Like I mentioned in the 1st part of this article, What is the role of knowledge in Christianity? , this will be the continuation. Actually, can knowledge be good or bad? Well there can be varying opinions but let’s wait till the end of this article.
You may want to refresh the knowledge gained from the other part of this article. Now that you and I are on the same page, let’s head into the article proper.
In I Timothy 6:20-21, Apostle Paul warns Timothy to guard the faith from “knowledge”. What was this? Could be it be the one described earlier? This knowledge he described as profane and idle babbling.
‘O, Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babbling and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge— by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.‘ I Timothy 6:20-21
Faith of our Fathers
In the old and new testaments, we see how our forefathers upheld their beliefs. Even when there were obstacles standing against them. The point I’m trying to drive at is that the source of their knowledge could be validated. Can you validate your source of knowledge?
When there were beliefs that didn’t sit well with them and were outside the scriptures they had, they made sure to test it first.
In Acts 19:13-15, the sons of Sceva -Jewish exorcists called the name of Jesus over people possessed by evil spirits. Well, the demons couldn’t recognise who they were because they weren’t a part of Jesus’s disciples or apostles.
Due to their ignorance, they carelessly called on the name of Jesus. In turn, they ended up with bruises inflicted on them by the demon possessed man. The demons knew and understood who Jesus and what his power was but the sons of Sceva didn’t.
Bad Knowledge
Knowledge is bad for you when you don’t have full understanding which causes a misuse. Just like the sons of Sceva did, sometimes the knowledge you have may not suffice.
In Christianity, knowledge can be bad for you when it doesn’t respect God or it has no place there. Can you imagine someone trying to seek out how God does his miracles with their own understanding?
Sometimes bad knowledge can be knowledge you acquire that makes you hurt or is vanity:
In my paraphrase of Ecclesiastes 1:16-18, it says you think in your heart that you have gained more wisdom than all before you. You set out to gain wisdom but it’s all vanity, In much knowledge lies sorrow.
How deep is your understanding?
Knowledge can be bad for you when you aren’t at the stage to get and understand it. I’m a big fan of Apostle Joshua Selman, hence I’ll use one of his analogies:
Imagine you’re a new convert who’s in church for the first time. Your knowledge and understanding of God needs to be built because you’re at the beginner level. The Pastor in the church unknowingly preaches about some advanced topic.
In your mind, you want to start working on what you’ve just acquired. Of course, it seems wise to use that knowledge but you aren’t at the point to use it yet. Instead of starting small and progressing to the bigger things, you will start from the bigger surface with no supporting foundation.
You have to be watchful to not get knowledge that’s past your level because it may cause more damage than you can imagine. Get enough for the level you’re currently on and you’ll advance through it.
Kindly refer to the 1st part of this article where I write about the various depths depending on B Sc., Masters or P.H.D level.
Good Knowledge
Ecclesiastes 7:12 says that ‘For wisdom is a defence as money is a defence, But the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it.’ When you have good knowledge, you’ll know what to do with wisdom and how to go about it.
In the book of Proverbs 1:7, It says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. While in Proverbs 9:10, it says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
The fear of God determines the beginning of knowledge and wisdom in you, they work hand in hand. One thing to note is that knowledge about God or anything from God will never be bad.
‘But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; ‘ I Corinthians 1:27
Remember in the first part of this article, I wrote about the puzzle in the image above. Please refer to it for more understanding.
The channel of knowledge
God gave you and I the Bible and He also gave us the privilege to communicate with him. The Bible tells you to test every spirit in 1 John 4:1:
‘Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. ‘I John 4:1
Unfortunately, there are a lot of spirits like this that carry the Bible but use it out of context. This is why you need to read your Bible yourself to have a clear understanding and gain knowledge from the heart of the Father.
While there are still spirits that work in accordance with God’s word, you and I have to prayerfully and selectively choose our channels of information because Proverbs 14:12 says that:
‘There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.’ Proverbs 14:12
Can knowledge be good or bad?
Finally, I’d like you to refer to Genesis 2:17, where God gives Adam one instruction which is later disobeyed.
In Genesis 2:17, God explicitly told Adam to eat the fruit from every tree except from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, else he’d die. Can you imagine being Adam? Well, at least you know what to do and not do.
If there was no difference between good or evil, God would have allowed Adam eat of every tree including that tree.
Read the previous article: What role does knowledge play in Christianity?
