Mr. Chet Carpenter: Stages of a Lifelong Learner in Christ
Author: Katelyn Wissinger| Student, Living Education – Charlotte, 2024-25
The Bible relates many character traits of both the Father and Jesus Christ. These traits will become part of our character as we seek to follow Christ’s example and be more like Him. In a recent forum, Mr. Chet Carpenter expounded upon a specific character trait that the Father and the Son share: learning. He coupled this with teaching us the four pillars of becoming lifelong learners.
Mr. Carpenter pointed out that we should be lifelong learners in Christ. He used four pillars for learning: learning to know, learning to do, learning to live together, and learning to be. These four points were developed by Dr. Zhou Nanzhao, who had an extensive career in pursuing and administering education. While Mr. Carpenter used these as the basis for his forum, he pointed out that many of the world’s ‘wisest’ people and lifelong learners attain knowledge and education from worldly sources and their own experiences. While they may find kernels of fundamental knowledge and truth, they are not starting with the true source of knowledge and wisdom, God’s word, which is the Bible (2 Corinthians 3:17).
To be lifelong learners, we need to learn to know. We must have a desire to seek knowledge and continue learning. Ecclesiastes 12:7-14 showed King Solomon’s desire to seek as much knowledge as he could, and he eventually concluded that God’s word is the foundation of knowledge. Our desire to learn applies not just to the physical but to the spiritual. We should seek to grow in understanding of the Truth, allowing us to grow as Christians.
The second pillar Mr. Carpenter mentioned was learning to do. Once we know something, we need to act on it. In God’s future kingdom, we’ll apply everything we’ve learned in our lifetime. Hebrews 5:14 explains how knowledge should be applied. We must do this to see results.
Once we apply our knowledge, the next stage is learning to live together. Meaning, learn to build others up. “Apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,” in the Church are an example of this, according to Ephesians 4:10-12. We can use the Holy Spirit in us to help “iron sharpen iron” (Prov 27:17).
The final stage is learning to be. We are to be children of God (1 John 3:1), and in God’s future kingdom, we will be the product of what we learned in this life. The Bible shows us that we are to be like Christ, obedient and holy.
Mr. Carpenter provided us with an insightful forum on how we can become lifelong learners and how this is necessary for our physical and, most importantly, our spiritual lives. Christ must be our foundation on which we place these four pillars of learning.
