Goose eggs are fine if you are whipping up an omelet, but they are not a welcome sight on an engineering exam. The large zero written next to an answer on my exam was quite startling to me, since I had been confident that I had aced that test. Pouring over that particular question once again, I could not find any reason for the low mark. The methodology I had used to arrive at the answer was correct, so I decided to make an appointment with the professor in order to discuss his grading.
The professor was meticulous, fastidious, and very intimidating; and as I waited to be called into his office, none of that mattered. I was sure he had made an honest mistake during the wee hours of the morning while grading the exams, and he would no doubt make the necessary corrections as soon as he had the chance to see my paper again. For some reason I had expected his demeanor to be more affable in person, but I was wrong. He was even gruffer in his professorial cubicle than in front of the class. He knew the reason for my visit, and he did not appreciate the notion that I thought he had made a mistake.
He motioned to me to begin my argument for a higher score. So using a new number two pencil as a pointer (I dared not use my index finger), I proceeded to show him, step by step, that my method and logic for solving the problem were flawless. As the tip of my pencil rested on the answer, I felt that I had just hit a home run. I looked up so I could bask in the glory of watching his head nod in the affirmative. Instead, I saw his eyes roll back, and his head move from side to side with ever-increasing speed and force. His body language was accompanied by the following words, “You started your answer with the wrong data!” My heart sank, my mouth dried, and my eyes became affixed to the first step in my solution. He was right! I had used the wrong value from a book of a million numbers to begin solving the problem. My method and logic were correct, but the answer was based on incorrect data and thus it was wrong!
I began to argue for partial credit, since everything but the beginning and the end of the problem was correct. Mid-way through my dry mouthed pleading, he cut me off. Sternly he said, “An error like this could hurt or kill someone. If you would like to continue arguing, I’ll start deducting points from the other problems on the test.” While pointing toward the door with his index finger, he continued saying, “I suggest you leave while you are ahead.” I mumbled a thank you and left his office with no additional points, but with this invaluable lesson:
Logic and flawless methodology in the absence of correct data is dangerous.
I have recently read some articles focused on thinking, logic, methodology, and intellectual tradition in the church. They presented the idea that the church has been neglectful, timid, or even hostile toward critical thinking and intellect. In one book review a person is quoted as saying, “The church is perishing today through the lack of thinking, not through an excess of it.” I suspect that if the authors of those certain articles would make an appointment with God to discuss the matter in greater detail, they might have an experience similar to the one I had with my engineering professor.
After laying out their argument for the importance of critical thinking, intellectual tradition, and the role these play in the church, God would tell them that He himself enjoys and values critical thinking, logic, flawless methodology, and intellectual tradition as much as they do, especially since He is the source of it. He would remind them that regardless of the intelligence of their words, no matter how clever their arguments and lofty their thoughts might be, not starting in the proper place would lead them further into dangerous territory. God would then point His finger, not at the exit door, but toward Jesus. He would tell them that unless the starting point is in Jesus, they have started with the wrong value, only to end with a wrong answer – an error like that could hurt or even kill someone’s soul! They would not get partial credit, but hopefully they would have learned the following lesson:
Critical thinking, logic, methodology, and intellectual tradition in the absence of the TRUTH are dangerous!
Jesus is the way, the truth and the life (John14: 6). The fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge (Proverbs 1:7). Jesus initiates and perfects our faith. (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus is the first and the last. (Revelation 1:17).
The correct solution begins and ends with Jesus, and the results are guaranteed by God. Knowing this, I don’t have to be concerned with partial credit. I hope you know that too.
Grace to you.
Dave Paukner
