But ye have not so learned Christ. Ephesians 4:20
I have been asked at different times whether the best reporters are graduates of journalism schools or the product of years of practical knowledge. Having spent some 40 years working among all manner of reporters from all manner of backgrounds, I have found that question rather difficult to answer. Some of the young graduates of journalism and broadcasting schools have impressed me very much in some aspects of their training, and disappointed me in other aspects. For example, few of them had a solid foundation of the principles of good grammar. I have also been impressed with reporters who learned the profession by working their way through the ranks without any formal training. But despite the strengths they gained through practical experience, they were often blind to or reluctant to adopt new ideas and methods. I suspect it is the same in most professions, where different approaches are taken to produce qualified practitioners. Different forms of learning often produce different results. But when it comes to learning what we need to know to be profitable Christians, the world’s methods simply don’t work.
In our text, Paul speaks of us learning Christ in a different way from the world’s learning. The world’s learning serves the world’s interests. But the Christian’s learning serves our Lord’s interests. And the two are often directly opposed to each other. We cannot become all that our Lord wants us to become by following the world’s methods or adopting the world’s approach to learning.
The world teaches us to build on our own strengths. But before we could become a Christian, we had to learn that we were without strength. The world teaches us to build up our self-esteem. But the Bible teaches us to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). The world draws its knowledge from a broad range of resources and accepts a wide spectrum of opinions. But the Christian must learn that all knowledge is based on the Word of God and everything that is not in harmony with Scripture is false. There are many differences between the learning of the world and the learning of the child of God.
The world’s learning comes easily enough. Simply by living in the world, by attending the world’s schools, by working among the world’s inhabitants, and by playing with the world’s toys, we learn what the world is all about. Learning Christ must begin with His Book. Only in the Bible do we find His character revealed, His precepts unfolded, His will for us presented. To learn Christ is to learn to be like Him. We find additional resources in good books by good authors, in the ministry of the Word by good teachers, and in the fellowship of good brothers and sisters in the Lord. But learning Christ must first come from spending time with Him and getting to know Him personally.
The world does not know Christ. But we can – and must – learn Him. -Jim MacIntosh