Educational effectiveness research[1] indicates a wide variation of success rates for deep and long-term learning retention, which are largely driven by the methods and formats used in the process. One of the most common—yet least effective methods—is the typical lecture format. Being one of the most passive forms of learning, the average retention rate for lectures is only 5%.
It would be unthinkable for a college to hire professors that retained only 5% of their specialized subject matter and yet expected them to teach any level of competency to their students.
Suppose it happened that colleges decided to stop hiring qualified professors and instead selected someone randomly from the student body to lecture classes. How long would it take before students learned essentially nothing of the original subject matter?
Starting with the original professor, the first class of students would retain 5%. The next teacher, selected randomly from the student body would teach the second class which would retain only 0.25%. Likewise the third class would retain only 0.0125% of the subject matter from the original professor.
“An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.”
(Proverbs 18:15)
Should we expect a different outcome if we apply this same principal to the Church?[2] Since the Church discourages Bible reading,[3] and abhors the concept of Bible study for adults;[4] therefore, the only teaching method in use is the lecture-like format of sermon delivery.
Let’s generously assume the original ministers after the split of 1962[5] knew everything that was required to teach sound biblical doctrine. The first generation of members would retain only 5% of that knowledge. The next ministers, selected (somewhat) randomly from the Church body would teach the second generation which would retain only 0.25%. Likewise the third generation would retain only 0.0125% of the sound doctrine from the original ministers of 1962.
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.”
(Hosea 4:6)
We really didn’t need to consider any generation beyond the second, since the retention rate at that point was already less than 1%, essentially zero. Translating this timeline into years, based on an average generation duration,[6] the Church already reached a zero rate of knowledge retention in the year 2012.
This process is a vicious cycle,[7] destroying everything in its path! It destroys sound doctrine, it destroys sound practice. It leaves in its wake useless myths, fables,[8] superstitions,[9] and traditions of men.[10]
Why isn’t it unthinkable for a Church body to select unqualified ministers that retain only 5% of the knowledge[11] of sound doctrine and yet expect them to preach[12] with a complete level of competency to the congregations?[13]
Some within the Church believe there is no other choice than to continue within this vicious cycle because (they claim) the “brain is in cahoots with the devil”[14] and therefore adult Bible study is forbidden, or “we have the spirit”[15] which mystically provides knowledge outside and apart from God’s Word.[16]
But is this really true? What does Church history teach?
Jesus taught his disciples for three years before making them Apostles. Many disciples were given a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit,[17] allowing them to perform miracles.[18] Yet, despite the direct teaching and the gifts of signs and wonders, as fallen creatures even the Apostles were vulnerable to err.[19]
Before being converted on the road to Damascus, Apostle Paul had been diligently trained in the Scriptures by the expert Pharisee Gamaliel.[20] He was also trained in multiple languages and various cultural beliefs and their philosophies. While none of this knowledge contributed to his righteousness before God,[21] he fully used all these skills[22] after his conversion to relate to both Jew and Greek[23] with Christ’s message of Law and Gospel. After his conversion, he too was given a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit to perform miracles.[24] Despite this, Paul retreated[25] for three years to receive the revelation of Scripture before beginning his missionary journeys.
Are current-day ministers really so much better than the Apostles that they don’t need to receive instruction? Are they so filled with the Holy Spirit that they don’t err?
Apostle Paul diligently trained[26] others during his journeys, in Ephesus he taught daily in the Tyrannus school lecture hall for two years, and instructed others the critical importance of teaching.[27] Paul’s young friend Timothy had been diligently trained in the Scriptures from his childhood.[28]
“Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”
(Acts 17:11)
Martin Luther diligently studied and taught the Scriptures at the University in Wittenburg for four years, eventually earning a Ph.D. in theology and in the process rediscovered the pure doctrines that had been obscured by the medieval Church over many generations. He created a large legacy of written works[29] with the intention that believers read them to help preserve and defend the pure doctrines and identify the false ones.
Lars Levi Laestadius diligently trained to be a Lutheran pastor for five years at Uppsala University.[30] Yet he really didn’t understand Christ’s message of Law and Gospel until his encounter with a faithful group of Readers[31] and Lappish Mary. He fully used his knowledge of Scripture and his new spiritual insight to perpetuate the awakening revival across Lapland, providing remote mission school lay ministers with sermons to read and sermon outline maps to follow.[32]
Why should we think that we are so much better than these examples that we don’t need to be diligently taught? Why should we think that our ministers don’t need to be diligently trained? Why should we think we can continue using a flawed process just because several generations of our forefathers did? (Have we therefore become like the Pharisees?[33] ) Should we continue to allow this destroyer[34] to obliterate us with ignorance? What do we risk by ignoring this reality?[35]
“And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;”
(Colossians 1:9-10)
Please reply below and let me know what sort of changes need to occur to break this spiritually deadly vicious cycle.
[1] Education Corner: The Learning Pyramid
[2] Finnish Independent Apostolic Lutheran Congregations (I.A.L.C.)
[3] Five, Six, and Seven.
[4] Be Zealous And Repent, Section 2.2
[5] Laestadian Divisions in America. Family tree of Laestadianism in America.
[6] The durations of modern generations are generally considered to be between 20 and 30 years. (Ancestry.ca, Wikipedia)
[7] Also known as a vicious circle.
[8] 1 Timothy 4:7, 2 Timothy 4:3-4, 2 Peter 1:16.
[9] Foltz, A., & Yliniemi, M. (2005). A Godly Heritage: Historical view of the Laestadian revival and the development of the Apostolic Lutheran Church in America. Frazee, MN: Self-published by the editors (19505 County Highway 39, Frazee, MN 56544) p10-11.
[10] Foltz, p218., Matthew 3:9, Colossians 2:8.
[11] “His watchmen are blind; they are all without knowledge; they are all silent dogs; they cannot bark, dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber.” (Isaiah 56:10)
[12] “The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.” (Proverbs 15:14)
[13] “He also told them a parable: ‘Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?'” (Luke 6:39, Matthew 15:14)
[14] A quote from 1950s era preacher, Dr. A. Benhart Salmela, often heard in sermons. It is understood to mean that it is wrong to use God’s gift of reason to study or learn from the Bible.
[15] “The world has the Word, but we have the Spirit.” (The Laestadian Movement: Disputes and Divisions 1861-2000, Chapter 7, Melvinites and Davidites )
[16] Enthusiasm is a heresy that claims the indwelling Holy Spirit may speak outside of, or apart from, or contradictory to God’s written Word.
[17] John 20:21-23, Luke 10:17-20.
[18] Acts 5:12-16, Acts 9:40, Acts 19:11-12.
[19] Galatians 2:11–13
[20] Acts 22:3, Wikipedia: Gamaliel,
[21] Philippians 3:3-11, 1 Corinthians 3:18-21.
[22] Acts 22:2, Acts 17:2.
[23] 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, Acts 17:22, James 1:19-20.
[24] Acts 19:11-12, Acts 14:3, Acts 14:8-11.
[25] Galatians 1:15-18, Galatians 1:12.
[26] Acts 19:8-10, Acts 11:25-26.
[27] 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Romans 12:6-8, Colossians 3:16.
[28] 2 Timothy 3:15
[29] Luther produced the German Bible translation, Large and Small Catechisms, Smalcald Articles, Church Postil (sermon) collections, many biblical commentaries, hymns, prayers, and hundreds of other writings too numerous to catalog here. He also influenced other works, such as the Augsburg Confession. One of his commentaries and a few of his sermons are freely available here for download.
[30] Lohi, Seppo (2019). Christianity of the Heart: Lars Levi Laestadius and the beginning phases of the Laestadian Revival. Loretto, Minnesota: Published by the Laestadian Lutheran Church (279 N. Medina Street Suite 150, Loretto, MN 55357). ISBN: 978-1-7328008-2-3, p28-36.
[31] Lohi p114, 121. Foltz p53, 79, 93-94.
[32] Foltz p169. Lohi p160, 181, 182, 301, et al.
[33] Matthew 3:9, 1 Timothy 1:3-4, Titus 3:9.
[34] Prov 18:9, 2 Thessalonians 2:3.
[35] Ezekiel 36:25-29, Matthew 11:28-29, 2 Peter 1:3-11.