Wednesday, November 16, 2005

A Quick Word on Humility

It is often tempting to believe that I am as smart as I think that I am. So I am thankful to God that there exist persons who can flatten my intellectual pride within moments. One of those is Steve Hays. Whenever I start feeling brilliant, I go and read his blog. Most of the time, I can hardly understand what he is saying. The words make sense, but I am as lost as a freshman in physics class.

This feeling is becoming more and more familiar to me. When I was in college, I fancied myself as a guitar player. What this means is that I could strum G, C, and D and some bar chords. I was a virtuoso in my own little mind. One day while perusing the campus announcement board, I noticed that the guitar genius Eliot Fisk was going to be playing a concert on campus. Since I was a student, admission was free. So I went and watched Mr. Fisk play. It was actually the first time I had ever seen someone hold a guitar correctly. I was such an ignoramus.

Mr. Fisk completely blew me away. From that day forward, I have never, ever even insinuated that I can play the guitar. For much the same reasons, I have given up being a serious apologist, philosopher, or even theologian. I get confused reading the commentary at the Evangelical Outpost. And they aren't even trying to be confusing.

This is not just "aw shucks I'm just an old country boy" schtick. I despise that sort of talk. This is honest-to-goodness fact. If I studied every day, I doubt I could get to where most of these guys are. They see things instantly that I barely understand after they've pointed it out.

So what's my point of this dose of pessimistic self-assessment? First of all, this sort of admission keeps me from pride. Secondly, I am thankful that I can still serve some use, even if I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer. As Forrest Gump famously quipped, "I may not be a smart man, but I know what love is." Fortunately, that just happens to be the singularly greatest virtue of Christendom, and I am confident that I do not have to be a brainiac to excel in this area. So go and read some Steve Hays and others like him and be amazed at the gifts that God has given them. In closing, I am reminded that the beloved Centuri0n claimed to be a "B Team" apologist. If that's true, then I am definitely only on the team because the coach happens to be my dad.

2 comments:

JIBBS said...

Hey brother,

Your sentiments are shared here and I'm thankful to be in such good company!

Anonymous said...

Our Heavenly Father has uses for each of us, with the unique set of characteristics he has given us...and being smart does not mean a person has a clue about how to truly love others. It is comforting that scripture says we need to become as a little child in order to come to the Father!

I like reading what you have to say...most people ought to be able to understand it! That is important! Being understood!!!
Elizabeth