Welcome to Aaron’s Friday Ramblings.

Once a week on Friday we are going to interrupt the regular scheduled broadcast and bring in a different perspective from me – Aaron. The co-founder of Theophilus.

While Jon does most of the content, I get to do the behind the scenes things. But once a week, Jon graciously allows me to write down some of my thoughts and share it with you. Unlike the well-crafted and series format of the rest of our newsletters, Fridays will be a little bit more chaotic.

I don’t have a degree in theology (unlike Jon) and don’t work in the Church (unlike Jon) and well, I am just here to share my experiences about what I am learning, thinking about, and processing in my walk with Jesus. 

Hopefully you find some value in that along the way.

Tacit vs Explicit Knowledge and Spiritual Formation

I learned a new concept this week: tacit knowledge.

Tacit knowledge is knowledge that is not easily codifiable. The know-how, the expertise and insight. It is the actual riding of the bike vs theoretically knowing.

Explicit knowledge is different. Explicit knowledge is information that can be written down and shared: 

• Facts

• Figures

• Theories

Explicit knowledge is gained in the classroom. Tacit knowledge is gained through observation and doing.

The thing is: western society loves explicit knowledge. It is easy. Someone talks to us, and we receive – and it is often no different in the church.

We go to church, fill our head with:

• Knowledge of the Bible

• Prayer methods

• Evangelism techniques 

– but despite it all, we still feel like we have no idea what we are doing.

Because we have failed to distinguish between tacit vs explicit knowledge.

Tacit knowledge is not gained in the classroom or the pews. It is gained through real-life observation of those who have expertise and then by joining in and doing. And doing it again and again and again.

It is true expertise.

And if I look at how Jesus taught the disciples, it looks a lot more like tacit teaching than explicit. 

They walk with Him everyday, observing, learning. Then, he sends them out and they actually do the thing. Sure along the way he offers lessons and parables, but a lot of the teaching was just seeing what Jesus was like everyday. Being exposed to who he was.

This is a type of learning that is often neglected in the Western Church, but it is a type of learning that is so essential to growth.

What does this mean for me and you?

I don’t really know.

But just remember…not everything can be taught with words.

Sometimes you need to get out of your comfort zone and actually do the thing.

Til next time,

Be Blessed,

Aaron

Theophilus Newsletter

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