Insight: The act or outcome of grasping the inward or hidden nature of things. In the psychological realm, insight refers to an individual's awareness of the underlying, covert forces that affect outward, overt behavior. It is very difficult to evaluate one's own level of insight. How can I measure the scope of that which is beyond my awareness? How can a driver see his blindspot? He cannot, it is in fact a BLIND spot.
This is where humility comes in. The proud driver who does not tend to his blindness, often drives with a false sense of security, increasing the likelihood of an accident. The humble driver, though he senses the way is clear, will take a second look. The humble can live at peace with his own limitedness. The proud must think of himself as complete, in no dire need of anyone or anything.
The Stone-Campbell tradition is a proud tradition. We believe that within our own ranks is all that is needed and necessary to be the utmost people of God. What can we learn from the Anglicans, Catholics, and Presbyterians? It is they who should learn from us! To interact with them is only to risk some sort of doctrinal contamination! Sound familiar?
Consider again, Bill Gnade's quote from a few days ago:
"And yet humility is at the heart of a good debate, for only the humble hear what the other is saying, and only the humble actually want to learn."
Do we actually want to learn? Here's my take: We do want to learn. But, we inadvertently handicap the learning process by the lack of humility at our deepest center. We struggle to arrive at this humility because of fear. Fear that to let go of anything, is to be tossed about by every wind of doctrine, to become an unstable man, unworthy of the gospel of Christ.
We do not have to give way to such all-or-nothing thinking, or rather feeling.
There is tremendous value in even the smallest gains of insight. We cannot acquire it alone. We need others, especially others very different from ourselves. Prayer is a tremendous tool. Prayer stimulates change, good change.
And I will fear no evil,
For my God is with me,
And if my God is with me;
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear? Matt Redman
Friday, June 30, 2006
Insight and Humility
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Gabe said, "I really think that God will guide us through his Word and Spirit into the way we should go."
I most definitely agree.
If, Gabe, you are warning against a cut-and-paste manner of lifting doctrines and/or worship practices from other groups, then, applying them in an eclectic fashion to ourselves, I agree.
The tough question underlying this discussion is, "Do we believe God is at work in people very different from us?" We know we can learn from God's work, but where do we believe God is working? It brings us back to the concept of humility. If I cannot imagine God at work outside the confines of my own religious heritage, then it in no way behooves me to listen to the suggestions or critiques of those outside said confines. In fact, it does not benefit me to engage others at all except in the hope that I might convert them.
In John 9, the Pharisees could not see the work of God in the man born blind, because they were too tightly focused on the implications of a Sabbath-day healing. You can see how I am framing this in my mind. Therefore, I see this as a humility issue.
I had the opportunity to attend the North American Christian Convention this week. The theme of the convention this year was “Together in Christ”. It was an attempt for unity between the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ. Having been raised in the acappella church, I have to admit that I had some reservations about attending. I am so glad that I put my fears aside and decided to attend, because what I witnessed was a life changing experience. I witnessed pillars in the Christian Church and Churches of Christ looking each other in the eyes and asking forgiveness for all of the years of feuding. I saw them weeping in each other’s arms and committing their lives to working together to spreading the gospel of Christ. What I came to realize is that we have much more in common that we do differences. We all believe in one Lord, one faith and one baptism, and we all yearn to be in the arms of Jesus.
Thanks anonymous for the comment. I regret not making plans to attend the conference myself.
Post a Comment