Scholarship & Spirituality Robert C. Newman Abstracts of Powerpoint Talks - newmanlib.ibri.org -newmanlib.ibri.org

Scholarship & Spirituality Let's begin by defining each term. Let's begin by defining each term. Scholarship: Scholarship: A manner of living that seeks to discover and understand the facts in some field of academic study. A manner of living that seeks to discover and understand the facts in some field of academic study. Spirituality: Spirituality: A manner of living which seeks to conform oneself to the standards set by the Holy Spirit in Scripture. A manner of living which seeks to conform oneself to the standards set by the Holy Spirit in Scripture. Abstracts of Powerpoint Talks - newmanlib.ibri.org -newmanlib.ibri.org

Some Tensions: Scholarship & Spirituality Abstracts of Powerpoint Talks - newmanlib.ibri.org -newmanlib.ibri.org

Some Tensions Neglect of spirituality Neglect of spirituality Ignoring or isolating one or the other Ignoring or isolating one or the other Misuse of consensus Misuse of consensus The danger of positivism The danger of positivism Abstracts of Powerpoint Talks - newmanlib.ibri.org -newmanlib.ibri.org

Neglect of Spirituality We may become dominated by our field of study to the detriment of things needed for spirituality We may become dominated by our field of study to the detriment of things needed for spirituality An academic version of becoming a workaholic. An academic version of becoming a workaholic. We cannot devote all of our time to our studies/research. We cannot devote all of our time to our studies/research. We cannot do this & be faithful to our Lord. We cannot do this & be faithful to our Lord. This may mean we won't advance as far in our field as we might otherwise have done. This may mean we won't advance as far in our field as we might otherwise have done. Yet some spiritual people have gone to the top of their fields: Yet some spiritual people have gone to the top of their fields: Joseph, Moses, Daniel Joseph, Moses, Daniel Abstracts of Powerpoint Talks - newmanlib.ibri.org -newmanlib.ibri.org

Ignoring or Isolating We may try to solve complex questions of interaction between our academic field and Scripture by ignoring one or the other, or by isolating one from the other. We may try to solve complex questions of interaction between our academic field and Scripture by ignoring one or the other, or by isolating one from the other. Perhaps we misunderstand the Bible here. Perhaps we misunderstand the Bible here. Perhaps we wish to get along better with our academic colleagues, or with our fellow believers. Perhaps we wish to get along better with our academic colleagues, or with our fellow believers. Our responsibility is to be fair, both to the academic field and to the Bible, whether this position is popular or not. Our responsibility is to be fair, both to the academic field and to the Bible, whether this position is popular or not. Abstracts of Powerpoint Talks - newmanlib.ibri.org -newmanlib.ibri.org

Consensus We may tend to identify scholarship with the consensus of scholars in our field… We may tend to identify scholarship with the consensus of scholars in our field… … or spirituality with the consensus of Christians. … or spirituality with the consensus of Christians. We must instead go back to the data in both cases. We must instead go back to the data in both cases. Again, this may mean loss of advancement in one place or the other. Again, this may mean loss of advancement in one place or the other. Abstracts of Powerpoint Talks - newmanlib.ibri.org -newmanlib.ibri.org

Positivism We may tend to identify scholarship with some sort of positivism: We may tend to identify scholarship with some sort of positivism: We must believe nothing we cannot observe or test academically. We must believe nothing we cannot observe or test academically. But some problems may only be soluble by revelation. But some problems may only be soluble by revelation. Others may have more than one possible solution, but the data is currently insufficient to make scholarship better than a guess. Others may have more than one possible solution, but the data is currently insufficient to make scholarship better than a guess. Abstracts of Powerpoint Talks - newmanlib.ibri.org -newmanlib.ibri.org

Some Reinforcements: Scholarship & Spirituality Abstracts of Powerpoint Talks - newmanlib.ibri.org -newmanlib.ibri.org

Some Reinforcements Spirituality frees one from fear of other humans. Spirituality frees one from fear of other humans. The best scholarship is done when peer pressure can be ignored. The best scholarship is done when peer pressure can be ignored. Scholarship is invaluable for understanding what Scripture really says. Scholarship is invaluable for understanding what Scripture really says. We need to know the original languages. We need to know the original languages. We need to know the culture and writing conventions of the original authors & audience. We need to know the culture and writing conventions of the original authors & audience. Abstracts of Powerpoint Talks - newmanlib.ibri.org -newmanlib.ibri.org

Some Reinforcements Spirituality gives us an absolute basis for diligence, honesty, truth-seeking, etc. Spirituality gives us an absolute basis for diligence, honesty, truth-seeking, etc. Without these, scholarship cannot flourish. Without these, scholarship cannot flourish. Scholarship emphasizes: Scholarship emphasizes: freedom to investigate, freedom to investigate, importance of believing only what is true. importance of believing only what is true. Both of these are needed to advance in spirituality & to avoid two common problems in the modern church: Both of these are needed to advance in spirituality & to avoid two common problems in the modern church: Excessive dogmatism, Excessive dogmatism, Refusal to practice doctrinal discipline. Refusal to practice doctrinal discipline. Abstracts of Powerpoint Talks - newmanlib.ibri.org -newmanlib.ibri.org

Conclusions Christians need both spirituality and scholarship. Christians need both spirituality and scholarship. Understood as a general method (rather than as an academic profession), scholarship is a subset of Christian morality. Understood as a general method (rather than as an academic profession), scholarship is a subset of Christian morality. Abstracts of Powerpoint Talks - newmanlib.ibri.org -newmanlib.ibri.org

The End If we seek to be scholars, may we be spiritual scholars. Abstracts of Powerpoint Talks - newmanlib.ibri.org -newmanlib.ibri.org