Why is it important for you always to temper your zeal with knowledge?
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| Christ the Saviour (Pantokrator), a 6th-century encaustic icon from Saint Catherine's Monastery, Mount Sinai. NB - slightly cut down - for full size see here (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
“They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service” (John 16:2).
Jesus warned the disciples of many things—the world’s hatred, persecution, temptation. He gave these warnings so that when they faced trials of this sort, they would not be shocked and overcome with fear and disappointment. As Matthew Henry wrote, “It is easier to welcome a visitor who has been expected than one who has not.” So, Jesus prepared them by describing what they could expect, and one thing that they could most assuredly expect was persecution by those who claimed to serve God. He specifically had in mind the Sanhedrin who would, after His death, raise the sword against all those calling themselves Christians. And they would do this in the name of God Almighty. The most infamous example of this “religious persecution” is Saul of Tarsus, who persecuted Christians out of “zeal for the Lord.”
It is true that our enemies are not always obvious. They do not always come from the “world,” from those who blatantly reject Christ. Sometimes, persecution and discrimination come from those who claim to be doing God’s will, who drive true believers from the church in the name of righteousness, who call those who are in the right heretics and impostors. Such actions have been evidenced throughout church history. Men like Hus, Wycliffe, Calvin, Luther, the Protestant Reformers, and the Puritans of England all suffered at the hands of those who claimed to be doing God’s will. Such persecution can be extremely discouraging as you try to stand for true doctrines of the faith only to be opposed by those who believe they, too, are acting in the name of Christ.
Do not be surprised, then, if a time comes when you are driven from the church for upholding true doctrine and standing for right principles. Jesus said there would be those who persecute His followers in God’s Name, yet do not really know Him. “Though they might claim to act on His behalf, they are really acting out of their own self-interests, which are driven by ignorance of the truth.
It is a sad day in the life of any church when this happens, when the ignorant stand in judgment of those who defend the truth. But, it has happened since the beginning, and it will continue to happen until the church is purged of all unrighteousness.
Read Romans 10:1–4. The Jews of Paul’s day had great zeal but no knowledge. They persecuted the Christians zealously, but they were ignorant of the truth about Christ. Why is it important for you always to temper your zeal with knowledge? Do you subject your exuberance to Christ’s Word before you discuss issues?
