The Danger of Knowledge

Woah, there! I thought knowledge is power?? Isn't that what we were taught in school?

Wasn't that the mantra that was chanted over us to get us to study diligently and learn the material put in front of us?

Don't get me wrong, it's a catchy saying, and for a lot of us, it worked! HAHA But really what use is knowing the square root of pi, or the Pythagorean theorem (yes, I'm a former math geek), if you didn't end up in a math heavy work field like engineering or something other field in that realm that I have no knowledge of.

What use is knowledge if it can't be applied?

If you've read this far and are wondering where I am going with this metaphor, hang tight I'll get there.

In everyday life there is a difference between knowing fun facts and having applicable knowledge. But my desired specialty here is the spiritual world, so let's try to stick there.

As Christians, we should have (at least most of the time) an innate desire to draw closer to God, and a deep desire to KNOW his word. But is knowing it enough?

I'll be the first to admit that I envy people that know the bible, that can quote it, that can discuss it on a theological level. But what happens when these people are also the same malicious intent owning people that show no signs of ever even hearing the word grace in their daily life? People that don't display any signs of knowing there is a loving God? People that hold grudges and act like they don't know God demands forgiveness, unless of course it's related to forgiving them of their wrongs? People that can literally come up with a bible verse for every occasion but live a life as if they have never picked up the book when in reality they not only have read the bible cover to cover (several times), but they also own 12 different versions and to top it off have commentaries and concordances as companion books? What if they even have a theological degree??

There's not a single person that this description is pinpointing, though I'm sure a person is out there that literally fits the description to a T, but that was more a list of aspects of people I have met in my life all melded together into a single amalgamation.

So why is it important we not only know the Word, why is so important that we allow it to transform us so that we apply what we know to our daily lives?

Jesus often touched on the importance of knowledge and paired it with obedience (application)

28 He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” Luke 11:28

But there is a deeper importance. There is a set of verses in the bible that a friend of mine often referred to as the most devastating verses in the bible and it's in Matthew 7.

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

There are people that hear the word, can call upon the name of Jesus and have him show up, because there is ultimately power in Jesus' name,

But deep down, they themselves do not know God. At least not in the level that they need to, so that they are able to enter the kingdom of heaven.

They will live their lives knowing the word of God, utilizing the power of God, without allowing a full transformation in themselves enough so that they will, in the end find out that they truly missed the mark.

The truth breaks my heart, and I won't begin to judge what's inside another because I can't, but knowing the truth and not applying it to its fullest extent is worse than now knowing it at all.

That took a darker turn than I expected, but it goes to show how deeply, it weighs on my heart.

So where does that leave us?

Don't fret, there is hope.

There are a few commands, that help to tell us how we are to handle what we know from the word of God,

John 14:15-17 15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[c] in you.

The bible also tells us the true relationship with God is not merely informative, but transformative.

2 Corinthians 5:17 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

And throughout my life, I have met so many people that live out their faith in ways that absolutely amaze me. People I look up to in my walk. I'll be vulnerable here, at times I've envied how close they seem to be in their walk. But, I'll be brutally honest, other times, I have wanted what they have without myself going through the same fire that purified them.

Living a true walk requires, selflessness on a level that sometimes I'm not prepared for. It requires a level of surrender that I'll be honest, I resist like I'm a brick wall and God is lovingly trying to get me to listen. I often do come around in the end... Sometimes it takes God's sledgehammer to break the brick wall of stubbornness before I'll ever admit there is a problem.

I was reminded today in church that displaying the fruit of God comes from being connected to God. The message said it in a way that truly brings home the point in a John 15:5-8.

“I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.

So what does this mean when it comes to this article?

I'll never try to judge a person's heart and ultimately only God knows whats on the inside. BUT I will say that there is a danger that if a person isn't bearing fruit, it's because they don't have a true relationship with God.

If you aren't applying the word, there's a chance your relationship isn't what it should be.

I speak from experience, I KNOW my relationship isn't perfect. And sometimes I resist in areas that I others would find super easy to surrender. We all have different struggles. But the key factor is growth, sometimes it's spurting like a child that just outgrew ALL their clothes almost instantly, sometimes it's a slower growth that you can't see right away, but after time you will look back and suddenly realize, "Wow I'm not where I used to be."

Growth happens through application of the word.

It's great to know the bible, but even more important is the application of what's being learned.

You can't grow unless, you're connected. The fruit of the spirit is evidence of the application of the word, and while our progress will never be perfected, it is what we should be striving towards.

So, go and grow, read your word, learn those verses, but don't forget to let them sink into your heart and provide that promised transformation that comes from application.