Have you ever heard the statement “Plundering the Egyptians”? The words are taken from a Biblical text from the Old Testament. Even before Moses returned to face Pharaoh and call for the release of the Hebrews, Moses was told the outcome.
"And I will make the Egyptians favorably disposed toward this people so that when you leave, you will not go empty-handed. Every woman is to ask her neighbor and any woman living in her house for articles of silver and gold and for clothing, which you will put on your sons and daughters. And so you will plunder the Egyptians." (Exo 3:21-22)
What does this have to do with anything? For the Hebrew people, this treasure was not only used to care for their families; it would later be used to build the Tabernacle. The gold jewelry originally formed in the shape of animal gods was repurposed for God’s use. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, used this metaphor to express freedom to seek the wisdom of God from both the Bible and other secular sources. All truth is God’s truth. Therefore, one can explore both sacred and secular sources, both ancient and modern, both Christian and non-Christian for truth and wisdom. Wesley also described himself as a man of “one book.” He did not mean that he only read one book, but that his book (the bible) was his standard against which to measure everything.
Over the past twenty years, my quest to learn how and why people change has taken me to many teachers both past and present. I have learned a great deal from them. From the psychology of the Stoic philosophers to the most recent discoveries in the cognitive sciences, one can gain practical wisdom and apply it to life. Through this blog, I hope to share what I have learned and what I am continuing to learn. I hope these insights will help people on their journey.
As a pastor, I will talk about my faith and how it impacts how I see the world. However, I will seek truth where ever it can be found. Personally, I will always be comparing my findings to what the bible teaches; I have found that science and philosophy are often the friends of faith rather than the enemy. Ultimately, what you decide to do with any of this discussion is up to you. I look forward to our conversations along the way.
Jeff McDowell