Tuesday, September 06, 2011

The Great Divorce

I just breezed through a recent academic catalog by one of the major publishers. Within its pages, there are descriptions of several soon-to-be-released books written by brilliant Christian men and women. As I read through the titles and the blurbs, I couldn't help but wonder, "Why so many?" Of course, new books are the result of new research, and scholars are doing more than their fair share of advancing their disciplines for the cause of Christ. Some skeptics might accuse the academy of self-promotion: the guild needs to write, publishers need to print. And, every time I work through these catalogs, my book budget grows beyond my resources. I think, "I must read this. I must have this. I must know this."

But then I think of the Church and how many Christians will never read any of these rich resources, these gold mines of knowledge, these warehouses of spiritual help. In truth, I don't meet very many non-specialists (read, "average Christians") who read much of any of this stuff that helps me so much. Oh, they'll listen to preachers. They'll watch t.v. They'll listen to radio and music. But, to read serious, deep, theological reflections on the essence of our faith? Not many takers.

But, that doesn't stop scholars from writing. Thus, the ever-widening gap between scholarship and every-day Christianity makes me wonder whether scholars are making a difference in the Church at all.

11 comments:

Darryl Schafer said...

I've wondered about this, too. Part of me gets somewhat frustrated that "non-specialists" won't put in a little bit of time to explore these treasures.

But then I think about how some of these same people are just trying to make ends meet. They're running themselves ragged to get their kids to and from school, get supper on the table, read bedtime stories, etc.

Sometimes, I wonder if my insistence that others invest their time the way that I do is placing an unnecessary burden on their backs (Mt 23:1-4). Sure, I think that people waste their time on foolish pursuits. At the same time, though, it's easy for me to get frustrated when I get paid to love God and study his word.

Rodney Reeves said...

Darryl,

Too often we scoff at the "Ivory tower" life of scholars. But, does that necessarily give credence to our pursuit of foolishness?

Darryl Schafer said...

Exactly. It's as if poking fun at our own foolishness (and perhaps uselessness?) justifies our efforts...

So what do we do?

Rodney Reeves said...

Again, it makes me wonder whether the other end of the critique (scholars write for themselves/the guild) is also true. If we're not helping the Church, what difference does it make?

Harping about the ignorance of the masses is elitist. And yet, I get tired of answering the same ol' questions via email. Sometimes I want to say (arrogantly), "Hey. Get a book and read yourself."

How's that for an "ivory tower"/pompous attitude?

And yet, I keep reading and writing.

Darryl Schafer said...

Heh. Read a quote from Schweitzer just the other day: "My life is my argument." Maybe he's right...

And yet, I keep reading and writing. And talking.

Matt Kimbrough said...

As an amateur writer, I think it is much easier to write either entirely on an academic level or solely on a "popular" level. What is difficult is to write about advanced concepts in a manner that is readable for most. This is by no means dumbing-down the text, for the point is not to adjust content but style.

At the risk of sounding like a brown-noser, I think this is exactly why a book like A Genuine Faith is helpful. I know many "non-specialists" who read it and loved it even though it presented the Gospels in ways they had never encountered. It also empowers them to take their studies to the next level. Another example is NT Wright's "For Everyone" commentaries, which I know have been used in blue collar Sunday School classes at my church.

Part of my goal in life is to write conceptually advanced Bible study resources in a readable, enjoyable, non-specialist-friendly style. It won't be easy, but it is necessary and worth the effort.

Darryl Schafer said...

And for what it's worth, all of your reading, writing, and talking has definitely made a difference in my own life. The same goes for other scholars, as well.

So, yes, that chasm is still there. But every now and then, bridges do get built.

Rodney Reeves said...

Thanks guys. But, at the risk of beating the dead horse, both of you are "academic" types.

And, I think both of you will continue to be bridges between academia and every-day Christianity.

It just gets lonely sometimes, doesn't it?

Matt Kimbrough said...

Yes, I'm an academic type (aka, nerd), but I work in a big country-church full of very much non-academic types. And, I see signs of hope among the masses. There are even men in my church who would never read any book, much less some scholarly work, who are listening to books on tape that push them to a new level. I guess, for me, it's more about the journey, pushing people toward the next step, than about hoping that they reach a certain predetermined level.

And, every time I get lonely as an academic, I hear a still small voice whisper that there are 7,000 others in Israel who are just like me.

jesnicole said...

I don't really consider myself the "scholarly" type. I often miss what I used to do. Now, I'm a momma. I'm beyond grateful for that. As I pour my life into my husband and my son, I can't help but be thankful for people like you, your wife, and my husband. You "scholarly" ones have made, and are making a difference in my life, though I'm not bustin' out books left and right. The education I received over the past several years from SBU, and my very tall husband, helped me through a dark time in my life. Had it not been for you scholars who reminded me who God really is....I'm horrified to think of the woman I could have become over the past several years of darkness. Needless to say...thank y'all. :)

Darryl Schafer said...

Yeah. Lonely...