How to Think 3 - Humility
The first requirement to Think Well is to cultivate humility. Paul writes, "For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment" (Ro 12:3)
Years ago, during a time of owning a residential/commercial cleaning business, I had one customer that I did not allow my employees to clean. The customer's name was Bea and I looked forward to being in her home. She was intellectually hospitable. She was elderly, she had lived a long educated life and she was one of the most open-minded people I have ever met. She still hungered for truth and beauty in life. She read and experienced more than I certainly had, yet she arrived at no conclusions. She was neither Republican, nor Democrat but only voted after careful consideration of all viewpoints. She consumed newspapers, books and NPR (National Public Radio) and as well, took much time for silence to think about what she was consuming. And although I was not sure of weather or not she was a Christian for years, as time went on, I learned how she often prayed to God, much more than I did. I can only hope that when I am her age, I will be as gracious and humble as she was.
It is so easy to get stuck in our molds and assumptions about what life has taught us. Yet Jesus said, after taking children into His arms, "...the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." (Mk 10:14-15) What was Jesus saying here? That we have faith of a child? Yes, certainly. But we miss His full meaning if we boil it down to one word, such as faith. Jesus was holding up as an example, the entire approach to life that a child has. Life has not yet taught them how to be bitter or judgmental. If they exist in a loving, safe environment, children are wide-eyed, eager to soak life in and learn from all that it has to offer them. These children do not instinctively see a small world, torn apart by violence and destruction caused by self-centeredness in which no magic exist and everything can be explained. Theirs is a world of mystery, trust and largeness that they cannot fully comprehend, nor would they desire to do so. What I hear Jesus saying to me as He holds these children in His arms, is "Vince, always be willing to un-learn what you are so sure about. Do not be comfortable in all of your assumptions and conclusions. God is big, you are small. His ways are not yours, His thoughts are not yours. Simply, trust Him and love Him."
We receive the Kingdom of God through posture more than we do knowledge. Any world religion or philosophy worth its weight in salt, embraces this fact: To truly grow, we must be willing to deconstruct what we think is truth. Zen Buddhist call this Beginner's Mind, and it is an attitude of openness that one must have even when studying at advanced levels. Everything must be approached as if it were the first time learning it. Paul writes "Knowledge puffs up... Anyone who claims to know something, does not yet have the necessary knowledge." (1 Co 8:2)
For me, all of this means that I am willing to ask myself some deconstructive questions. Questions like: If church never existed and I and a small group of people were the only Christians on the earth, based on the Bible alone, what would church look like?
By this question; first I am establishing the fact that the Bible is the ultimate authority and the source for direction. Secondly, I am attempting to strip away much of the contemporary cultural influences from what the Bible actually says about a subject such as church (if you would like more information about Emerging Church issues, you can hear me dialogue with a few other guys on 2 recent Doxas Dialos Podcasts: here and here).
Another question would be: If I, nor anyone I knew, ever read the Bible and no one taught me from it, no one read me stories from it, no one ever interpreted it to me and told me what it means...what would it say to me?
To ask these type of questions requires humility, time and a lot of prayerful introspection. It is not about the answers. It is the searching and the dependence upon God that is the point. Jesus was asked 183 question in the Gospels. He answered 3 directly. As I heard a priest, Richard Rohr, say about this, "He [Jesus], refuses to see himself as an answer giver or a problem solver and instead leads us to a place where we cannot be in control and therefore, God can be."
We simply do not know all there is to know yet about Him, about life, about human behavior or even one another. To Think Well, we have to start, and always remain, at the beginning.
Years ago, during a time of owning a residential/commercial cleaning business, I had one customer that I did not allow my employees to clean. The customer's name was Bea and I looked forward to being in her home. She was intellectually hospitable. She was elderly, she had lived a long educated life and she was one of the most open-minded people I have ever met. She still hungered for truth and beauty in life. She read and experienced more than I certainly had, yet she arrived at no conclusions. She was neither Republican, nor Democrat but only voted after careful consideration of all viewpoints. She consumed newspapers, books and NPR (National Public Radio) and as well, took much time for silence to think about what she was consuming. And although I was not sure of weather or not she was a Christian for years, as time went on, I learned how she often prayed to God, much more than I did. I can only hope that when I am her age, I will be as gracious and humble as she was.
It is so easy to get stuck in our molds and assumptions about what life has taught us. Yet Jesus said, after taking children into His arms, "...the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." (Mk 10:14-15) What was Jesus saying here? That we have faith of a child? Yes, certainly. But we miss His full meaning if we boil it down to one word, such as faith. Jesus was holding up as an example, the entire approach to life that a child has. Life has not yet taught them how to be bitter or judgmental. If they exist in a loving, safe environment, children are wide-eyed, eager to soak life in and learn from all that it has to offer them. These children do not instinctively see a small world, torn apart by violence and destruction caused by self-centeredness in which no magic exist and everything can be explained. Theirs is a world of mystery, trust and largeness that they cannot fully comprehend, nor would they desire to do so. What I hear Jesus saying to me as He holds these children in His arms, is "Vince, always be willing to un-learn what you are so sure about. Do not be comfortable in all of your assumptions and conclusions. God is big, you are small. His ways are not yours, His thoughts are not yours. Simply, trust Him and love Him."
We receive the Kingdom of God through posture more than we do knowledge. Any world religion or philosophy worth its weight in salt, embraces this fact: To truly grow, we must be willing to deconstruct what we think is truth. Zen Buddhist call this Beginner's Mind, and it is an attitude of openness that one must have even when studying at advanced levels. Everything must be approached as if it were the first time learning it. Paul writes "Knowledge puffs up... Anyone who claims to know something, does not yet have the necessary knowledge." (1 Co 8:2)
For me, all of this means that I am willing to ask myself some deconstructive questions. Questions like: If church never existed and I and a small group of people were the only Christians on the earth, based on the Bible alone, what would church look like?
By this question; first I am establishing the fact that the Bible is the ultimate authority and the source for direction. Secondly, I am attempting to strip away much of the contemporary cultural influences from what the Bible actually says about a subject such as church (if you would like more information about Emerging Church issues, you can hear me dialogue with a few other guys on 2 recent Doxas Dialos Podcasts: here and here).
Another question would be: If I, nor anyone I knew, ever read the Bible and no one taught me from it, no one read me stories from it, no one ever interpreted it to me and told me what it means...what would it say to me?
To ask these type of questions requires humility, time and a lot of prayerful introspection. It is not about the answers. It is the searching and the dependence upon God that is the point. Jesus was asked 183 question in the Gospels. He answered 3 directly. As I heard a priest, Richard Rohr, say about this, "He [Jesus], refuses to see himself as an answer giver or a problem solver and instead leads us to a place where we cannot be in control and therefore, God can be."
We simply do not know all there is to know yet about Him, about life, about human behavior or even one another. To Think Well, we have to start, and always remain, at the beginning.
10:26 AM
Vince,
Enjoyed your thoughts on 'thinking well'. Good stuff!
I have realized that when I (or others) give a quick, strong opinion on something, it can give one a sense of strength for the moment. But it is a false strength, because the opposite is actually true ... it takes strength to listen, ask questions and/or ponder instead of answering. Especially in the realm of issues that could be addressed with the 'correct Christian jargon' or even 'the correct' Bible verse. top
7:10 PM
As usual Janet, we are on the same page. I was just talking with Chris (my wife, incase anyone else reads this) about this same thing today. The packaged answers and Christian lingo is so easy to pull out of the pocket. But it doesn't give life, it just breeds more apathy, because people really don't know what to do with the same tired church talk, it makes people feel pressure to do and become something, but they are not sure what.
To really listen to someone and affirm who they are in God, in this moment can produce real growth and change.
Thanks for checking in. Good to hear from you. top
9:36 PM
This post has been removed by a blog administrator. top
9:38 PM
You made a few references about whether or not anyone reads your blog, both in your blog and in your comment.
Vince, it is like the 'field of dreams'... if you build it, they will come.
If you write it, they will read it! Maybe not today, but someday, sometime, somewhere ... so keep writing!
I deleted my previous comment ... too many errors :( top
4:08 PM
James 1 says everyone should be quick to listen and slow to speak. Often rushing in to do or speak does more harm than good. We act before we understand what the problem is.
John says in 1John that we don't need anyone to teach us. That the Spirit will teach us.
I find that teachers confirm in me what I think the Spirit has been saying to me. Prophets and teachers speak for God. But if you get quiet and humble yourself he will also speak to you and give you the ability to hear and communicate what he wants to express through the uniqueness of your personality.
"Those who wait on the Lord will be renewed"
"In quietness and trust is your stregth." top
3:56 PM
Proverbs says,"As a man thinks in his heart so he is." How we think about God, ourselves, others and the world determines who we are.
The attitudes of our heart are extremely important in shaping who we are. We see this from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. He talks about the attitudes of the heart we need to cultivate. Humility is the starting point for God's blessing. One who is "poor in spirit" recognizes his need and opens his heart to receive from God.
The greatest heart attitude we need to cultivate is love. Paul says in Corinthians that knowing everything means nothing without love. You can be a brilliant thinker but without love it profits nothing. Knowledge must be tempered by kindness, patience and humility or it is worthless. It will accomplish nothing for the kingdom of God. top
7:57 PM
So very true and very well said (to both of the last posts, whoever they may be). Glad to have your voice here. top
1:31 PM
Hi Vince,
Thanks for continuing to blog. Haven't checked here for a couple months but I'm so glad to find a couple new posts. I also enjoyed the comments! You can't help but make a difference when you speak (or write) words of life... top