Occasionally you might see titles of books or articles concerned about the “anti-intellectualism” of America, or even of the Christian church in our country. Is that a fair criticism? Are we even worried about being “intellectual”?
The Apostle Paul was a very bright and educated person. He could speak Greek (Acts 21:37) and Hebrew/Aramaic (Acts 21:40). Possibly also Latin as a Roman citizen. His studies in the Jewish Scriptures were under Gamaliel, one of the greatest Jewish teachers of history. He was familiar with Greek and Roman knowledge and writing style. His learning helped give him the ability to . . . . hold a conversation with anyone, including the famous Greek Areopagus (something like the Supreme Court) in Athens, the Roman governor Festus and King Agrippa.
He also wrote, “Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” (1 Corinthians 1:20), and “… the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom…” (1 Corinthians 1:25).
So no, a PhD doesn’t make us better in God’s kingdom. However, we are free to study and acquire knowledge about God’s world as much as we’d like as well. God uses everyone’s gifts in different ways.
We’re not so concerned about whether we’re being “intellectual” or not. It’s good to use the minds God gave us to look critically at different opinions we run into. It’s good to do everything as well as we can to God’s glory. But, of course, intelligence only in the things of this world will not bring us to faith or allow us to receive forgiveness and eternal life. There are many big questions that humans will never figure out on their own, and can only solved in the knowledge of God’s kingdom through the work of the Spirit. Paul mentions the teaching of Jesus crucified for our salvation as one of the main things we can know and believe only through God’s wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:18-25).
A better question for us would be “Are we wise?” Do we know the Scriptures? Are we humbly confident that only in Jesus’ death and resurrection do we have true life and hope?
We can be as smart as we’d like to be and the Lord gives us opportunity, as long as we remember God is infinitely wiser than we can ever get. Trust in his Word above all things!
23 … but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:23-24)