It is funny how time goes so fast. About seven years ago, I set foot in Pittsburgh, excited to
start my journey on an educational path after a long break from academia. It all began in
September. During my first semester, one of the classes that made an impression on me
was my Introduction to the Old Testament course. The professor was a well-known
archaeologist, and I learned more about the importance of geography, particularly in
understanding the locations of Judah, Samaria, and the hill country.
But what stood out in my class was how our professor—who insisted that he wasn’t a
preacher—lectured us. He emphasized that learning about facts and data isn’t merely about memorizing information; instead, it is aimed at transforming us and changing our hearts. To this day, I still have that quote in one of my notebooks.
Just as my professor taught me that knowledge should lead to transformation, we too begin a new season of learning this month. Christian education is not about passing on
information; it is about forming hearts and lives in Christ.
I was reading an article called “Knowing God and Knowing About God,” which stresses the
idea that knowledge is not just about presenting information about who God is: the Lord is faithful, the Lord is present with those who are downtrodden, and He is merciful.
In the Old Testament, particularly in the book of Deuteronomy, we see that knowing the Lord meant walking with Him in a covenant relationship. God desired His people to be
different—to be set apart from other pagan nations. For example, they were to give shelter to those in need, set the Sabbath as a day of rest, welcome the stranger, and leave grain in the fields for widows and the poor.
What the biblical authors hoped for Israel was to understand that knowledge requires a
complete transformation of the heart, soul, and mind.
On August 31, we had a special-interest Sunday, where our reflection was about how we are to respond to the situation of refugees and asylum seekers. Many of the people who serve on the Thrive Steering Committee shared scriptural passages from the Old and New
Testaments. What do the Scriptures say about those who are coming to a new place? What are the expectations that Jesus has for us?
Our hope was to allow the Holy Spirit to open our eyes and hearts and to convict us: How
can I be more Christ-like to someone who does not speak my language? How can I be more helpful? Paul instructs the Roman church to have a renewed mind and not to conform to the patterns of the world. The world, more often than not, vilifies those who are different, engages in name-calling, and views individuals as mere objects to be discarded or used.
So we ask ourselves: Are these attitudes honorable? Are they kind? Do they emulate the
peace of Christ? Are they centered on goodness? Do they show that I love my neighbor?
Most significantly, do they show that I genuinely love the Lord? Words are great, and
information is helpful, but what we need to consider is what comes next. What can I do?
As we enter this new season of learning, we have a fresh chance to grow in Christ. Let us be reminded that biblical knowledge needs to lead to compassion in action, and may our deep learning in Christ lead us to care for one another—even for the stranger among us.
Amen.
Pastor Felicia