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Scholarship v Church


Growing up in the Stone-Campbell Movement (Christian Church stream) gave me a healthy suspicion towards just about all forms of scholarship. Over the years I have had many conversations with fellow Christian church ministers and attendees that express little or no use for academics. Most seem to think that all forms of scholarship generates "liberal" thinking that should not be considered. Academic works like commentaries are viewed as just that a comment on scripture that should be taken with a gain salt.

Yet, I cannot help but wonder about the pride found in this position. That one can interpret the Bible all alone and never consider the contributions of others who have often invested years in the biblical text. It would seem that often this line of thinking leads to what is often discouraged within the Christian Church – limited Bible knowledge. I happen to think that good Christian scholarship helps the Church watch its language. Christian scholarship is to be something healthy and robust that comes along side the Church not something that rips the Church to pieces.

While there are reasons to be suspicious of some scholarship it should not be ruled out all together nor feared. Good Christian scholarship should be encouraged not only in the life of the local minister but within the life of the local Church. Ministers that talk about the books or commentaries they are reading help others within the Church know that the minister is growing and learning, gives book ideas to others, opens up healthy discussions and assists the Church body tell the different between good and bad scholarship. Here is a recent article from Credo Magazine that offers more great thoughts on the subject.

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