Too Much Learning?! - August 24

Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 5, 6; PM Psalm 10, 11; 1 Kings 1:38-2:4; Acts 26:24-27:8; Mark 13:28-37

Today’s Reflection

“While he [Paul] was making this defense, Festus exclaimed, ‘You are out of your mind, Paul! Too much learning is driving you insane!’” (Acts 26:24). This line really jumped out at me as I was reading the Acts passage for today. I mean, can you really ever have too much learning? (I know I’m strongly biased on this subject, but I truly think it’s impossible to learn too much—though it’s certainly possibly to overthink things.)

To set this colorful quote in context, Paul has just shared again the dramatic story of his conversion on the road to Damascus. He really did “see the light,” and so much so that he was physically struck down and temporarily blinded. As Paul heard and took to heart the voice of God speaking to him, his way of life and outlook on himself and other people was totally changed. To have a conversion experience means to be turned around, to begin walking in a new direction—turning away from sin and darkness, turning toward God’s way of love and light.

Now considering that, prior to his conversion, Paul was well known and respected for his knowledge of the Jewish scriptures and laws—“a Pharisee among Pharisees” as Paul described himself later—it may be that some people, like Festus, a local Roman official, interpreted that Paul had taken his love of learning and the law several steps too far. Here is Paul, known for his strict adherence to the Jewish faith—someone who took these beliefs to an extreme, to the point of tracking down and punishing people who were turning their lives toward the Way (as the new Christian beliefs were known at the time). Maybe, people like Festus thought, Paul has just gotten so caught up in the life of the mind, of studying the scrolls, that he has finally just lost touch with reality: “You are out of your mind, Paul! Too much learning is driving you insane!”

The truth is, all those years of studying the Jewish holy scriptures had primed Paul for seeing the light of Christ on the road to Damascus. In his conversion experience, everything finally clicked, and Paul was able to see very clearly how Jesus was the fulfillment of centuries of prophetic writings about a long-awaited Messiah (or one sent by God to save his people). While from the outside looking in it seemed (to people like Festus) that Paul was out of his mind, in truth Paul’s major life turn was a moment of clarity. Once Paul had this moment of clarity, he felt called to share this good news with everyone he could meet—and began traveling the region doing just that.

As Paul explained this turn-around, Agrippa sensed that Paul was trying to persuade him to make a turn-around in his own life: “Agrippa said to Paul, ‘Are you so quickly persuading me to become a Christian?’ Paul replied, ‘Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that not only you but also all who are listening to me today might become such as I am—except for these chains’” (Acts 26: 28-29).

Paul’s long-time love of learning the laws and scriptures, and then his embrace of a new Way of life and of thinking about those scriptures, puts me in mind of what happens when we read a book that changes us—or when we have a conversation with someone that gives us such a different perspective that we see something or someone (or even ourselves) from a totally new point of view. For those who are open to it, we have an opportunity to have our own conversion experiences when we allow ourselves to continue to be formed through reading books and scriptures, having honest conversations, and embracing new experiences of living in community with others.

Paul found that, far from going out of his mind, opening his mind and heart to a new Way of believing had set him free—and he wanted to see others open their minds and hearts to being set free and set upon a new path, too. As we look toward the beginning of our fall program season here at Saint Stephen’s, I hope that you will consider reading a book, joining a Bible study, or a committing to a small group that will help you as you continue to walk in the Way of Christ’s life-changing light and love. And, with the Apostle Paul, I promise that too much learning will not drive you insane.

—Becky+

Questions for Self-Reflection

What is a book you have read or a class you have taken that stands out as one that changed how you see the world, other people, or yourself? Why?

Daily Challenge

Take a look at our Fall 2021 adult learning program guide and pray about which group (or groups) God may be leading you to share life and learning with this year. If you feel overwhelmed by the choices, connect with me to have a conversation about which small group might work best for you.