Knowledge - Rev Allister Lane
READINGS: PSALM 111 AND 1 CORINTHIANS 8
Have you heard of the Cloud Appreciation Society? It has over 50,000 members across the world, linked on the internet. Here is the ‘Manifesto’ of the Cloud Appreciation Society
WE BELIEVE that clouds are unjustly maligned and that life would be immeasurably poorer without them.
We think that they are Nature’s poetry, and the most egalitarian of her displays, since everyone can have a fantastic view of them.
We pledge to fight ‘blue-sky thinking’ wherever we find it. Life would be dull if we had to look up at cloudless monotony day after day.
We seek to remind people that clouds are expressions of the atmosphere’s moods, and can be read like those of a person’s countenance.
We believe that clouds are for dreamers and their contemplation benefits the soul. Indeed, all who consider the shapes they see in them will save money on psychoanalysis bills.
And so we say to all who’ll listen: Look up, marvel at the ephemeral beauty, and always remember to live life with your head in the clouds!
Let me tell you what I think is a parable for today. I heard this parable recently about the Cloud Appreciation Society. Their love for looking at clouds (‘meteorological mediation’) keeps them attentive to the skies.
You probably know from what you learned at school, that cloud formations are officially named in categories. Did you know there is an official ‘International Cloud Atlas’ published by the World Meteorological Organisation based in Geneva (part of the UN). It was first published in 1896, as the definitive work on the official naming system for clouds, and it has been updated every few decades.
One day one of these amateur members of the Cloud Appreciation Society photographed a strange dark cloud over their city and posted it on the Cloud Appreciation Society website. Other ‘sightings’ of the cloud formation followed. Although this formation might only form in the same place a couple times a century, it was able to be observed in various places by the members located all over the world.
Smartphone technology combined with the interconnectivity of the Internet enabled this network of amateur sky observers to ‘discover’ this formation that had not previously been identified by the experts. The new type of cloud was submitted for categorisation by the WMO, and was added to the ‘Cloud Atlas’ with the name Asperitas.
We live in a time where we have a lot of knowledge. Spectacular knowledge.
Are our lives better because of it? Are we better, wiser people? Have the scientific and technological advances made us happier and resulted in us treating each other better? Has all our knowledge resulted in greater compassion and kindness?
Sit with that question for a moment.
Is the surgical knowledge that can reshape the body spiritually superior to a culture that shaped stone implements? Are those who understand quantum physics better than an ancient shepherd boy who was willing to give his life for his sheep? Is a firework display over Wellington Hharbour on New Year’s Eve more sophisticated than a traditional Maori whanau gathered around a campfire telling stories of guardianship and protection – of Kaitiaki-tanga?
What about religious progress? This may be confronting to consider the progress of the church. Has the scholarly contributions biblical and historical research resulted in better and wiser believers? Has high-tech religion with massive production budgets, live-streaming to large numbers shown a spiritual upturn in our communities exceeding that of previous generations who were limited to small parish churches? Is there a sustained outflow of love for God and creation which exceeds that created by the simple efforts of Paul and Barnabus, John Wesley and William Booth?
Let’s look at lines from the two Bible readings we heard this morning.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. (Psalm 111:10)
Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. (1 Corinthians 8:1)
Surely there is sanity in these two ancient texts, which can save us from the pretentious arrogance that assumes today’s knowledge makes us superior. If we want to discover wisdom, we cannot be conformed to this world.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
What does “fear of Lord” mean? The way we used it in our Call to Worship I think expresses is well:
Fear = reverence and awe
The Gospel shows us we aren’t to be afraid of God. The Bible tells us
God is love. (1 John 4:8)
Reverence and awe is the beginning of wisdom.
Awe! Like the prophet Isaiah in the temple who had the vision of the Lord sitting on a throne and the whole earth was full of his glory. Isaiah was instantly humbled and responded in worship:
Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts! (Isaiah 6)
Awe! Like Peter in his fishing boat with Jesus, suddenly sensing that in this man from Nazareth resides the Holy Mystery of God. Peter fell down on his knees in the boat and cried:
Lord depart from me, for I am a sinful man.
Awe. Overwhelmed with awe!
Humbling bowing our knee not a bad stance, as we sense our human ignorance and move toward sanity. Recognising who we are before the awesomeness of God is a first step towards healing our fractured lives.
Where there is holy awe, things fall into perspective. It is the beginning of wisdom.
I once took a van-load of young people to a youth service at a Presbyterian Church in Lower Hutt. The Minister preached a sermon that was so discordant for young people. He slammed drinking, sex, loud music – not making ethical arguments against these but just condemning these experiences and those who participate in them.
I was so appalled at this rant of a sermon, I discussed with a friend about contacting the Minister. It would take a lot of courage to confront his approach – so of course I didn’t contact him!
It was about three years later that I was in a small group of young people, and we were sharing with each other moments where we felt God had guided our lives. And one guy in the group, Simon, started telling us about a service he was at one night… (you guessed it)
As he told the details of the event, I realised this was the same sermon I had recoiled from in disgust. Simon explained that his life had been muddled by a number of negative influences, and as the Minister listed the terrible vices, Simon felt God was revealing the exact areas he needed to be freed from. It was a life-changing sermon for Simon.
I was struck by holy awe. Not only was I humbled at my contrasting assessment of the sermon that night, I was humbled that the Holy Spirit had arranged three years later for me to hear Simon’s story, and discover some wisdom.
Knowledge is good. I’m not anti-knowledge. I love learning. One of my favourite podcasts by astrophysicist Prof Brian Cox explores important questions of scientific discovery. I relished the Masters research I completed recently into theological anthropology.
Watching the situation in the US, I have been appalled by the disastrous approach of the Trump Administration to neglect medical science and the facts, in favour of ‘remaining positive and not panicking the share market’. I pray that the COVID vaccine technology will be recognised around the world as able to save lives. That people will receive the vaccine for their sake, and sake of protecting the population around them.
And perhaps this example usefully shows that knowledge and technology on it’s own doesn’t get us where we need to be. We also need wisdom; we need compassion; we need love.
Awe is the beginning of wisdom. Awe is sanity. Awe leads us to God’s love.
The Good News is that Jesus Christ has revealed God to us, and what being fully human is.
Jesus Christ shows that God is love; and how to respond in awe-full humble submission to God’s embracing love.
So let us be awe-full. Being ‘awe-full people’ is to discover wisdom and love; to live with wisdom and love.
Knowledge puffs up. But love builds up, and leads to endless joy and exploration.
Let me finish by reminding us of Paul's sobering words to the Church later in his letter to the Corinthians:
If I have all knowledge but do not have love, I am nothing. (1 Cor 13:2)