On Tuesday, I had a scheduled phone call with Gailyn Van Rheenen. Gailyn heads up Mission Alive, working with church planting teams. He wanted to share some thoughts on discipling that he thought could be useful to the Cuban church.
Gailyn shared some things he had learned from a book called Building a Discipling Culture by Mike Breen and Steve Cockram. As I reflected over some of what he shared with me, I realized one concept had a lot to say about our topic this week. (Yeah, I know… I should have realized in time to write this post yesterday. So sue me.)
Gailyn talked about four stages in discipleship, which he described as:
- Unconsciously Incompetent: The new convert doesn’t realize all that he doesn’t know. Enthusiasm reigns.
- Consciously Incompetent: Here’s where someone becomes painfully aware of their limitations. It’s at this stage that many reversions occur.
- Consciously Competent: People know how to do what they need to do and tend to be very aware of the process of doing those things.
- Unconsciously Competent: People reach the point where doing what needs to be done becomes second nature.
I’m not sure if that’s an adequate description of those categories, but maybe you get the idea. I can see this applying to some degree to Bible study. There’s the initial stage, the pick up the book and read it stage. “It says what it means and it means what it says.” When growth occurs, people become aware of the fact that Bible study is much more complicated than they thought. For some, the daunting nature of good Bible study will make them throw up their hands in despair; others will be motivated to learn and move on to the next stage. That next stage involves going through the necessary steps of Bible study until they become second nature. That’s the final stage. A man like N.T. Wright may not go through the steps of exegesis that a graduate student goes through, but he uses the concepts and tools because they have become an unconscious part of who he is.
The problem is, we’re afraid to move people to that second step. We know that we needed it in our own lives, that moment of “wow, I don’t know how to do this” that drove us to learn how to study. We know the richness that comes from a deeper study of God’s Word. But we hate to make people realize they don’t know how to study God’s Word. Instead of a necessary step in the maturation process, it feels like arrogance on our part: I know this and you don’t.
We accept it in other fields. Someone may be very good at arithmetic, but they have to accept that their professor knows calculus better than they do. Gifted athletes never reach the highest level until they understand that other people can teach them techniques that will improve their performance.
We also need to remember that the more we learn, the more we realize that we don’t know. I can say, “This isn’t as easy as you might think” because I know what a challenge it is for me. I know how far I have to go, after all these years.
So, to put it bluntly, we can’t be afraid to show people their lack of knowledge… as long as we’re willing to help them learn the skills they need to improve. Maybe we need to spend more time on teaching Bible study skills and hermeneutics and less time presenting pre-processed applications.
What do you think? Does this process make sense, either as a view of the discipling process or the process of learning to study the Bible? Do you agree that we’re afraid to show people the fact that they don’t know how to study the Bible? Do you have any suggestions as to how we help others move along this process and how we further our own progress?
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
Tim, another excellent post. I think perhaps you understate the conflict. We accept that in most fields there are experts and amateurs. But within the congregations that I have been a part, our religious culture fed and nourished by our American individualism has mandated the idea that every person’s opinion is equally valid with that of everyone else. Combined with a virulent anti-intellectualism and we have the perfect breeding ground for the stagnation of many members in category #1 as you listed above. How do we get people to move to #2? I dunno. I try my best to reveal my own journey (without being an exhibitionist, to the best of my ability) and to share with people the joy I have in learning new concepts and truths in God’s word. There are usually a couple (God bless ’em) who share my excitement. And, there are those who will never move beyond their unconsious incompetence and who let me know in no uncertain terms that their mind is made up, and please quit trying to confuse them with the facts.
All I can do is light myself on fire and hope that others catch the flame. Some people’s wood is petrified, and quite honestly there is nothing I can ever do to change that. It’s sad. But some folks are aching for solid, deep teaching – whether they are fully aware of that ache or not. I want to allow that ache to come to the surface, and then show the the people how they can meet that need themselves. The bible is accessible. We as teachers and preachers need to open it, not close it with our arrogance and pride.
Tim, I think you make a valid point. Of course, the CoC has a long history of breaking down the distinction between clergy and laity. The Campbells and other early leaders in the Movement were strident proponents that “every man should read Scripture for himself”. (Even as they taught Scripture to people and taught people how to read Scripture!)
Churches fail in this area when they tell people to “grow closer to God by praying and reading your Bible”. Which is a good application of almost any sermon. A couple of years ago I taught a class using Rick Warrens book “Bible Study Methods” with the goal of teaching people HOW to read their Bibles. (Another little book that’s helpful is “Dig Deeper” by Beynon and Sach.) My class opened eyes somewhat, but I think it failed because it then left those people to follow up on their own. It would have been much better if they’d had a forum to share their studies a month or so later.
I don’t know. My study of scripture came from a desire to know what the Bible said. No class or teacher motivated me to that thought I think others examples were good. I will never forget my response after reading Romans. I thought has anyone else read this book. I wonder if a lot of people don’t think they know what is in the book and the way we study it often does little to make it apply to daily life?
Until we are able to lay the commentaries aside and dig into the Scriptures for ourselves, questioning all of our preconceptions and laying ourselves bare before the brilliance of the Word revealed in the word, we will continue to muddle along and think we know it all because we can quote Acts 2:38.
I did not mean to imply that the commentaries (and blogs) have no place in our Bible study. They do. But our primary source must always be the Scriptures themselves.
About a year and a half ago I drove from Florida to Harding for my 50th class reunion (class of 1960). On the way I reflected a lot. I was privileged to attend Christian schools – in elementary & high school, in a junior college, at Harding – later at Sunset and at Cincinnati Christian Seminary. I learned a lot at each of these. Each contributed to my development. Yet, my greatest knowledge has been gained through my own reading of Scripture. Other books have helped – but time spent in the Scriptures is invaluable.
reading the bible for reading the bible sake is a way to say, “that makes me feel good reading God’s word.” But reading it intelligently, looking for structure and the intent of God’s plan of salvation really escapes most readers. Understanding the history and how the word of God was written and rewritten by the Catholics and then by the Protestants leaves us with real questions about what we do read. This coupled with the discoveries of science, aero space technoligies and the study of galaxies and space exploration leaves us with this dilema….knowing what God intends for all…..that is one simple fact.
He died and bled for all humanity. He did this before any real Christian religion began. He did this for God loved the world that he gave his only begotten son…..
God is love……For every father today grant him the wisdom to relate this important message to his children.
No, H.B., you’re continuing to miss the point of what the Bible is. I hope you’ll take some time to study the Bible for God’s sake, study it as the inspired Word of God.
Keep seeking.