Be a Life-Long Learner

    I went to Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences. They followed a philosophy called "Paideia." Part of that philosophy was to create life-long learners. Your education doesn't stop when you graduate or even after college. You learn as long as you live. You continue to learn by reading, experiencing, and listening to people who can give you a different point of view. This certainly applies to our Christian walk as well.

    If you've read the same passage repeatedly, and you don't understand it, a good commentary is nearly a must for certain passages of scripture. If it comes from a reputable source, it usually illuminates the passage you're looking at by telling it from a historical and cultural perspective that we really cannot understand without having it explained to us (like the Ethiopian Eunuch). A commentary along-side your study Bible is like having a minister over your shoulder explaining things while you read. You can find commentaries on topics you'd like to learn more about, passages that are confusing, and good old fashioned book studies. 

    Some learners are kinetic learners. By that I mean they don't learn something unless they are DOING it. Sometimes we struggle to understand God's love unless we share it with others. If this is you, get out there and do something. Whether feeding the poor, serving the children, or helping a Bible class, there are opportunities to serve. These experiences can teach us through experience rather than just intellectualizing it. 

    I have friends from many different walks of life. I work at a motorcycle shop. I am at church 3 times a week. I went to schools that were pretty diverse in race, religion, income, and politics. I have artsy friends, mechanical friends, clean-cut friends, friends in Motorcycle Clubs, Christian friends, Atheist friends, Liberal friends, Conservative friends, and friends who are everywhere in between. We learn better when we have diverse ideas around us. These people challenge us, and that pushes us on to learn more. We educate one-another in the process. This is not for everyone. We need positive influences, and this can only work for a Christian that is very grounded. I think most people reading this are. Jesus surrounded himself with tax collectors and sinners, and as a result, they learned from him. We must be sure the world learns more of our habits than we learn of the world's. But we cannot teach the world if we don't understand the world. Listen to people who don't share your point of view and learn from them. By learning, you can be a better teacher.

    Sometimes, we stop learning. Maybe we feel like we know enough already, and we are bored with studying the same things over and over. Maybe once we reach a certain age, we stop being students of the word. No matter how old, knowledgeable, or respected you are. There is always something new to learn. We need to keep learning by reading scripture and commentaries, experiencing and sharing God's love, and listening to people from diverse points of view. Be A life-long learner. 

Hope you enjoyed the read, 

Jeff Griffith