In Luke chapter two, Jesus is hanging out in the theology department at the “University of Jerusalem” where he was “sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.”⁴ At 12 years old, Jesus was thoughtfully engaging with professors of his day. The next time we hear of him he is beginning his ministry around age 30. What did he do in the intervening years? Did he work as a craftsman? Did he attend the three traditional levels of Jewish education? One theory suggests he was a disciple of John the Baptist⁵. This would explain Jesus’ puzzling response to the Jewish elders when they ask him where he received his authority. If he were a disciple of John, admitting John’s ministry was from heaven would have legitimized Jesus’ teaching. Hence the refusal to answer. While we don’t know for certain what Jesus did from ages 12 to 30, the Bible does tell us that Jesus “increased in wisdom and in stature.”⁶ 

 Knowledge and education, when mentioned elsewhere in the Bible, are also painted in a positive light. Two examples come to mind. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction,”⁷ and “The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.”⁸ In my experience, Anabaptists are very cautious about post-secondary education. This sentiment is certainly warranted. Education, when done properly, is not only informative but also formative. Many institutions are formative in ways that are not reconcilable with true Christianity. However, I don’t believe demonizing, discouraging, or prohibiting education is a wise reaction. (I have observed each of these responses.)  Instead, we should work together at enabling and supporting our people as they work through the challenges the educational environment entails. Part of the church’s job description is to encourage, support, and give guidance to each other as we engage with culture, bring light to a dark world, and live out the gospel message. God is the Creator of a complex world, and it is through studying his creation that we can bring honor and glory to him. With education comes many opportunities to advance God’s kingdom in ways that are not possible otherwise.  Several examples that come to mind include healthcare workers who have the opportunity to interact with people who are having some of the worst days of their life, educators who can get into countries with otherwise unreachable people groups, accountants, counselors, and many others. As people who take the Bible seriously, I want to encourage us to continue to wrestle with the applications of scriptural principles as they pertain to our day. Let us work together to support and encourage those who feel God’s calling to pursue postsecondary education and wrestle with the question of wealth and whether our current beliefs and practices are best aligned with the teachings of scripture.