Christianity is Anti-Intellectual
Watch or listen to
the full sermon here.
Preached by Pastor Mike Woodard
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At The Valley Church in Lawrence, Kansas, we’re in a teaching series called The Bible Doesn’t Say That, where we’re tackling common misconceptions about faith. One of the biggest myths is that Christianity is anti-intellectual—that to follow Jesus you have to “check your brain at the door.” But Scripture and history tell us the opposite: faith and intelligence not only coexist, they actually fuel one another.
God Invites Your Mind
From the very beginning, God created our minds with the capacity for wisdom, learning, and creativity. He’s not threatened by our intelligence; He designed it. Jesus Himself taught us to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind (Luke 10:27). Christianity isn’t about turning off curiosity but about channeling it toward truth.
Think of it like putting on glasses. Without them, things are blurry and confusing. With them, life comes into focus. Christianity doesn’t ask you to take your glasses off—it invites you to see more clearly through faith and reason working together.
Paul: An Example of Faith and Intelligence
Acts 17 gives us a clear example of this. When the Apostle Paul visited Athens—the intellectual capital of the ancient world—he reasoned with philosophers at the Areopagus. These Epicurean and Stoic thinkers prided themselves on intellect and dismissed Paul as a “seed-picker,” someone collecting scraps of thought without depth.
But Paul flipped the script. He affirmed their search for truth while pointing out the limits of human wisdom. He declared that God is greater than temples, idols, or human philosophy—and that real wisdom comes from knowing Him. Paul’s brilliance shows us that being a Christian and being intelligent are not opposites but partners in the pursuit of truth.
Faith and Reason Together
Paul’s message reveals a powerful truth: intellect without God leads to ignorance, but the pursuit of God produces both wisdom and faith. Christianity isn’t anti-intellectual—it’s pro-intellect and pro-faith.
We need both. At some point, human reason will fall short, and that’s where faith fills the gap. The resurrection of Jesus is the clearest example. It can’t be fully explained by logic alone—it must be embraced by faith. Yet that faith is not blind; it’s rooted in evidence, history, and the power of God.
Practical Steps to Grow Intellectually as a Christian
Ask questions. Curiosity stretches your faith and deepens your understanding.
Read often. Scripture daily, and books from trusted Christian thinkers.
Research wisely. Use resources like GotQuestions.org, DesiringGod.org, or EnduringWord.com to explore tough topics.
God welcomes your questions and uses them to draw you closer to Him. The more you learn, the bigger He becomes—and the deeper your faith will grow.
Final Encouragement
Christianity is not anti-intellectual. God invites you to use your mind, to study, to wrestle, and to seek truth. As you pursue Him, your faith and intellect will not compete—they will complement each other, pointing you toward the God who both created your mind and transcends it.