Essay 23 (3/17/04)

 

SOME CRUCIAL DISTINCTIONS (2)

 

   4. Intelligence/Wisdom

 

 While intelligence is obviously an asset, it is not a virtue. It says nothing about one's character. One may be intelligent and be a baby -- or a tyrant or a crook. Intelligence has to do with brain power, which one may have a lot of and still be a fool. To say that one is intelligent says something of his ability to think, but it says nothing about whether he knows how to live -- or whether he is honest or trustworthy. One can be "smart" and still live a dysfunctional life -- a big problem to himself and all those around him.

 

  Wisdom is a virtue, and it does say something about one's character.  The wise person will, of course, also be intelligent -- but perhaps only of average intelligence. I've served on the university campus with many intelligent colleagues -- some highly intelligent -- but I've known but few wise ones. Wisdom is a rare commodity in our centers of learning, or in business or political circles. Intelligence is common, but wisdom is rare

 

  Socrates, the famed philosopher of ancient Greece, taught us what wisdom is when he insisited -- as learned as he was -- "I know nothing."  When the Oracle of Delphi -- who was never wrong in her pronouncements -- declared Socrates the wisest man in Athens, he knew that for once she was wrong, and he set out to prove it. Interviewing the sages who were known to be somewhat, he learned to his amazement that they all presumed to know when he knew they didn't.

 

  When Socrates exposed their ignorance by pointing out their contradictory answers, they insisted that he give the answers if he was so smart. But he would only say, "I don't know." He at last conceded that the Oracle was right after all, for the sages supposed they knew when they didn't, while he knew he didn't know!

 

  That is wisdom -- the realization of one's ignorance. Socrates likened one's ignorance to an expanding circle. The area within the circle represents what one knows, the area outside the circle the unknown. The smaller the circle -- the less one knows -- the smaller the area that touches the unknown; the larger the circle -- the more one knows -- the greater the area that touches the unknown. So, the more one knows the more he realizes he doesn't know!

 

  It is true in any area of knowledge -- nuclear physics, medicine,  religion. The most astute scholar doesn't know one-millionth of what is to be known. The wise person realizes this. He is like one standing at the edge of the great ocean of knowledge, having no more than his feet wet. She has learned enough to realize how ignorant she is! Wisdom begets humility. A "know-it-all" is not only arrogant, he's a fool. He's ignorant, but doesn't know it.

 

  The wise person is a seeker after knowledge. She's on a journey that lasts a lifetime -- always learning but never satisfied. She knows she doesn't know -- in view of all there is to be known.

 

  When one is at this point, he is ready for the wisdom of God: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."

 

  5. Reconciliation/Resolution 

 

  Once we realize that reconciliation is possible when resolution probably isn't, we will be wiser peacemakers. The issues -- whether political, social, or religious -- are seldom resolved. And if we wait for a satisfactory resolution before we have reconcilation, we will continue as a fractured people. Those who "agree to disagree" are opting for peace and reconciliation. They see that "the issue" cannot be resolved. But when issues cannot be resolved, people can be reconciled.

 

  We see it in a good marriage. There are probably unresolved issues. The most devoted couples have their differences -- issues that are never really settled. But they don't have to be. Love has a way of covering a multitude of unresolved issues. Love reconciles, while a demand for resolution divides.

 

  Take an issue that has for generations haunted the Stone-Campbell churches -- instrumental music. We have debated it to a frazzle, and then we debated the frazzle. It never has been and never will be resolved. Must we therefore conclude, No resolution, no reconciliation.

 

  We must come to see that we can differ on such issues and still be a united people -- Reconciliation even if no resolution!

 

  The principle applies even to more serious issues, such as those related to abortion and homosexuality, which are presently causing schism across the church at large. On these weightier issues we should call for serious study and self-examination in an effort to resolve the issues in the light of God's will, as we understand that will. But we differ on what God's will is, and these issues are no more likely to be resolved that less emotional ones.

 

  We still must insist on reconciliation, even when we can't have resolution. A united church -- reconciled diversity -- may have serious differences, so long as we have sincere hearts before God. The church at Corinth had some who believed in "Lords many and Gods many" -- a rather serious issue -- and yet the apostle Paul referred to them as the body of Christ in whom the Spirit dwelt.

 

  This is the only way to unity. So long as we insist on resolution -- which often means to "see it my way" -- we will only perpetuate our divisions. Reconciliation takes us to the Cross. The closer we are to the Cross the less need there is for making a big deal out of our way of looking at things.

 

  6. Errors of the Mind/Errors of the Heart

 

  All through the years I've been accused of "fellowshipping brothers in error." An appropriate answer is: I don't have any other kind of brothers except brothers in error!  We are all in error about some things -- except of course those who are perfect in word and deed. As Philip Yancey puts it, we all have a problem with those who sin differently from us!

 

  That we are all in error is a given, and that is not the issue. It is the kind of error that is the issue. It is imperative that in our judgments -- if we must judge -- that we distinguish between errors of the mind and those of the heart. Errors of the mind are fallacies in our thinking or mistaken views -- that may well come from a sincere heart.  Even an angel might be mistaken. Many faithful sisters and brothers have been wrong about a lot of things, but sincerely wrong.

 

  Errors of the mind, when sincerely held, are excusable.  The sincere person will change his thinking once he has more light. One with a humble and contrite heart -- the heart that pleases God (Isa. 66:2) -- will change when he is shown the error of his ways. But many never live to see a better way. Those who hold erroneous views through no fault of their own are never condemned in the Bible. Sincerity of heart has always been -- in all dispensations -- the basis of acceptance with God. This is a disturbing truth, for we do not have sincere hearts before God just because we are church members.

 

  Errors of the heart are grievous sins against God, the ones condemned by Christ himself -- pride, envy, malice, lust, arrogance, pretense, selfishness, ingratitude. Insincerity is the very opposite of "the honest and good heart" that God wants.

 

  When we are mindful to think of "brothers in error" -- or people in general whom we deem to be wrong -- we do well to remember that there are those who are caught up in dire circumstances beyond their control. Being wrong does not necessarily mean perversity of heart. They may be as sincere as ourselves, and they may do better with what they have than we would if we were in their place. It is better to see people in terms of how far they have come rather than in terms of how far they yet have to go.

 

  If the God of heaven does not expect a blind man to see or a deaf man to hear, then there is a place for grace in our judgments of those who are not where we are.