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Street smart vs book smart

2PhiloVoid

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Hello.

Both my parents worked long hours on two jobs to make sure the kids got great education. So I myself and the street basically raised me. The other day my neighbour was idling his unlocked van warming it up with the key… I stayed there until he came out to tell him he should lock it or better yet install a remote starter if he can. When people tell me something, my first reaction, I don’t trust. I trust facts or try to make sure there’s at least reasonable ways to protect my interests. I never give to people who come to my door claiming to be from charities. Maybe they are, but those little badges are very easy to counterfeit.

In regards to religion, I often think about street smarts and book smarts. It seems to me some believers tend to live too much in their heads. When it comes to realities of life, they can seem to be somewhat detached. Do you notice this?

I see Christian missionaries abroad, they’re pretty much crooks, most of them. They treat locals like dirt, invest and trade, send fake reports back to their home churches inflating all they do. Basically, con artists. Churches never even think about any accountability, believing everything blindly. How is it even possible?

Or when I hear pastors preach about tithes and offerings, they promise a great return from God as if it’s a done deal…A guaranteed blessing… Like they say about investment into Apple or Amazon stock. Yes, if you’re well-educated, healthy with great skill set and in good economic environment, maybe. In a poor country for less fortunate or in a bad neighbourhood among the lowest class of people, and during a recession, maybe not so much… I personally know a family in Asia who sold their condo to gift money to their Charismatic church and ended up homeless. That church pastor fled to the USA with millions claiming religious asylum… Yes, he was somehow persecuted by the gov’t too… Or Mother Theresa, a saint to her church, but a much more controversial figure to the people of Kolkatta..

I sometimes try to analyze what it is… Some ideas seem so good and right and good-sounding and beautiful, but when it comes to realities of life, those ideas somehow don’t consider all factors. Maybe that’s the problem? For example, how sin is explained and what solutions are offered… That’s why I think religion has never been an effective tool in guarding morality and behaviour and we need certain institutions such as law enforcement and jails, with tools like handcuffs and tasers, or sedative injections for some…

If there is such disconnect, is religion even relevant?

My question isn’t about people, but about Christian teachings. Are they adequate for street smarts? Or are they more or less useless when it comes to what people have to deal with in their spiritual and day by day practical lives?

Is Christian faith, overall, a true reflection of spiritual and physical reality?

Does Christianity teach "street smarts"? I'm kind of guessing it doesn't.

image-20161026-11265-1pikoh7.jpg


Then again, there was that one bit where Jesus said something about "Being as wise as serpents ..."
 
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Unqualified

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No amount of Christian doctrine or Christian teaching can help you learn trigonometry. However, if you are going to be a machinist, it could be helpful.

Trusting in Jesus for salvation will not automatically give you discernment and insight into all the hazards of the world. However, it does open the door to humility;

Jas 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

The grace we receive provides instruction;

Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

As we grow in faith and receive grace, we begin to be separate from the world and its corruption. We might not fully understand intellectually about evil in the world, but there can be an almost sub-conscious perception when things just don't seem right.

We will never be smart enough or knowledgeable enough to be able to protect ourselves from every evil in the world. We will always be vulnerable to some degree.

There does seem to be a relationship between our spiritual condition and our discernment;

Pro 2:1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
Pro 2:2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
Pro 2:3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
Pro 2:4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
Pro 2:5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
Pro 2:6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
Pro 2:7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
Pro 2:8 He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.
Pro 2:9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.
Pro 2:10 When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;
Pro 2:11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:

There is plenty of practical knowledge in the Bible. Thou shalt not commit adultery or fornicate, or any of the Ten Commandments. Don’t be unequally yoke with an unbeliever. Love your wife more than your own flesh. Trust in the lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding and He will make your path straight. Fear not for I am with you isa 41:10. Isa26:3-5.

street smart helps in the lord but God does not leave his people wanting. He provides and we do need to be useful in this world.
 
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StaceeJacklyn

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Hello.

Both my parents worked long hours on two jobs to make sure the kids got great education. So I myself and the street basically raised me. I even worked at thesis editing services https://edubirdie.com/thesis-editing-service and provided a thesis editing service to pay my bills. The other day my neighbour was idling his unlocked van warming it up with the key… I stayed there until he came out to tell him he should lock it or better yet install a remote starter if he can. When people tell me something, my first reaction, I don’t trust. I trust facts or try to make sure there’s at least reasonable ways to protect my interests. I never give to people who come to my door claiming to be from charities. Maybe they are, but those little badges are very easy to counterfeit.

In regards to religion, I often think about street smarts and book smarts. It seems to me some believers tend to live too much in their heads. When it comes to realities of life, they can seem to be somewhat detached. Do you notice this?

I see Christian missionaries abroad, they’re pretty much crooks, most of them. They treat locals like dirt, invest and trade, send fake reports back to their home churches inflating all they do. Basically, con artists. Churches never even think about any accountability, believing everything blindly. How is it even possible?

Or when I hear pastors preach about tithes and offerings, they promise a great return from God as if it’s a done deal…A guaranteed blessing… Like they say about investment into Apple or Amazon stock. Yes, if you’re well-educated, healthy with great skill set and in good economic environment, maybe. In a poor country for less fortunate or in a bad neighbourhood among the lowest class of people, and during a recession, maybe not so much… I personally know a family in Asia who sold their condo to gift money to their Charismatic church and ended up homeless. That church pastor fled to the USA with millions claiming religious asylum… Yes, he was somehow persecuted by the gov’t too… Or Mother Theresa, a saint to her church, but a much more controversial figure to the people of Kolkatta..

I sometimes try to analyze what it is… Some ideas seem so good and right and good-sounding and beautiful, but when it comes to realities of life, those ideas somehow don’t consider all factors. Maybe that’s the problem? For example, how sin is explained and what solutions are offered… That’s why I think religion has never been an effective tool in guarding morality and behaviour and we need certain institutions such as law enforcement and jails, with tools like handcuffs and tasers, or sedative injections for some…

If there is such disconnect, is religion even relevant?

My question isn’t about people, but about Christian teachings. Are they adequate for street smarts? Or are they more or less useless when it comes to what people have to deal with in their spiritual and day by day practical lives?

Is Christian faith, overall, a true reflection of spiritual and physical reality?

Great questions to ask! Because I experienced this situation too; some Christians doesn't make the right moral decisions when it comes to life. I saw people that haven't follow any religion made great things for people too. Made me think...
 
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James_Lai

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It depends on what we mean by the "entirely of Christian teachings"? Does this mean what Jesus taught, what Paul taught, what other disciples taught? How about what the early Church Fathers taught? What about Augustine, Aquinas, etc? What about the Church councils?

I think we have to peel back the layers and all the bric-a-brac and get down to the essentials. It is not an easy process and most never get past the outer layers, never distill it all to the core truths and teachings, the true meaning. I am still working on it after a half century; I'm not quite there yet, but getting closer.

I know, it all depends what we consider as Christianity… So probably yes such question worded like that is as good as meaningless.

What I was trying to say, what Christianity is for you as a whole. Not particular teachings, but the set of beliefs.

So, in general and not in particular
 
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