An Essay From My Youth

Disclaimer: I wrote this some years ago. I very much appreciate my church. This is not a personal attack on anyone or any organization. Welcome to the truth that…

 

You Are Stupid

 
            We’re all human. Humans make mistakes. Individuals simply are not smart enough, or wise enough, or whatever enough to avoid error. Some people, however, make more mistakes than others. Some people, then, are more stupid than others. Certain groups of people are regarded as more ignorant (stupid) others.

            Generally the people with less experience are more stupid about that thing with which they do not have experience. If Person A has never ridden a bike, he is more stupid than Person B, who has ridden a bike for fifteen years. Likewise if Person A has dated more often than Person B, Person A is the relationally wise. In a church context, experience is often directly proportionate to age. Therefore the older people are less stupid than the younger people.

            There are various ways in which this principle is applied to church life. Church members are given responsibility based on their age. A twenty year old may well be elected song leader, but never pastor. Another way this principle works itself out is in decision making. When decisions are based on a strictly democratic vote, all have equal sway. More often, decisions are based largely on input from various members on a weighted scale. A preacher, for instance, will weigh in more strongly than a lay member. On a pastoral team, the weight of an executive pastor is greater than that of an associate pastor. Normally the executive pastor is older. Counsel from aged lay members is more significant than advice from youthful lay members.

            In each church, some people are considered more stupid than others. Whenever a person’s advice is not taken seriously, he may rightfully judge that the recipients believe him to be fairly stupid. If a person’s counsel is acted upon, he may assume that those who take action regard him as fairly wise. Young people should take heart. Someday they will no more be grouped in the ‘more stupid’ category. They will either be thought wise, or dead.

Advertisement