Dumbing Down or Wising Up?

"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15)

A popular "buzzword" that has recently gained notoriety in media usage is the rather distasteful term "dumbing down."  I heard it used just this week via the airwaves to describe the administrative leadership of New York City's decision to penalize certain charter schools by expelling them from public facilities they are using.  And it is being done in spite of the fact that their students' test scores have far outstripped those of NYC public school students.  Would that not seem to you to be an example of "dumbing down" a trend that should be nurtured and developed and encouraged?  What is unfortunate is that throughout the halls of U.S. leadership we are seeing manifold evidence of this alarming trend at work!

What is even more tragic, beloved, is that we are seeing the effect of this same disastrous trend in the church of Jesus Christ as well.  More and more members are opting for minimal learning and maximum entertainment in their worship experience.  Yet Paul here urged Timothy to make his primary objective that of learning how to "handle accurately the word of truth."  The only truth that matters today is God's truth, beloved, and the only answers that will meet people's needs are God's answers.  Instead of "dumbing down" spiritually as Christians, then, we need to be "wising up" by studying His Word and learning how to apply it in every possible circumstance of life.  Only as we do so will we never have cause to be embarrassed or feel ashamed because our ministry is shallow or ineffective.

Ron