learn the right things
In Mark Batterson’s book Primal: A Quest For The Lost Soul of Christianity and his chapter about the mind of Christianity, he talks about visual perception. He spoke about a lecturer showing an audience various images and then asking them to identify what they saw in the sketches. One of the images was a stenciled drawing of a couple intimately embracing. The audience of adults easily recognized the image. I know boring, so just hold on. He then talked about showing this same image to a group of children. When the children saw the image they could not see the couple embracing. The majority of the children said that in the image of a couple intimately embracing they saw nine dolphins. The point is that the children were unable to visualize the couple intimately embracing because they had no previous experiences or memories associating to the image. Mark Says, “you cannot see what you do not know.”
I think this is a very interesting thought as we look at God at our relationship with God.
Richard Restak says, “learn more, see more.” This is a very valid point. When you know more about nature you will see far more in nature. When you know more about football then you will see far more in a football game then someone without the knowledge. So here’s my point.
It is absolutely critical that we are learning the right things about God.
If you fill someone’s mind full of knowledge regarding God and it is not accurate then you create a false reality for that individual. They will orient their life around this reality and often times push or force on others. People are walking around all over the place with a misunderstanding about who God is and their life is consumed by guilt and shame. They see God as angry, judgmental, bitter, or as a hot-headed step dad. They then place this reality in a box and operate their whole life with this understanding. Maybe even more troubling is the tendency to force their religious demands and presuppositions on everyone else. This corrupt lifestyle creates divisions and quarreling in the church of Jesus.
I believe this is another reason why there is such a high standard for teachers. As you impart knowledge into the life of another person you play a part in creating that individuals worldview, convictions, and lifestyle.
When it comes to what you think you know about God: challenge your presuppositions, study God’s Bible, and seek out the advice and leadership of others in your life.
What if you go your whole life learning the wrong things about God?
