So we’re watching IEW’s High School Symposium as part of our schooling today, and he is talking about critical thinking as it relates to SAT Essay prep. He asked the question, “What is thinking?” It is, essentially, having a conversation with yourself - and you start conversations with questions.
The education model I grew up with is the model of teachers giving students information and then asking them questions to elicit the information back as a way of measuring how much of the information they learned. If the child knows the information, they get the points. He explained that critical thinking is *not* about having the right answers, but about asking the right questions.
This is the model that the Israelites embraced.
In Yeshua’s day, the Masters (so called because they were Torah Masters - they knew their Scripture) and Rabbis (Torah Teachers) would share what they knew, and the disciples were responsible for listening. They learned to ask questions that would elicit this wisdom sharing exchange. Their questions would show the Rabbi where they were in their understanding because the more they understood, the wiser the question would be, and the Rabbi would respond with the goal of provoking their thinking to the next level. The better the question - the better the answer. The goal was not knowledge, it was understanding. In other words, critical thinking.
When Yeshua was asked questions, he wouldn’t always answer the literal question he was asked, but would instead answer the real question being put before him - the answer that acknolwedged the wisdom shown to already be possessed by the very phrasing of the question. This would provoke the questioner to think and/or ask the next questions - who, what, where, why, when and how?
Let’s take, for example, the rich young ruler of Mark 10 and Luke 18.
He starts by asking Yeshua what he must do to inherit eternal life (be saved, live a rich life as promised to believers) . Yeshua begins his answer by pointing out to the young man that he has declared Yeshua’s teaching to be worthy - to be profitable, helpful, true - and reminds him that all good things come from the Lord for it is the Lord who is good. He is acknowledging to this young man, before he answers, that the man has asked because he sees the worth in heeding whatever the answer will be. It’s like Yeshua knew the answer was going to be hard for him and acknowledged that up front. Then he answered and reminded him what the Torah already taught - to fulfill God’s commands. The young man’s answer reveals that he knows all of this. He doesn’t understand the simple answer because he has grown fulfilling the commands and was seeking wisdom to go to the next level. He gets the basics, why is this wise teacher speaking something so remedial to him?
From the next statement recorded we see why - Yeshua loved him and knew that he really wanted to serve the Lord. He knew that the young man had truly devoted himself to these obedient choices. He saw that this young man was ready to go to the next level. So He told him the answer that went to a deeper level of the real issue for this young man - sell all you have and give to the poor, and come, follow Him. By saying that he spoke to the heart of the matter for this man - your money is holding you back.
I love that Yeshua’s answer starts with the commands and then moves to the thing God always says is the point of them - taking care of the poor and the needy.
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. James 1:27
The young man leaves saddened and grieving.
Beyond that, so many assumptions have been taught about this man. I’ve even heard preachers go so far as to say, “Because he knew he couldn’t/wouldn’t do it.” But the text doesn’t say that.
This man knew that Yeshua had spoken to his soul. He knew that Yeshua saw into this man and had just revealed the hidden struggle.
In question and answer format, he tells Yeshua, “I see that you speak wisdom from God. God promised us eternal life as His people so what must I do to receive that?” Yeshua says, “You acknowledge that I speak with wisdom from the Lord, and the Lord has given you instructions on how to live and behave.” To which the man expresses, “Yes, I know all of that, I have lived these commands since I was a child. I was asking for a deeper level answer - what must *I* do?” And Yeshua acknowledges this by saying, “You love your money too much - it’s holding you back. Break it’s chain on you and be freed to move into that deeper level of relationship with God that you are seeking!” But this is a hard thing - because he has a lot of money and it has a big hold on him - and he knows it.
If he really wants that deeper relationship with God, he will go home and wrestle with this, and do it. It will be hard, but not impossible.
This is how we’re advised to talk to our children about sex. Answer the questions they are asking because their questions reveal where they are in their understanding. “Where do babies come from?” “From mommy’s uterus. She grows the baby and then it comes out.” “How does the baby get there?” is the next level and requires more information and explanation, etc.
The Shema calls those who respond to God to hear, understand, and obey - not just hear and obey. There is a lot going on in the Christian world, and in the Messianic groups, that reflects hearing and obedience, but not always understanding. This is often where we start - but it is not supposed to be where we stay. In order to understand, we need to embrace critical thinking and ask the right questions.
Some people seem to think that questions reflect lack of faith, but I would suggest they express growing faith. Some people seem to think that God is angry when we ask questions, but I would suggest it is only earthly teachers who are angry with this and only if they don’t know the answer.
If your experience with religion is that the teacher gives you information, and you are expected to give back the proper answer when asked, you will find this inadequate. When you do, please know that this is you growing - and if you are growing beyond the teacher who got you this far, it’s time to find a teacher who can take you to the next level. Be wise! Do not seek a teacher who is willing to answer your questions but is not in a place you want to go. Too many people begin asking anyone their questions, and encounter atheists or those who have walked away from faith because they are often willing to talk about the questions. But if their pursuit of answers resulted in them being atheists, they can only guide you towards being an atheist. If their pursuit of answers resulted in them rejecting God, they can only guide you to a place of rejecting God. Instead, seek those who have asked these questions and retained their faith - ideally those who have asked these questions and grown in their faith. They can guide you through these questions with a sensitivity towards keeping your faith intact.
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