Experts

| November 17, 2008

We’ve just finished an amazing (historic, annoying, crazy) political season, and the fireworks will continue for some time.  What has really struck me lately, is how much we adore our “experts” in America.  We hang on their words, we trust what they say, we change our behavior based on their advice. The funny thing is, the next expert completely contradicts their advice and has compelling reasons why. Throw into the mix that most of them are bought and paid for, but none of that matters because we love our experts.

The funny thing is that we make people experts unwittingly, I think.  For instance, our system of religion teaches us that a pastor should be the expert on hearing from God. So, we go to them with our troubles and expect them to hear God and give us the solution to the problem. I would say a deeper problem is that sometimes we pastors believe we have the answers. I have caught myself relying on the wisdom or advice that jumps to mind when talking to people. And, I’m sure down somewhere in myself in places I don’t want to talk about, I really like the fact that people want to know MY advice. But, this is not how it should be.

The scripture tells us that God speaks directly to our hearts, everyone, not just the pastors. Instead of trying to help people from our own wisdom, we need to immediately ask people what they are hearing from God about the situation, and if they are obeying that voice. As part of the Journey, we want to teach people to rely on God, not some system of religion or a solitary leader of that system. We want them to know how to hear God’s voice and obey so that they can be an example to their friends of how to hear God’s voice and obey.

My hope is that whenever I unwittingly or instinctually offer my own advice, someone is there to ask if I am pointing people to God’s wisdom or pointing them to a man who is just as imperfect as anyone.

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Category: Church

About the Author ()

Bryan grew up in Madrid, Ia., and is a 1997 graduate from Simpson College in Indianola with a degree in criminal justice. He is currently working on "the Journey", a network of simple/organic churches that meet in the Des Moines Metro area. Prior to that Bryan was the youth pastor at Adventure Life Reformed Church in Altoona, IA. Bryan describes himself: "I'm actively seeking to find "The Way" that Jesus talked about. I haven't been able to find it in the religion and structure of modern 'Churchianity', and the church sometimes seems more intent on helping themselves than being the servants that Jesus called us to be. I want to follow Him, and I want to seek and find the better life that He promised. I want to be a force of change for the world that will point all glory and honor to my savior, and I want to walk so closely with Him that I can't move unless He tells me to. I want to have a rich, full, friend-filled life that shows people what it means to really live the life of Love. I yearn and long for the authentic Jesus to be put on display, and all the religious "crap" to be stripped away so that the world will truly understand who He was and is."
  • http://thenarrowroad-andyc.blogspot.com AndyC

    The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge…(Proverbs 1:7(a)).

    We do love our experts, but there is only one Expert.

    We all have a tendency to the pride that lets us think we are experts or are in a position to expertise others.

  • http://thenarrowroad-andyc.blogspot.com AndyC

    The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge…(Proverbs 1:7(a)).

    We do love our experts, but there is only one Expert.

    We all have a tendency to the pride that lets us think we are experts or are in a position to expertise others.

  • http://briansballoons.balloonhq.com Brian Getz

    Amen

  • http://briansballoons.balloonhq.com Brian Getz

    Amen

  • http://kansasbob.com Kansas Bob

    I guess that is why we read in Proverbs that safety is found in a multitude of counselors.

  • http://kansasbob.com Kansas Bob

    I guess that is why we read in Proverbs that safety is found in a multitude of counselors.

  • http://caffeinatedthoughts.com Shane Vander Hart

    Just curious Bryan where do different spiritual gifts come into play here?

  • http://www.caffeinatedthoughts.com Shane Vander Hart

    Just curious Bryan where do different spiritual gifts come into play here?

  • http://holyhell.wordpress.com/ Deacon Blue

    Well said, Shane. Not only the pundits and the pastors…but also people are so willing to trust so much of what is said on the Web.

    And Lord knows, I wouldn’t want anyone taking anything on the Web for face value without being in prayer. I shudder to think that anyone would consider my own ramblings “expert” opinion
    ;-)

  • http://holyhell.wordpress.com/ Deacon Blue

    Well said, Shane. Not only the pundits and the pastors…but also people are so willing to trust so much of what is said on the Web.

    And Lord knows, I wouldn’t want anyone taking anything on the Web for face value without being in prayer. I shudder to think that anyone would consider my own ramblings “expert” opinion
    ;-)

  • http://caffeinatedthoughts.com Shane Vander Hart

    @Deacon – Can’t take credit for this post. This is Bryan “Phatkat” Fatka’s post.

    Do you mean people are actually wrong on the internet? LOL.

  • http://www.caffeinatedthoughts.com Shane Vander Hart

    @Deacon – Can’t take credit for this post. This is Bryan “Phatkat” Fatka’s post.

    Do you mean people are actually wrong on the internet? LOL.

  • Phatkat

    When I wrote this, I had limited space. Glad to have the chance to expand a little. Shane, I absolutely think the spiritual gifts have a place of high importance in our walks. The point of this particular post, though, was that for some reason our system of Christianity (in my opinion. . .not an “expert” opinion :) ) teaches people to rely on other people instead of God. Typically, that person is a pastor, but it applies to others as well.

    What if, when a person chooses to follow Jesus, we didn’t immediately start giving them answers to all their questions? What if every time they had a question, we first taught them to ask God for the answer? Then asked them if God was leading them in a direction? Could we instill a value to always look to God first, instead of looking to people first?

    I absolutely believe that the body of Christ (all of us) is a way He answers questions, and that would be the multitude of counselors and possibly the spiritual gifts in action. However, do we go to Him first, and trust the body and gifts to confirm or do we go to the body and gifts hoping for an answer without consulting the source first?

    I may be rambling, but I hope that helped.

  • Phatkat

    When I wrote this, I had limited space. Glad to have the chance to expand a little. Shane, I absolutely think the spiritual gifts have a place of high importance in our walks. The point of this particular post, though, was that for some reason our system of Christianity (in my opinion. . .not an “expert” opinion :) ) teaches people to rely on other people instead of God. Typically, that person is a pastor, but it applies to others as well.

    What if, when a person chooses to follow Jesus, we didn’t immediately start giving them answers to all their questions? What if every time they had a question, we first taught them to ask God for the answer? Then asked them if God was leading them in a direction? Could we instill a value to always look to God first, instead of looking to people first?

    I absolutely believe that the body of Christ (all of us) is a way He answers questions, and that would be the multitude of counselors and possibly the spiritual gifts in action. However, do we go to Him first, and trust the body and gifts to confirm or do we go to the body and gifts hoping for an answer without consulting the source first?

    I may be rambling, but I hope that helped.

  • http://holyhell.wordpress.com/ Deacon Blue

    Sorry about that, Bryan…I forgot that Shane has help around here.
    ;-)

  • http://holyhell.wordpress.com/ Deacon Blue

    Sorry about that, Bryan…I forgot that Shane has help around here.
    ;-)

  • http://caffeinatedthoughts.com Shane Vander Hart

    Bryan,

    Thanks for the clarification!

  • http://www.caffeinatedthoughts.com Shane Vander Hart

    Bryan,

    Thanks for the clarification!

  • http://www.cbeninati.com Chad

    As a leader of believers, I have found that before speaking, the more I had prepared for my audience at the time, the least effective it was. I finally learned, that before I speak (or write on most subjects) that I need to pray. I need to make sure that my life is acceptable before God and then make sure that I let God do the teaching and working- through me if necessary.

    As for verification of information obtained, it helps me to put it into its place. For example, man’s greatest fear is loneliness. Now I could just say that as it is, a fact, (facts do not imply truth) and then apply it to other facts that I know. (ie. God is Love and loneliness is the fear of not being loved.) Then, I verify it within the general scheme of my fact/truth element:
    fact: God is love.
    fact: Man’s greatest fear is loneliness.
    fact: Man’s greatest sin is pride. (The direct result of loneliness)
    fact: Humility is the answer to pride, and also the result of love.

    It all must form the complete picture in the end. To replace pride as man’s greatest sin with… murder, does not compute. Murder is not a motive but rather the consequence of a sin (hatred), etc…

  • http://www.cbeninati.com Chad

    As a leader of believers, I have found that before speaking, the more I had prepared for my audience at the time, the least effective it was. I finally learned, that before I speak (or write on most subjects) that I need to pray. I need to make sure that my life is acceptable before God and then make sure that I let God do the teaching and working- through me if necessary.

    As for verification of information obtained, it helps me to put it into its place. For example, man’s greatest fear is loneliness. Now I could just say that as it is, a fact, (facts do not imply truth) and then apply it to other facts that I know. (ie. God is Love and loneliness is the fear of not being loved.) Then, I verify it within the general scheme of my fact/truth element:
    fact: God is love.
    fact: Man’s greatest fear is loneliness.
    fact: Man’s greatest sin is pride. (The direct result of loneliness)
    fact: Humility is the answer to pride, and also the result of love.

    It all must form the complete picture in the end. To replace pride as man’s greatest sin with… murder, does not compute. Murder is not a motive but rather the consequence of a sin (hatred), etc…

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