| Friday, September 15, 2006 |
| Educationalism |
Having spent some amount of time in our world of Internet debate, among those who pursue education, are present/future intellect giants, and- for the most part- value intelligent and logical debate I have noticed a disturbing trend.
This first tickle of this epiphany came to me while spending my first and only semester at a seminary in Kansas City. It grew to an itch as I strove to impact students lives at my church. And as a recent philosopher once said, "...it is like a splinter in your brain, driving you mad." Finally though, I have named it.
Educationalism. The obsession of one who wants only to know, to only study, to delve deeper and deeper into thinking, ideals, writings, degrees, and schooling, until any hint of daylight from the world of reality is considered irritating and low-brow. These bottom feeders of the intellectual world dive so deep that ideals become reality from a reality that they fear they cannot impact heavily enough. They sense the real world may be harsh and that hard decisions must be made, that someone may call you out on your effectiveness as a minister, and that, shockingly enough, some of your high-minded ideals may be immature and need to be refined.
The sufferers of this disease quote Barth, Kant, Tertullian, Bonheoffer, Lewis, Calvin, Wesley, Bounds, and Athanasius like they knew them personally and by standing on the shoulders of these giants they too will be a giant.
One of the most fatal flaws of this disease is that victims can rarely admit when it has besieged them and even if they do cannot admit that it is a problem and view it only as strength. They are the workaholic claiming that it is being done for a greater good while others look on and shake their heads at those unable to grasp the bigger picture. They look down on those who do not have the disease and say that they just haven't read this book, they don't believe what the church has always taught (while bickering among themselves as to what the church has always taught), that others have simply sold out their ideals, and that they aren't "Christ-like".
They, "Those who cannot do teach," and while this sentiment is not entirely true it is educationalism that birthed this statement. The victims will whine and moan about the system, declare it too corrupt to even work in, and decide that the greatest impact is to train up the next generation of leaders- thereby influencing far more than if they themselves tried to lead (or so they tell themselves). What they do not know, or cannot admit, is that for every true leader they influence they raise up fifty more like themselves who cannot do and only teach- thus the system begets itself, professors of seminaries begetting professors of seminaries instead of church pastors.
I want my generation to be one of action, leadership, integrity, and strength. Our knowledge would drive all of these things not be driven by them. So why are you pursuing knowledge, what are you going to do with it? Beware as you go of the ever lurking temptation of educationalism. When knowledge is not a means to an end but an end of itself. |
posted by D.M. @ 6:33 AM  |
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| "Memento Mori."- Remeber that you will also die. |
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| Saying what needs to be said but everyone is afraid to say. |
| About Me |
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Name: D.M.
Home: Overland Park, Kansas, United States
About Me: I've lived at least 5 years in the last two but come out. After trials of fire and flame we are marching on and if we don't take the world we'll sure as heck die trying.
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After one of the most difficult ministry years of my life I made it back to another fall. I hope my posts find you well and encourage thought and discussion. |
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