Comments on: Subverting Excellence: The Balaam’s Donkey Argument http://glenscorgie.com/2008/05/19/subverting-excellence-the-balaams-donkey-argument/ Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:20:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: George Cox http://glenscorgie.com/2008/05/19/subverting-excellence-the-balaams-donkey-argument/#comment-124 George Cox Thu, 29 May 2008 18:16:24 +0000 http://glenscorgie.com/2008/05/19/subverting-excellence-the-balaams-donkey-argument/#comment-124 "There is no glory in incompetence or ignorance." I'm struggling with this; after a week, feel I should toss in my two cents. I agree with incompetence ( the thrust of this article), but ignorance? I don't know. I imagine a simple person toiling under the sun, raising a family, instilling virtues in their children, working hard to provide - maybe a little saved to get ahead, yet in the end sharing with their neighbors in lovingkindness. If they live like this, and do not know God - they are ignorant of God. But if I come by, and see them - I will give God the glory for a person living as close as possible to what God commands. Psalm 19:1 says the heavens reveal God's glory. I may not know God personally, but looking up at night, seeing stars, I cannot help but realize since they exist, there is a Creator. In my ignorance, is God glorified? I don't know - clearly not always (too much "ignorance" is a cover for mental laziness in my opinion). I am struggling with this - and thanks, Dr. Scorgie, for the struggle! “There is no glory in incompetence or ignorance.”

I’m struggling with this; after a week, feel I should toss in my two cents. I agree with incompetence ( the thrust of this article), but ignorance? I don’t know.

I imagine a simple person toiling under the sun, raising a family, instilling virtues in their children, working hard to provide - maybe a little saved to get ahead, yet in the end sharing with their neighbors in lovingkindness. If they live like this, and do not know God - they are ignorant of God. But if I come by, and see them - I will give God the glory for a person living as close as possible to what God commands.

Psalm 19:1 says the heavens reveal God’s glory. I may not know God personally, but looking up at night, seeing stars, I cannot help but realize since they exist, there is a Creator. In my ignorance, is God glorified?

I don’t know - clearly not always (too much “ignorance” is a cover for mental laziness in my opinion). I am struggling with this - and thanks, Dr. Scorgie, for the struggle!

]]> By: Wendy Patrick Mazzarella http://glenscorgie.com/2008/05/19/subverting-excellence-the-balaams-donkey-argument/#comment-77 Wendy Patrick Mazzarella Tue, 20 May 2008 19:57:55 +0000 http://glenscorgie.com/2008/05/19/subverting-excellence-the-balaams-donkey-argument/#comment-77 "There is no glory in incompetence or ignorance." That truth should be promoted in every venue and situation where we encourage others to succeed. Unfortunately, however, as "professor X" notes, there is a segment of society who doesn't care about excellence if substandard work will suffice, and they are perfectly aware that educators will "validate their sub-standard work" if they choose the right college. Hence the utility of the donkey argument. The Balaam's Donkey argument is a cop out used by some people in defense of mediocrity. There is much Scripture, however, to the contrary. We are told that Christ enriched us in every way, with every sort of speech, and with all knowledge (1 Cor. 1:5). We all possess talents and abilities that we are to hone and use for the benefit of our church community. We should eagerly desire to receive spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 14:1) and to use them to serve others “as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10). If we speak, they should be the “very words of God,” and if we serve, it should be through the strength God provides (1 Peter 4:11). The emphasis in these truths is on enrichment and excellence in the name of the Lord, not on apathy and incompetence. There is nothing to support the conclusions of those who subscribe to the donkey argument that God prefers to work through the incompetent. To the contrary, we are urged to devote ourselves to improving the gifts we have been given ( 1 Tim. 4:13-14), not be content with submitting substandard work to the “professor Xs” of academia at colleges found through Mapquest. Let’s instead promote excellence in the name of our Lord, because He is worthy of our very best. “There is no glory in incompetence or ignorance.” That truth should be promoted in every venue and situation where we encourage others to succeed. Unfortunately, however, as “professor X” notes, there is a segment of society who doesn’t care about excellence if substandard work will suffice, and they are perfectly aware that educators will “validate their sub-standard work” if they choose the right college. Hence the utility of the donkey argument.

The Balaam’s Donkey argument is a cop out used by some people in defense of mediocrity. There is much Scripture, however, to the contrary. We are told that Christ enriched us in every way, with every sort of speech, and with all knowledge (1 Cor. 1:5). We all possess talents and abilities that we are to hone and use for the benefit of our church community. We should eagerly desire to receive spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 14:1) and to use them to serve others “as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10). If we speak, they should be the “very words of God,” and if we serve, it should be through the strength God provides (1 Peter 4:11). The emphasis in these truths is on enrichment and excellence in the name of the Lord, not on apathy and incompetence.

There is nothing to support the conclusions of those who subscribe to the donkey argument that God prefers to work through the incompetent. To the contrary, we are urged to devote ourselves to improving the gifts we have been given ( 1 Tim. 4:13-14), not be content with submitting substandard work to the “professor Xs” of academia at colleges found through Mapquest. Let’s instead promote excellence in the name of our Lord, because He is worthy of our very best.

]]> By: Dawn Neldon http://glenscorgie.com/2008/05/19/subverting-excellence-the-balaams-donkey-argument/#comment-72 Dawn Neldon Tue, 20 May 2008 00:15:18 +0000 http://glenscorgie.com/2008/05/19/subverting-excellence-the-balaams-donkey-argument/#comment-72 I am passionate about the idea of the upside-down kingdom. Not because its a great excuse to slack off but because it is a comforting realization that God has continually chosen to (or at the very least been able to) work through unlikely and unexpected candidates. From Moses... to the disciples...to Paul It would appear from the world's perspective that God chose His instruments foolishly. BUT the comfort comes when I realize that the common characteristic of all these saints was not their intelligence, holiness or "coolness" but their willingness to be used by God. I am passionate about the idea of the upside-down kingdom. Not because its a great excuse to slack off but because it is a comforting realization that God has continually chosen to (or at the very least been able to) work through unlikely and unexpected candidates. From Moses… to the disciples…to Paul It would appear from the world’s perspective that God chose His instruments foolishly. BUT the comfort comes when I realize that the common characteristic of all these saints was not their intelligence, holiness or “coolness” but their willingness to be used by God.

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