Transcript
Scott Anderson: Paul, one of the themes that can function as a mechanism for spiritual blindness that you talk about in the book is when biblical literacy and the quest for biblical knowledge and the acquisition of that is misunderstood for spiritual maturity. Talk about how that is such a danger for pastors in ministry.
Knowing a Thing Is Not Being That Thing
Paul Tripp: I mean, clearly, it's dangerous to think that because I know a thing, I am that thing; because I can communicate an idea, I have submitted myself to that idea and I can live in the context of that idea. But it's very easy to do that and one of the reasons it's easy to do that is because we have so academized the faith and often, pastoral training is so entirely academic that a subtle shift begins to happen, that my definition of my maturity is now attached to my theological expertise, my biblical literacy.
It's very clear that I can understand things that I'm not living, that don't define shape, motivate, shepherd, guide -- whatever term you're going to use -- the way I respond in the hallways and kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms of everyday life.
You can be theologically astute and be dramatically spiritually immature. And so, to the degree that I begin to think I'm okay because I've mastered this body of truth is very, very dangerous. I mean, really, what I should be asking is to what degree have has my life been mastered by this body of truth? And when I just, right now, ask this question, I feel sadness because... oh yes, in so many ways. But in so many ways, there's still evidence.
A Shocking Example From Luella's Surgery
Can I give you an example? This is shocking. Luella, my wife, just found out a few weeks ago that she had a hole in her retina and had to have emergency eye surgery. When they opened her up, they realized she had three holes in her retina and it's really a very serious thing.
We go back for the post-op appointment and it's typical. We're three hours in. Now, I'm not sitting there thinking, "I love this woman. If it was ten hours because God called me to lay down my life for her, I'd wait around thinking, 'This is ruining my day. I can't believe I got to sit here.'" Well, no more than I have the thought, I think, "How could you be here in this situation and ever think that?" Because I'm still in need of redemption is the answer.
I was very thankful afterwards for the quickness of my heart to grab a hold of that and say, "This is not where I want to be," because that's grace. But I had the thought and so, theologically, I could argue ten points of theology that would address that moment. I could give them to you. I could write the book, but the struggle still goes on inside of me. You cannot equate theological knowledge with a level of maturity.
