The Age Of Much Knowledge...

Our society has been indoctrinated to believe that once you have attained a certain age/education/financial status/place in society, etc., you have all that you need in life. (Many times, people believe that they are wise rather than knowledgeable because of attaining one or more of these things!)  So often, people judge others by those worldly standards.  Jesus said to remove the plank from your eye before helping your brother/sister remove the splinter from theirs. Matthew 7:3-5 This is such a true and helpful statement.  Many times I’ve witnessed someone “advising” others when I could clearly see that that person was way off base about what they were saying. (Been there, done that, myself!!)  If we take a look at ourselves and “remove that plank” from our own eye, we would surely be surprised to see that what we thought was the case with someone may not be the case at all simply because our outlook through that plank was distorted.

 

The Bible says that a fool speaks much. Proverbs 29:11 A wise person listens and then speaks. Proverbs 1:5, Proverbs 12:15  Keep your tongue under control. Proverbs 21:23, James 1:26  Your words can hurt deeply, even if you never intended for them to do so.

 

I’ve recently had some folks make assumptions about me that were way off base simply because they were looking through the plank in their own eye.  Unfortunately, in many of these situations, it wasn’t my job to do the correcting(even though I wanted to!!). The Lord will fight for us, we need only be still. Exodus 14:14 However, there has been a time or two where I have felt it necessary to defend myself, so to speak.  I am called to be many things in God, but a door mat is not one of those things.  We are, however, called to love our neighbor as love ourselves. Matthew 22:39 Finding a healthy balance, as in all things, is the key.

 

In this journey of life, we rarely find someone who is at the same place in life that we are.  Be patient, be kind. 1 Corinthians 13:4-13  Don’t be a doormat, either.  Being a Christian isn’t an exercise in passivity, but rather a transformation in becoming more like Jesus.  Philippians 3:21, Romans 12:2 Jesus did not go around acting like a know it all, but he also was not passive.  He addressed things when and where they needed to be addressed.  He used wisdom. Age and knowledge, etc. will only produce wisdom when allowing ourselves to be led by the Holy Spirit, which involves repenting quickly when we sin and dying to self, among many other things.

 

Don’t allow yourself to fall prey to the “way” of our culture...in this "time of much knowledge".  And, be cautious, because much of the culture of this world has crept into the church, as well.  Read the Word; follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. (Don’t just take my word for it. Seek God in these things for yourself.) You will find that when you follow the Spirit of the living God, the worldly way of doing things is not the only way of doing things.  God’s ways are mysterious; they are not like the ways of man. Isaiah 55:8-9  Seek him for who he is.  Matthew 6:33  Ask him for wisdom.  He will not deny you. James 1:5  Look in the mirror of the gospel to find the plank(s) in your own eyes before you begin to help your neighbor with the much smaller splinter in theirs. James 1:23-24

Knowledge For The Spiritual Man...

 Back in the day when Jesus still walked the earth before His death and resurrection, the Pharisees, more often than not, had issue with Him.  They would do anything they could to attempt to “trip Him up,” but they never could.  He was, is and will always be perfect.  The thing about the Pharisees is that they were highly educated men.  They knew the scriptures…but yet…they couldn’t even recognize the Son of God, the One the scriptures foretold.  At one point, Jesus even called them “white washed tombs”…meaning they sure did look good on the outside, but on the inside, they were rotten and disgusting. See Matthew 23:27

Today, my concern in these amazing times of great knowledge is that knowledge, both outside and inside the church, is clouding the vision of our Great and Amazing God.

I have had amazing conversations with folks who have extensive knowledge of the Bible as well as many other books that contribute to the knowledge of the Bible, but yet in their own way, doubt some capabilities of the Holy Spirit… as if the Creator of all things is somehow unable to do certain miracles!!  Now, understand me clearly here…I don’t say this to try to hurt anyone or point fingers at anyone.  I say it because it’s been a subject that’s been on my heart and mind for many, many years.  And…lately it seems that much of the persecution that I’m witnessing is coming not only from outside the Church, but much of it is coming from inside the Church…from other Christ Followers.  I refuse to mention any names in this writing.  This is not about calling folks out on what they do or don’t believe.  After all, God gave us each a measure of faith.  See Romans 12:3  It’s God who removes the veil from our eyes so that we can see Him more clearly.  See 2 Corinthians 3:1-18   It’s God who gives us the knowledge…but how are we using it?  Are we using it to tear each other down, or build each other up?  Are we allowing knowledge itself to be the box that keeps the Holy Spirit from working effectively?  After all, Jesus himself said that He could not do miracles in some places due to the lack of belief.  See Matthew 13:53-58 This is not the picture of the spotless bride that Jesus is coming back for!!  In fact, often times the vision I see when others doubt the authenticity of another Christian, is that of the Pharisees calling Jesus blasphemous.  Again,… Jesus likened the Pharisees and scribes to white washed tombs!! 

When are we going to learn to accept each other for who God created each of us to be as Followers of Christ.  We’re not in competition here, though some might argue that fact.  Even the twelve disciples argued over who would be the greatest. See Luke 9:46  Maybe we should learn from their mistakes instead of trying to be the best or having the most knowledge, or worrying about whose church is too small or too large, too loud, not loud enough, traditional music vs non-traditional music or vice versa…etc.  The arguments seem endless!!  Stop trying to stop someone from being all God made them to be simply because you don’t believe it for that person!! Maybe we should simply work together, accepting the fact that not everyone is going to have the same doctrinal beliefs as Christ Followers.  Maybe we should strive for excellence…both at individual and corporate levels.

Where I am unable to reach a lost soul, you can.  And, where we are unable to reach one…someone else is able to reach them.  This is possible only with the workings of the Holy Spirit through us.  It’s us making ourselves available for the God of all Creation to work through us!!  It’s. Not. About. Us.

Let’s stop letting pride, knowledge, doctrinal beliefs…or whatever, get in the way of being true Christ Followers.  We can know the Bible inside and out, but if we don’t allow the Author to work through us to reach the lost, sadly, we are ineffective as Followers of Christ.

For years, my saying has been “don’t keep God in a box.”  And, I must admit that in my walk, from time to time, even when against having borders for God, I still manage to do just what I don’t want to do…have a border here or there.  The beautiful thing is that God knows that I don’t want Him in a box, but He also knows my imperfections…better than I know them myself.  I want to see Him for EVERYTHING He is and ever will be.  So, when this happens, He ever so gently shows me the error of my way.  I encourage you to do the same.  Let your boundaries go!!

Don’t let your head full of wonderful knowledge…that is God given by the way… become the box that keeps God from doing all that He’s capable of doing… like those in Nazareth who believed they knew Jesus so well that they believed Him incapable of doing miracles.  Don’t be that guy!!  Seek knowledge…but more importantly…seek the Giver of that knowledge.