A Rant

As I was driving to work today I heard on the radio a discussion on Biblical literacy in the U.S. The show's guest, Stephen Prothero, discussed surveys which indicate that an unseemly number of Americans don't know some basic Biblical and religious facts. I forget the exact numbers, but something like half of the US could tell you that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, while 85% or so identify themselves as Christian. The guest said that this was a great concern because for such religious country that currently debates religious values so frequently in its elections, we know remarkably little about the Bible we so often cite. We know even less about the other religions that often take a huge part in foreign and even domestic relations.

When I arrived at work this morning, I dutifully checked my e-mail and Disciples Connect. Lo, Ro-zeen had posted a meaningful and thought-provoking article on waiting for that great leader to stand up and really make things happen! Why doesn't this strange bold person stand up and be bold?

Later I began downloading onto the computer some interviews we conducted a few weeks ago for Success by Six, a non-profit organization dedicated to getting the best education possible to children in the youngest stages of life. I listened again to a couple of community leaders explain the importance of giving our children the opportunities they need right from the get go. This is a mission that so few people understand.

In everything I do, be it teaching Sunday School, watching TV, listening to the news, conversing with friends, preparing messages and advertisements at work, or just about anything else, I see the same yearning again and again. We are lost. It feels like our culture is headed in the wrong direction in every possible manner. Those of us who have received a proper education, particularly in the ways of Jesus and Christianity, can see all this coming and it pains our hearts. A proper education doesn't necessarily include sitting in a classroom or receiving As and Bs. Education doesn't tell us what we know. Education rather gives us means to relate to God, each other, and the world around us. I, in my education, see a hurting society.

We hurt because we do not need to know the facts of the Bible before we enforce its authority. I will act as the first to claim Biblical ignorance. Entire sections of the Bible wait for me to even give them notice. But we've messed up somewhere when the majority of our society, including a surprising number of Christians, can't say who parted the Red Sea.

We hurt because we have to rely on experts to explain to us truths that need to come from our own understanding. We're so focused on the what those scientists say or don't say, that we've lost sight of the scientific method used to come to such conclusions. Every box of cereal I see has the words "Scientists say that this cereal is good for you." The box says so, it must be true. And if the box doesn't say that it also includes many harmful preservatives, we don't need to think of such things. I don't know how many times I've heard a preacher say, "the Bible says we need to..." In my education, I need to know what writer says so, to whom he writes, the other things he wrote in that same book, etc. Most people are satisfied to know that the Bible says so.

We hurt because we need not know how to communicate our ideas to each other. In our country that values so much freedom of speech, that we speak has become so much more important than what we say. More and more students enter college needing remedial English classes. They haven't learned how to present an idea effectively to another person. Yet when asked about any hot-button issue, almost all would respond with a definite stance. "I'm pro choice!" or "I oppose gay marriage!" or "The war is bad!" As we've already examined, part of the problem is that we haven't looked very deeply into these things in the first place. In addition, we feel that either people agree with us or it's their problem. We don't need to communicate well with others because we already know we're right in the first place.

We hurt because no one seems to step up to take action. As a Sunday School teacher, I often get the feeling that parents assume their kids get all they need during the one hour a week session. They assume their kids get all their academic training at the schools they attend. I mean no one any harm by saying all these things. Those parents are good people. In many cases they are very good people. I don't mean to say that most individuals are lazy and ignorant. These are rather attitudes that I perceive to pervade all of us. Many of us don't even recognize these attitudes at all. They simply exist as part of life. Many of us may see an attitude, but we're too busy making a wage and taking care of our family and paying our bills to do anything about it. Most of us will recognize global warming and obesity as problems, but how many of us ride our bikes or walk to work? We wish someone out there would give us clean cars to drive. We wish someone out there would make all the food healthful. We wish someone would teach us and our children how to relate to God, others, and the world around us.

I make no claims of immunity to any of our problems. I also find myself relying on information I don't know too deeply. I also find myself hearing the expert and siding with her. I also find myself defending a position without need to listen or enrich my stance. I also find myself waiting for someone to stand up and take charge of the situation. I think of these things and I get so frustrated and helpless, which brings us to the biggest hurt of all. We hurt because we do not feel that we can make a difference. I have a friend who, when global warming comes up, always mentions the fact that China's coal-fired power plants so overwhelm the carbon dioxide content in the atmosphere that nothing we can do would stop it. I have no need to change my life because the evil of others overwhelms the changes I make. The world has disempowered us.

Well guess what, Jesus came to defeat the ways of the world. (I'm sure the Bible says so somewhere...) If Jesus backs our actions, none can defeat us. We must change our hearts and lives. I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but none of us are perfect. We always need some changing. In fact, just by writing this here I feel invigorated by the power and might of our God most high. We, who die to the world and live in Christ, must stand up and face the world. We are the boldness. We are the light of the world. We are disciples of Christ.

What is a disciple? Literally speaking, a disciple is basically a full-time student, one who studies and practices all the time. A disciple takes her education very seriously. As Disciples of Christ, we should make education our primary evangelical mission. We must study what's happening in the world using proper reasoning and thought before we make judgment on a position. We must learn how to objectively read the Bible while communing with God. We must practice the faith we find in Jesus.

Studies have shown (by those expert scientists) that the most important phases of learning occur within very first years of life. With that I can feel pride that I help to promote a program that works on that educational period. It also gives me joy to see some leaders give time and money to seeing this succeed. Programs like these need more support. The Christian Church ought to take this stand. We need to first use our own educated research abilities to determine the best ways to educate the masses around us, then we need to get our hands dirty and get it done. If we do not put our children first, who do we put first?

This, being a rant, probably has things that don't hit the mark exactly and err too much on the side of emotion. But I really want to have this discussion. What do you think about this? Am I crazy? I feel that our own education begins with each other. I want you to point out the things with which you disagree. That will force me to look deeper and understand the situations better. That will help me in my education. It will help give me a means to relate with God, others, and the world around me.