Walking in the Valley A bi-weekly column, featuring one Christian's (a)musings on life's journey by Barbara Dahlgren

What Good Is It? Column for the weeks of August 1-15, 2008

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Not long ago I was conversing with a man about some special understanding he had reached while doing Biblical research.  Actually, I use the word “conversing” loosely, since it takes two people to have a conversation, and this guy definitely wasn’t interested in anything I had to say.   It was somewhat interesting, but the pontification went on for a long time.  I tuned out somewhere between the genealogies, archeological findings, and where everyone had it all wrong but him. 

Finally, when he took a breath, I said, “That’s interesting.  How do you feel all these findings have enhanced your walk with Jesus Christ?”

I expected him to expound on proving the Bible true or God’s existence or something somewhat significant.   Instead he just looked perplexed – almost speechless for a moment.  Then he replied, “I don’t think it has.”

“That’s too bad,” I said.  “What good is all this knowledge if it doesn’t draw you closer to God?”  A statement he couldn’t seem to comprehend. 

As he started to spout a few more facts and data, I excused myself.  My polite listening gene had reached its limit.  Let him bore someone else with his “special” understanding.  As far as I’m concerned – what good is knowledge that doesn’t enhance your relationship with Jesus Christ? 

Knowledge – even Bible knowledge is not synonymous with wisdom or spiritual maturity.  Knowledge is merely information.  If not used to edify the body of Christ, it can just “puff” you up – not build you up.  And it can be incredibly boring!  That “na na na na boo boo – I know more than you do” officiousness will not win souls for Christ.  I Corinthians 8:1 says that knowledge may make us feel important, but love builds up the church.  The purpose of knowledge and scriptures should be to point us to Jesus Christ  
(John 5:39, 40).     

We study the Bible not to know about God, but to know God.  How would Jesus handle certain situations?  Sometimes we build whole doctrines around one or two scriptures we don’t fully understand and totally ignore the hundreds of scriptures focusing on believing in God, praising God, loving God, and loving one another.  Did you know that the phrase “love one another” is mentioned over 150 times in the New Testament?  If we focus on the hundreds of scriptures we do understand, we won’t have to worry about the few we don’t.   

Bible study is essential for Christian growth.  Using other references sources to elevate that study is commendable.  No one loves a trivia tidbit better than I do.  It can stimulate us mentally and cause us to dig deeper into the scriptures.  But let’s never forget that God is not looking for “head” knowledge as much as he is for “heart” knowledge.  We are to love God with all our “heart,” not all our “head.”  If what we learn is not drawing us closer to God, enhancing our relationship with him, or enabling us to be better Christians – what good is it?

Be sure to visit this page often to read the next edition of Walking in the Valley. You can write to the author at bdahlgren@wcgsouthbay.org.