Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Intellectual Idolatry
Ok, perhaps not the most accurate title.. But its snappy.
We have been doing a sermon series recently at church on Christian attitudes to money. This quite challenged me, but it also challenged me on what I considered to be more important to me than god.
After quite a bit of thought I came up with, my own intellect. Ok, that not quite true, I came up with my own intellect almost instantly, but it took quite a bit of thought for me to realize just how right I was.
What do I mean by this? I mean that I consider myself to be quite smart. So much so in fact, that I find myself believing I should be able to solve any problem. If I can't, then clearly it was because I stuffed up/didn't try hard enough. I rely on my own wits to find these solutions. This means that I do not turn difficult problems over to god. I find it hard to pray at times, since prayer for your own problems is basically an admission that you cannot solve them on your own, and you need Gods help. And hey, I believe I can solve them so why would I pray.
This has also spilled over into other aspects of my life however, I find myself treating people differently based on my perception of their intellect. And this is the worst bit, since my perception is focused in on a very narrow aspect of intelligence. The one in which I excel.
So consider this a public apology to anyone I have mistreated as a result of this, and a commitment to work on improving it.
Consider it a challenge to those Christians who have something in their life that they put before god to examine it, and to understand it, and to remove/resolve it.
Consider it a warning. We are not omnipotent. We cannot do everything in our own power. So if we face a situation that is just too complex, too hard, it is encouraging to know that we don't have to. Provided we can be humble enough to ask.
We have been doing a sermon series recently at church on Christian attitudes to money. This quite challenged me, but it also challenged me on what I considered to be more important to me than god.
After quite a bit of thought I came up with, my own intellect. Ok, that not quite true, I came up with my own intellect almost instantly, but it took quite a bit of thought for me to realize just how right I was.
What do I mean by this? I mean that I consider myself to be quite smart. So much so in fact, that I find myself believing I should be able to solve any problem. If I can't, then clearly it was because I stuffed up/didn't try hard enough. I rely on my own wits to find these solutions. This means that I do not turn difficult problems over to god. I find it hard to pray at times, since prayer for your own problems is basically an admission that you cannot solve them on your own, and you need Gods help. And hey, I believe I can solve them so why would I pray.
This has also spilled over into other aspects of my life however, I find myself treating people differently based on my perception of their intellect. And this is the worst bit, since my perception is focused in on a very narrow aspect of intelligence. The one in which I excel.
So consider this a public apology to anyone I have mistreated as a result of this, and a commitment to work on improving it.
Consider it a challenge to those Christians who have something in their life that they put before god to examine it, and to understand it, and to remove/resolve it.
Consider it a warning. We are not omnipotent. We cannot do everything in our own power. So if we face a situation that is just too complex, too hard, it is encouraging to know that we don't have to. Provided we can be humble enough to ask.
# posted by ChinDoGu @ 13:49 
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This is a great post, Matt! Thanks for not making us wait too long!
My comment was getting far too long, so I'll put up my thoughts on my blog very soon.
Of course, you could want to have it both ways, giving you equal doses of self-flaggelation and self-aggrandizement.
I don't think we need either. God has given us certain qualities and gifts to use for his glory. We just need to keep things in perspective, which is easier said than done!
My comment was getting far too long, so I'll put up my thoughts on my blog very soon.
Of course, you could want to have it both ways, giving you equal doses of self-flaggelation and self-aggrandizement.
I don't think we need either. God has given us certain qualities and gifts to use for his glory. We just need to keep things in perspective, which is easier said than done!
Hi Matt,
You are right. I am haughty and proud and very self-reliant and I find it hard not to trust in myself that I can fix it, change it, modify it, and I hate it when I get stuck and don't know what to do. And do I turn it over to God?? Usually not, except when I meet with others for prayer, which thankfully happens regularly.
Nice to meet you.
George
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You are right. I am haughty and proud and very self-reliant and I find it hard not to trust in myself that I can fix it, change it, modify it, and I hate it when I get stuck and don't know what to do. And do I turn it over to God?? Usually not, except when I meet with others for prayer, which thankfully happens regularly.
Nice to meet you.
George
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