In some of the circles I travel in, I hear snippets of Scripture uttered in a kind of "and that's that" tone. And while that is that, I do think that sometimes "that" isn't too carefully considered. I'm thinking specifically of the Proverb that reads "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." In my experience this is interpreted by many as a handful of like-minded dudes sitting in a coffee shop sipping joe and asking each other questions that they either already know the answers to, or have been asked by thousands before them; the question only posed to prove the inquirer's piety.
Call me a literalist, but I can't get away from the idea of, you know, IRON sharpening IRON. It doesn't evoke images of Grandpa gently honing the edge of his pocketknife with a whetstone. If two pieces of the same material are brought together, the result will be violent and unpredictable. Large chunks that you thought were an integral part of your being can be broken off without warning with a harsh noise and bone-rattling vibration. The process of sharpening described here seems to be a bit more chaotic and intense than amiable discussion including questions like "How's your walk bro?"
Another thing to consider is that this Proverb isn't an instructional imperative. We're not told, "Take heed my son and do not follow the fool, who sharpens with moss." This is an observation, much like the preceding line "A quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping on a rainy day; restraining her is like restraining the wind or grasping oil with the hand." These are the facts. Yet we don't see women running out of the house intent on being as unrestrainable as the wind to their husbands. That being the case, this could be read that iron sharpening iron isn't an inherently good thing.
Here are a few other translations of the same Proverb, just for fun:
King James: "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend."
NRSV: "Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens the wits (or face) of another."
1 comment:
Agreed, iron sharpening iron does not mean asking predictable and easily answered questions in a coffee shop about your bro's walk.
This verse has actually always made me think of battle- like we must fight not only for our own, but each other's righteousness and joy. I do not discount the importance of accountability among believers, however, and understand the fault perhaps being that those questions are not intended to check your bro at all. You are giving Bro the warm fuzzies instead of the squirmy, uncomfortable, why did you go there feeling. But the church should go there- and on the flip side, should genuinely consider the perhaps painful observations from other believers instead of deciding to not invite him to Easter dinner as punishment for thinking that you are too passive-aggressive and seem to hold grudges, for example.
I also don't think it has to be this "intentional" (hot word!) sit and talk most of the time- but that it should be happening naturally among hearts that desire holiness. Although, I would enjoy saying to the next person I share a cup of coffee with, "Prepare for me to sharpen your face."
And- am I not supposed to be running out of the house unrestrainable as the wind? clang.
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