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Assembly Times

 Sunday

   Bible Classes (10:00 am)

   AM Worship (11:00 am)

 Wednesday

   Bible Classes (7:00 pm)

Location

180 Townwood Drive

Charlottesville, VA 22901

Click Here for Specific Directions

Knowledge and Zeal

By Joe Fitch

Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.  For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge (Rom.10:1-2).   Notice that knowledge and zeal are the basis for evaluation.

Paul points to Jews who had zeal without knowledge.  Zeal is an aggressive, a stirred up spirit.  The word comes from a Greek word meaning "to boil."  Jews were "fired up."  They were opposite from passive in their religious approach -- fine!  It is great to run fast and hard --- unless you run in the wrong direction!  Paul understood their problem -- their mindset.  He had been there.  He told Jerusalem Jews that he had been "zealous toward God as you are today "(Act.22:3) -- and just as ignorant of Jesus.  "And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers "(Gal.1:14).  "Exceedingly zealous " --- exceedingly wrong concerning Jesus!  A terrible tragedy!

Athenians were also "very religious "(Acts 17:22).  They collected every god they found -- eagerly worshipped them all.  They were zealous!  They even had an altar to the "unknown God " -- just in case they missed any God. Their zeal was commendable; their ignorance totally missed the only true God.  Zeal without knowledge -- to no profit.

Zeal without knowledge infected first century Athens and Jerusalem.  What about us -- today?  What about our town? -- our church?  The plague continues.  Hosts of people are just like that -- even in the church.  They are very zealous, -- with no clue what they are doing.  Sad! 

A different problem infects others.  Recall the Laodicean church (Rev.3:14-19).  Ignorance was not their problem.  Their critical need was not another Bible class.  Rather, they were "lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold."  Was that a big deal?  Ask the Lord!  "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth."  What was the Lord's message to them?  What did they need?   Be "...zealous and repent."

People with knowledge but no zeal make great scholars, impressive speakers.  They quickly and correctly answer any Bible question.  All the facts -- without active faith.  All that knowledge -- but just spiritual couch potatoes -- "data banks " with no heart. Informed but lost.

Pharisees were like that.  Jesus never condemned the Pharisees for ignorance.  Just the opposite.  He told his disciples: "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat.  Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do "(Mt.23:2-3).  What a recommendation!  "Listen to the Pharisees!  Do what they tell you! " Pharisees knew the law.  Ask a Pharisee, he would tell you exactly what the law said.  Ask a Pharisee, he would tell you exactly what the law meant.  Ask a Pharisee, he would tell you exactly what the law required you to do -- even if the demands were "heavy burdens." Their problem?  They were not at all zealous about doing the law -- they "say and do not "(v.3). They would hardly lift a finger to do what they knew (v.4). 

Remember Apollos? He was "instructed in the way of the Lord " --- and he was "fervent in spirit "(Acts 18:25).  Without a fervent spirit, expect no spiritual fruit such as "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control "(Gal. 5:22).  Such fruit must have roots in zeal as well as knowledge.  People may know all truth, answers, arguments, principles -- and still be dead in heart.  Not a few of these specimens sit on our pews -- well informed but without any real "zeal for God."  The call to be a Christian necessarily calls for zeal --- "that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works "(Tit. 2:14).

There is the third category. There are people who are on the church rolls, attend the assemblies, sit on the pews, sing the songs, say the prayers --- but they have neither zeal nor knowledge.  They do not know even the "first principles of the oracles of God "(Heb.5:12) -- and worse, they do not care!  They do not see and will not look if you show them!  Shades of ancient Israel!  Jeremiah accused Israel:  "Everyone is dull-hearted, without knowledge "(Jer.10:14).  We boast otherwise, but more than a few fit this description --and there is little hope for them.

 Knowledge and zeal are essential -- vital companions.  Success is virtually assured by the pair; failure guaranteed when the pair is broken.  Step up!  Join hands with the Bereans -- who "searched the scriptures daily "(Act.17:11).  Step up!  Join hands with Paul and "press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus "(Phil.3:14).

- via Stonebrook church of Christ