Recently, I came across a social media post where a commenter accused a Christian leader of being a cult leader and insulted his followers as having “low IQs” and lacking high school diplomas. This inspired me to write an article on an issue Iโve wanted to address for some time. Too often, Christians, especially on Facebook, insult the intelligence of other believers with whom they disagree. This article addresses why such behavior is contrary to Christian values and emphasizes the importance of humility and respect within the church.
Can we even control our IQ?
Ultimately, itโs irrelevant, and Iโll explain why. First, we have little control over our IQ. A significant portion of our intelligence is genetic and influenced by receiving proper nutrition during our formative years. Insulting someone over their IQ is like blaming them for their ancestry or childhood circumstances.
Moving past the โlow IQโ putdown, most Christians throughout history did not have high school diplomas. Even if they do, that doesnโt mean anything. There are plenty of people with doctorates who are, frankly, dumb as rocks. While holding a diploma doesnโt immediately equate to intelligence, there are plenty of ways to graduate without actually being intelligent.
On the other hand, there are many high school dropouts who have become highly successful and have accomplished great things. Regardless, many experts argue IQ is often misunderstood and misused, measuring only a specific type of intelligence.
That said, whether youโre mentally impaired, a genius, or feel like one or both, Godโs word has a few things to say about boasting. Want to take a guess what that is?
God Chooses the Foolish to Shame the Wise
The first two chapters of 1 Corinthians are dedicated to Paul exhorting the Corinthians to recognize the power of God at work in their weaknesses, and to refrain from boasting in their own abilities. Consider 1 Corinthians 1:26-29:
26 For consider your calling, brothers, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may abolish the things that are, 29 so that no flesh may boast before God. (LSB)
The knowledge of God is not a personal accomplishment. As Paul writes in Ephesians 2:8-9 (LSB): โFor by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, so that no one may boast.โ
As our faith is a gift, so is any ability, talent, or skill we have (James 1:17) โ including the education we receive and our ability to learn. So, what value does our education hold?
The Value of Education
Itโs not that education has no value. The church has been a foundation of education for the last two millennia. Throughout the Middle Ages, Christianity built and organized schools and universities. Oxford, Yale, Harvard, and Princeton all were formed as Christian institutions. The ability to read, write, and understand Scripture were understood to be essential for godly living and government.
Yet, there is, at times, an inclination to be prideful of oneโs accomplishments. Not of being satisfied and content, but of thinking oneself as better for their intellectual pursuits. This type of arrogance must be kept in check.
The Apostle Paul, who prior to becoming a Christian had plenty of reasons to brag, said this of all his bona fides:
7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ.
The Greek word we translate to โrubbishโ is actually a stronger word for โcrap.โ From the intellectual caliber of Paulโs writings, we can see he was not anti-intellectual. The book of Romans is one of the greatest treatises on the whole of Christian doctrine, tracing Christian theology from Adam, through Christ, and beyond. Paul understood his value before God was not found in Paulโs accomplishments, but in Christโs finished work on the cross.
If not for Godโs grace, we would all be lost.
Final Thoughts
Admittedly, the impetus for this was an offhand comment on social media. While it was likely an offhand insult, Christ warns we will make account for every careless word (Matthew 12:36).
There is a danger in anti-intellectualism, which is a real issue in some circles. In 2 Timothy 2:15, Paul charges Timothy to diligently apply himself as Godโs workman, so that he can โrightly divide the word of truth.โ To accurately and properly handle Godโs word, one must apply diligent effort, as the Greek ฯฯฮฟฯ ฮดฮฌฮถฯ (spoudazo) suggests. God has given us a brain and He demands us to both use and train it. The Apostle Peter tells us every Christian must be โprepared to give a reasoned defense for the hope that is in usโ (1 Peter 3:15).
Whether we recognize it or not, we have all benefited from Christians who devoted their lives to studying and teaching Godโs word. Knowledge is the pursuit of truth. God is the source of all truth. And only in Christ โare hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledgeโ (Col. 2:3 LSB).
The danger comes when we believe our gift, whether a birthright or acquired, is to be lorded over others. As Christ said, โFrom everyone who has been given much, much will be required, and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the moreโ (Luke 12:48 LSB).
