Unlearn – to recognize a previously held ‘truth’ to be false, or pertaining to a myth or folklore. If one has an older sibling, it may be necessary to unlearn that dragonflies are ‘the devil’s darning needles’ seeking to sew your mouth shut if they land on you (that one took several years). If you have a slightly off-color, jokester uncle, you may need to unlearn his wisdoms (and the wisdom of repeating them). Childhood is largely a time for learning about everything; yourself, others, the world around you, what tastes good, what doesn’t. Much that is gleaned indirectly will need to be unlearned, as too often that ‘information’ is misinterpreted. Of course, direct instruction can be in error as well and will need to be unlearned.
For Jesus’ disciples, there was such a great deal of unlearning required they must have had brain block from all that Jesus was teaching. It seemed mildly heretical at times, and always radical, always seeming too good to be true. Yes, the Jewish Law was challenging for them but Jesus’ teaching was penetrating and disruptive. He consistently ‘left off preachin’ and went to meddlin.’ For example, his message on loving one’s enemies was glaringly controversial (since Israel was forcibly, and humiliatingly, subjected to Roman law).
We, too, having been invited into an intimate relationship with Jesus, are simultaneously invited to unlearn. A major subject in that regard is the learning we’ve done concerning ourselves: learning often gleaned indirectly (and erroneously/destructively) as children. Because a lot of that learning is left untouched until we are adults, peeling away the lies inhaled as kids takes a good deal of hard work, perseverance, and outside help. How much unlearning is left to do? One key is to read Scripture, and if we respond negatively, to ask the Holy Spirit to help us discern what the resistance is about. Then ask what the invitation is from the Father on that resistance. We can be certain, if we wait, He will speak directly into the resistance. i.e. If we’ve ‘learned’ that we’re unlovable and read about God’s love for us, we may get squirmy. It’s a beautiful exercise to wait for Him to speak truth to us on that very thing.
We have an enemy of our souls. We also have a Lover of our souls. Sometimes the pathway to the heart of the Father is strewn with the debris of lies accumulated since childhood. That’s what our enemy wants us to stay focused upon. The Father ardently desires to help us clear that pathway to Him. The process includes unlearning the savagery of the lies and then filling up the now-empty spaces with the purest of Loves. He sees us. He waits. PD
