Virtue and Knowledge (2)

(From devotionals at work)

"...make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge..." -2 Peter 1:5

"For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge." -Romans 10:2

Just as virtue sets goals and boundaries for faith, so knowledge delivers the believer from converting virtue into self-centered pride and perfectionism. It does this in three ways.

First, knowledge (both of the Bible and theology) informs us that moral change (sanctification) is synergistic: that is, God and man work together in the transformation of the Christian's life. Knowledge keeps us in the balance of the two. To believe that change occurs in our lives by our work alone leads to legalism, life lived by a set of laws. On the other hand, to stress that change is only God's work creates spiritual passivity and irresponsibility. "Let go and let God" is not a biblical concept.

Second, biblical knowledge teaches us that change is a process, and that it often involves suffering ("It's through many tribulations that we enter the kingdom of God"). While that knowledge may be disappointing to some, it delivers us from perfectionist theologies: "manifested sons," total sanctification, and extreme faith walk teaching included.

Third, biblical knowledge helps us understand God's goal and purpose in our lives, which act like a fence to keep us from wandering into spiritual pride because we are growing as Christians. Remember that God's purpose for all of us is to be made into the image of Jesus. We're kidding ourselves if we think the process that gets us there will be easy. Another goal is love within the context of a community, which means that we both help each other and irritate each other into constant change. And, finally, the ultimate goal of lives, and that of all creation, is the glory of God, not of ourselves.

Finally, just as virtue ( or change) can get off its biblical base without knowledge, we need to remember that the opposite is also a danger. It is possible for the Christian to become proud of knowledge, or pursue it without grounding it first in virtue, which is its support. What evolves, in that case, is a cold intellectualism or faith in what one knows instead of faith in the finished work of Christ.

Next: Knowledge and Self-control.