Knowledge: Powerful and Dangerous
It has been said that knowledge is a powerful thing. However, in a group, knowledge can be a dangerous thing as it can cause friction between people with varying levels of knowledge. In a church, it is very important to create an atmosphere of unity where everyone feels equally a part. But it is difficult to have that atmosphere when there are some who don't know as much about the Bible as others do.
Knowledge can be divided into two categories: the things we know and the things we do not know. It can be very intimidating to be around people who know a lot when you don't think you know nearly as much as they do. The question is, how much are we supposed to know? Also, how do we make sure people who are on various levels of knowledge do not become discouraged and feel that they don't fit?
The prophet Jeremiah said that there was coming a day when, ”…no more shall every man teach his neighbor and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord’, For they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them…” (Jeremiah 31:34). The writer of the book of Hebrews referred to this prophecy as having been fulfilled with the writing of the New Testament (Hebrews 8:7-13).
Jesus gave this well-known statement about knowledge in John 8:32. “And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” It is easy to see why a new Christian would be intimidated by these words. They want to be free but they know they don't know all the truth! How do we help them feel comfortable and at ease around those who know more?
First, let us make sure that they understand that learning is a process. Peter wrote in I Peter 2:2, “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word that you may grow thereby.” Everyone begins at the same place, with the milk of the word.
The second thing we need to do is to teach that spiritual growth is the goal. And in that spiritual growth, there should be a goal of getting to the point of eating solid food. Hebrews 5:13-14 teaches this point. “For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
The process of spiritual growth is to go from the milk of the word to the meat of the word. Along the way, here are some things to keep in mind. Of the things that we know, some of those things we will not know well. It will take time for us to deepen our knowledge of these things. There are other things that we will come to know as members of the church that we will not agree with. We will have to learn to deal with that.
Of the things that we do not know, there are things we do not know because we have not yet learned them. That's where study will come in. But there are also things that we do not know because they are not meant for us to know them. Remember these words from God in Numbers 29:29, “the secret things belong to the Lord our God but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.”
— Mike Johnson
