Compound Knowledge

On this day, during the four years of days for these Pages, the accent has been on knowledge (natural and supernatural); on learning (experience and intellect/emotion); and, education (formal and informal).  Included in this mix are references to the enemies (with special interest in skepticism) of the processes of the intellectual and conduct development of persons.  It is assumed that the vast majority of persons have some interest in Solomon’s equation of wisdom: knowledge (truth), understanding (application), leading to wisdom (context for life and problem solving).  Education for the humanist accents nature as sovereign guide, so moves along with demonstrable facts.  Education for the Christian accepts and communicates the facts of nature, but adds the dimension of faith in God, as sovereign guide, based on revelation (Scripture) and experience (prayer and experience).  So to the source of nature (physical), the Christian adds morals (spiritual).  Inevitably this addition impacts the interpretation of the physical without denying evidence of the physical. That there is introduced something of a dividing line between the humanist scholar and the Christian scholar there is no doubt. The basic problem is not in the disciplines and confines of either the humanist or the Christian, but in the tensions of the scholars themselves who feel that ultimate loyalty to one context means ultimate decay of the other.  The point to be made here is that the humanist scholar seeks facts, and believes the facts speak for themselves as to meaning.  The Christian scholar amends this somewhat in that he or she looks to God for amendment to human meanings, which is to interpret life and destiny in what may be identified as a value system.  The value system deals with certain presuppositions, like human depravity (human fault line), that are addressed as major concerns for guidance in mankind.  That interpretation is a spiritual issue. It affects search for truth, and truth’s application to life and nature.

Certainly there will be skeptics.  Jesus acknowledged the matter up front, and in various ways.  He said the spiritual way is straight, narrow and few (relative to mass) would find it.  This may mean that of those who believe in God, only a lower percentage will follow his way fully.  Many gods are designed to fit what the believers want their god to be.  For the unsophisticated or the intellectual, there grows skepticism about this or that context.  Many persons are skeptical of science, and for various reasons, one of which is a belief that science may leave out God.  The public may become skeptical of spiritual faith because many persons, either eminent or celebrity, who claim faith do not live a consistent context of life in faith.

The issue is a current accent in professional football. Tim Tebow, the son of missionaries, gained athletic fame and won the highest accolade in college football as the quarterback of the University of Florida football team – the Heisman Trophy 2010.  He became controversial, for the most part, for both finding a meaningful faith to espouse and live, and willingness to compete in his field of interest – and the public’s.  On graduation he was signed as the back-up quarterback for the professional Denver Broncos.  In college, he made a reputation as a fine student and Christian by his words, his way of doing things, his selfless crediting of the team, coaches and fans.  His life and experience made him a major figure in football for the season – 2011-12.  Raised to starting quarterback he took the Denver team from last place to first with four games to win the division.  The experts in the sport say that he is temporary, in that he runs too often with the ball. so will likely be injured; that he throws differently than other quarterbacks so will be ineffective when defenses catch up to him; and, that he is a person of faith putting his values in public.  He believes God doesn’t care who wins a football game.  God is equitable to all, and engaged for redemption in Christ.  The point that many analysts make is that the news has been so full of celebrities claiming faith who turn out to be hypocrites that one wonders what will happen to Tebow.  A new word has entered the language in 2011 – Tebowing, which means that here is a fellow who lives in a real world, doing his best, his own thing, but openly relying on God to provide the life and values of Christian faith.  It is clear that most want this graduate with high grades and faith, to win in life – football or no football.  He knows his Christian life and faith are more important than skills of a man carrying an inflated bladder up and down a hundred yards.