Today I want to compare different kinds of knowledge - 3 E's - empirical, experiential, and emotional

Empirical knowledge is the easiest to measure. It's what we'd call fact.

Example - an orange

Can be compared to other oranges, measured in sight, smell, taste

Experiential knowledge is another level that becomes more difficult to measure. It's what we'd call truth. The reason it's harder to discern truth from fact is that we experience life from different perspectives. Those perspectives shape how we understand truth.

Example - "Is David Mullins a good chemist?"

Does he work long hours? - could be on his projects, could be playing "Minesweeper"

Does he work well with others, managing his team, listening to guidance from those evaluating his work? - could make for a great working environment, or it could mean that he hesitates to correct a mistake that leads his project to take longer or even fail

For me, I think all chemists are smart. He has a PhD in chemistry. I struggled for a good grade in high school chemistry. I'd write a recommendation. But he probably doesn't want a recommendation from his pastor saying he's a good chemist. What do I know about chemistry? The answer is very little. In this case for discerning the truth my perspective is very limited.

Paul talks about spiritual gifts in several of his letters, in this one to the Romans in particular. He talks about the spiritual gifts as observable through the same metaphor a couple times. He says there are many gifts in the church which is the Body of Christ. We experience this truth. They are given by God just as the body's order is given by God. They have to work together just like the human body works together. So, he says, if you preach, preach. If you teach, teach. Help others, but don't take over their lives. If you work with the poor, still show respect and dignity. The truth is that any one of us will not have all these gifts. From the pastor to the elders, to the teachers, and those who pray quietly for the church every day, all are needed for their gifts, and none can be counted as the greater gift when it comes to the roles that we play.

I asked David if I could use him as an example because it may take a chemist to recognize the professional gifts of another chemist. In the church, we can use some deeper questions to help guide people to the expression of their spiritual gifts as well. Sometimes, you have to try on a gift to see if it will fit. My very first sermon was a disaster. Preaching in front of a preaching class and preaching professor though is about the worst audience one can have. But I dare say, whether today I'm a great preacher or not, at least it got better. What I can say about my experience of David Mullins is not about his paid profession. What I can say about his Christian vocation is that he enjoys his gift for teaching in this church, and by teaching, and caring for our church finances he brings his gifts to the edification of First Presbyterian Church, and to spreading the good news of Jesus Christ in the world.

Discerning the truth may mean collecting more data to test our hypothesis - something we're not used to. If I needed to, I could probably find out if Dave is a good chemist. But knowing one's true gifts in the church also takes time. We can take the time in the church to find out what the unique gifts of each person happens to be. When we do, fitting them to those gifts not only may give them great joy in serving God, but it also lifts the church's spirit to be really pulling together with everyone contributing from their strengths.

The final kind of knowledge I have to share with you today is the most elusive - emotional knowledge. What do our feelings tell us? How can our feelings better serve the church? Is it true that only God knows what's in our hearts?

As scripture says, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. I think this means that paying attention to what God wants from us starts us down this path of wise action toward our friends and even our enemies. Paul certainly thinks that a Christian can be known by their conduct. As Shaine Claiborne just spoke to the Church Unbound conference in Montreat, his preaching claims something similar. He preached from the text in which John the Baptist's disciples ask Jesus if he was the Messiah. Jesus says, "Tell them what you have seen and heard." Following up on that, he asks the congregation, if people were to ask you, 'Are you a Christian?' could you respond by saying, 'What do you see and hear?'

Yes, this type of knowledge is indeed difficult to measure, but deep in the human psyche, we know wisdom when we see it, we know love and justice by the way people express themselves. We know love from hate, good from evil, compassion from apathy. But Paul applies this wisdom, and along with Jesus, takes it further. It's not only about respect for those who are like us, it's treating enemies with kindness. See an enemy who's hungry, buy him lunch. See an enemy who's thirsty, buy her a drink. As the NRSV tells it, it will heap burning coals upon their head. As the Message translates, your generosity will surprise them with goodness. When we treat our enemies well - it is seen and heard - then word gets around.

Empirical knowledge is far easier to measure than the other two. However, as week seek truth and understanding, testing our thoughts and collecting data before passing judgment may be more critical now than ever before. This reminds me of the textbook labs in my high school chemistry class. The goal was to get identical lab reports as the other groups. They were designed to pass or fail. Not so, when it comes to most higher level scientific observations, and not so when it comes to our relationships with others.

We benefit more, and learn more from "open inquiry." Those who are best at recognizing the truth from our usual human muddle, those who are gifted with wisdom are perhaps what we'd call slow learners. They take their time. They rarely jump to conclusions. They are fertile soil in which spiritual gifts can grow. They take time for things we usually see as wasting time in our culture - they rejoice with those who rejoice, they weep with those who weep, they stop for lunch with an enemy, have coffee with the person who disagreed with them. It's subversive, this spiritual knowledge.

Amen.