Literati Addendum

2/16/11

Previous literati blog was difficult for me to “publish” because I was afraid of appearing more judgmental than concerned. Am I? So like me----worrying about how others might perceive me.

But God…..showed me that what I was considering was just groundwork for the bigger conflicting picture of knowledge and truth with opinions factored in to it. Michael Kerns, a missionary from Barnabas Associates, monthly letter (February 2011) arrived and offered deeper insight and widened my somewhat narrow view. Guess what, folks? Even knowledge of the literati doesn’t lead to wisdom.

“We have heard of some very smart people and have met some. Pundits like to use smart to describe people that they usually admire whose supposed intellect surpasses the rest of us ordinary ones. These praiseworthy people sit successfully at the top of their endeavors in sports, entertainment, politics or even religion. You can be a very smart person and savvy in the ways of the world and be wonderfully successful, but you may not be wise.”

Michael went on to define one who lives wisely as one who uses God’s Word as his “flywheel.” (I had to look that word up.) “Skillful living must come from the applied knowledge of Scripture” is the way he put it. But….even as Christians we need to heed more than those words heard from the erudite of the pulpit. This scrutiny is not to disparage pastors in any way---my son is one---but to emphasize the responsibility we have to study God’s truth on our own. Then we can allow sermons to complement what God has shown us through our own personal study of “His Holy Writ.”

Well spoken, Michael. Now I need to call you before I add your addendum to my literati blog or maybe Larry can ask when he sees you at Poplar Perk 'n.