Knowledge Can Be Ignorance
Learning should lead to living differently
But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” —Luke 11:28
Have you ever heard the phrase “educated beyond our intelligence?” It means someone can be highly educated yet lack common sense. George Orwell once said, “Some ideas are so stupid that only an intellectual would believe them.” As an intellectual, I can attest to the truth of that statement! It often seems that some of the smartest and most educated people in the world today fail to see the most obvious truths or believe ideas that are patently absurd.
People in our society may often be educated beyond their intelligence. And I think it’s also true that Christians are often educated beyond our obedience. We know more than we follow. We listen to sermons every week. We do Bible studies and small group discussions about God’s Word. We read Christian books.
But are we becoming more like Christ?
We know the Bible. We know our theology. We can argue our positions on issues like the age of the earth, whether Noah’s flood was global or regional, and what the prophecies in Daniel mean. We can discuss the historical evidence supporting the resurrection of Jesus. We can explain the gospel in a few sentences. We can tell you what we believe about the end times.
But are we becoming more like Christ?
Does it matter that I know all four Koine Greek words for love, including the two that appear in the New Testament, if I do not love others? Does it matter that I can teach others the principles of generosity found in 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 if I am not generous? Does it matter that I know the five solas if I am filled with pride? Does it matter that I can recite the four spiritual laws from memory if I do not share Jesus with others?
Are we becoming more like Christ?
The Apostle Paul wrote, “Only let us hold true to what we have attained” (Phil 3:16). In other words, put into practice what you have learned.
Knowledge is of great value. But knowledge unused is ignorance.