you can figure out God or His ways through your own natural brain.

[firstborn888]

I think God is refering to those who are wise in the wisdom of this world and through the processes of the carnal mind. The mind of the spirit receives the true wisdom by impartation from God. Once this impartation is received, it is retained and repeated by use of a strong and well disciplined mind. God made us that way. It is just a mistake to think that you can figure out God or His ways through your own natural brain.

Once again, John hits it on the head (literally this time). Intellect can be an obstacle until divine impartation of truth comes, then after that it becomes a blessing. Paul is a good example. His intellect was so strong that God really had to kick his butt to get his attention. Then that keen intellect went to work on heavenly things and is serving us well to this very day...
- b

[hopeful]

Good answers everyone.   :HeartThrob:

Sarah, some people who are not as educated can feel intimidated by those who are.  And... those who don't love to learn can't understand those who do.

May your hands be free to be who God created you to be!

:girlheart:

[Kept]

Great word Hopeful

and some of us like me are late bloomers haha

love it

kept

[hopeful]

I didn't even finish High school so I missed out on a lot but through home schooling I've developed a hunger for learning outside of the system.

[Kept]

ok once again we are twins haha

Im homeschooling me

I cant wait to meet you in person some day sis

kept

[firstborn888]

I didn't even finish High school so I missed out on a lot but through home schooling I've developed a hunger for learning outside of the system.

   Well, I didn't even finish grade school (!) but the whole scenario (learning disability/failure syndrome/broken family) set up a wonderful successful life because of the brokeness which extreme failure brings because it led to my encounter w/God. Plus I learned that I can excel in 'certain' things and that it's OK to be different AND you can always succeed w/determination and love no matter how the deck seems to be stacked against you.
   Back in the '90s while having a particularly bad day I was driving through a neighborhood and saw a very old women in her front yard, her wheelchair sitting close by, laying flat on her belly - digging with a spade (with a look of determination on her face) planting flowers (!). I looked up and said "Okay God, I get the massage"

   blessings
  - byron

[hopeful]

   Back in the '90s while having a particularly bad day I was driving through a neighborhood and saw a very old women in her front yard, her wheelchair sitting close by, laying flat on her belly - digging with a spade (with a look of determination on her face) planting flowers (!). I looked up and said "Okay God, I get the massage"

   blessings
  - byron

What a blessing!  That encouraged me!  (I love to plant flowers)

[firstborn888]

and some of us like me are late bloomers haha

Absolutely, I'm down with the late bloomers club. Better late than never. God loves to confound the wise with people who supernaturally beat the odds.

  blessings,
   - byron

[hopeful]

ok once again we are twins haha

Im homeschooling me

I cant wait to meet you in person some day sis

kept

I'm home schooling me too!  Come visit any time!

[Craig]

o.k.  I can't help it....but my brother often makes comments like this in general(not toward me particularily)...and it annoys the heck out of me.  He talks about how not many smart or wise are called.  How those who aren't studied are chosen and have more faith than the 'educated'.  The scripture does say that not many wise are called.....but it bugs me.

I love to learn.  I feel like someone ties my hands behind my back when they critisize being smart and education.  God gave me this brain and why is he then putting me down for using it to think.  I'm not saying I'm super smart...by no means...but I don't like feeling guilty for using critical thinking.   :sigh:

When you recognize that he wasn't saying that the Apostles didn't know the truth. He was saying they were not trained by the pharisee nor were they men of scholar but simple fishermen. So don't believe what those who tell you, that knowledge is evil, and that it only serves to puff up, and that the wise are fools, and the fools are wise. Those who make those declarations pride themselves in being fools, and wish to be wise out of it. That is not what Proverbs says, that is not what Psalms say, there is no apostle or disciple who even said this.

Anytime they talk about the wise who are fools, it is speaking of the religioin zealot who have become a roadblock to the truth, speaking of the hethen who through his vain philosophies who have exchanged the truth for a lie and worshipped creation over the Creator and those who have intellectualized all things in order to be self-sustaining but in reality have become righteous in themselves instead of righteous in the Truth.

So keep learning, keep studying, keep renewing your mind by the watering of the word. Always be a good steward of the Word. We must be critical thinkers, we must be anchored in the hope we have. Knowledge is essential, but knowledge alone does not suffice. Knowledge with Love will not only move mountains and declare the mysteries of the universe, it will cover a multitude of sins and save the listener as well as yourself.

[Reverend G]

I would interpret the "wise" in this case to mean those who think themselves wise. Those who let their egotistical wisdom keep them from seeing His simple truth.

[Sarah]

So keep learning, keep studying, keep renewing your mind by the watering of the word. Always be a good steward of the Word. We must be critical thinkers, we must be anchored in the hope we have. Knowledge is essential, but knowledge alone does not suffice. Knowledge with Love will not only move mountains and declare the mysteries of the universe, it will cover a multitude of sins and save the listener as well as yourself.

Good and encouraging words

Sarah, some people who are not as educated can feel intimidated by those who are.  And... those who don't love to learn can't understand those who do.

May your hands be free to be who God created you to be!

It is funny that I can feel intimidated by those who discount (in my mind anyway) what I have to offer because I have studied, and searched, and questioned.  I here the voices of those saying,"Their too smart to recieve from God."

It just came to me...recieving the things of God doesn't have to do with intellect so much as humility.  People are blind to truth because to change your view is to admit you were wrong, no matter your intellectual status.

[firstborn888]

It just came to me...recieving the things of God doesn't have to do with intellect so much as humility.

Exactly! That's why Jesus confronted Paul with a blinding light - to humble him. Was he was humbled his amazing intellectual gift became a blessing to us all.
- b