The Arrogance of Intellect

Joel Engel makes a few good observations during a commentary on the intellectual elitism that pervades the liberal left. He writes:

A 16-year-old driving a new Lincoln coupe hit [my wife and daughter] at 70 mph--twice the speed limit--after careening off a hillside. Later that night the kid's mother told me how shocked she was by the witness reports of his reckless driving. "But he got 1550 on his SAT," she cried.

"What do you do for a living?" I asked.

It was no surprise to hear that she's a college professor.

Like millions of intellectual elites and wannabes, this woman presumes an inherent connection between intelligence and goodness, and between intelligence and wisdom, as though there exists some objective domain of ethicality to which Mensa members are automatically admitted.

The article goes on to draw the conclusion that the left calls Bush stupid simply because they disagree with his policies.

As I reflect on Engel's commentary in the political arena, I see parallels within the church. Just as much as it is wrong to say "might makes right", it is wrong to assume intellect means righteousness.

Intellect is an attribute, a talent that can be put into the Lord's service, not the other way around. Do we serve our God with our intellect? Or does God serve our intellect?

God is not just a good debate topic.

(by the way, how many of you got over 1550 on the SAT?)