“…we all have knowledge. [But] knowledge puffs up, [whilst] love builds up. The one who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. But the one who loves God is known by God”.
1 Corinthians 8:1-3
Are you a Christian, or just a theologian?
These are words that all of us, especially to those who are more intellectually or scholarly inclined, should ask of ourselves.
Of course, another question some might be wondering right now; “what’s a theologian?”. For those unfamiliar with the term, a theologian is someone who deeply studies Bible doctrines and scripture, often in either a scholarly or philosophical manner (sometimes both).
Some study theology as a mere intellectual pursuit, others as a job (such as college professors, religious education teachers, or historians), and then of course, there are those of us who are invested in theology in pursuit of real Christian truth, in order to know how to worship God in a way he fully approves.
Theology is a noble pursuit in that latter respect, I myself am inclined to theological study in search for truth and to spread such truth to others. But so often, it can be very easy to slip into judgementalism, or know-it-all-ism. And this is a problem we see far too often in Christian communities, among both the intellectual and academic, and among every day Christians, who might not be as educated or knowledgable, but still may be just as judgemental with people they find disagreement with over the opinion of a topic.
This problem often stems from a root of passion over one’s opinion, an insistence on truth, whilst others it may stem from a fear of being wrong.
No matter the root, this knowledge, as Paul says in his letter, tends to “puff people up”. And when this pride befalls us, it can lead into fall outs, arguments, maybe even name calling, and in the worst scenarios, violence and condemnation.
It can be very easy to start out with honest intentions, to then lose the point of our devotion to study of God’s word completely. How often do we see hours upon hours, of hundreds upon hundreds of in person and online internet debates of theological topics among Christians? How often does it often turn out to be a contest of ego? Rather than a conversation to discover unbiased truth?
One prime historical example comes to mind, and that is the story of the debate between two Christians in the 4th Century, Arius and Nicholas.
It is said that during the time of the “Arian Controversy”, a time where the nature of Yeshua was being discussed and debated, that during a meeting, a Christian Elder named Nicholas got up and punched Arius in the face because of his disagreement with him. As a result he was said to have been thrown into a jail cell.
Now of course, many scholars tend to believe that this story is embellished, or perhaps didn’t even happen at all. But regardless of its authenticity, the time period was indeed one filled with much Christian on Christian violence, often sparked by disagreements over scriptural interpretation… and this is not the behaviour of true Christians.
Apostle John tells us; “anyone who hates his brother is a murderer“ (1 John 3:15), echoing Yeshua’s statement at Matthew 5:21-22:
- “You’ve heard that the ancients were told; You must not commit murder, for those who murder will be judged. ‘However, I tell you this; ‘Anyone that stays angry with his brother will have to be judged, and anyone that calls his brother empty-headed must stand before the religious court. Also, anyone that [calls his brother] a moron will be [condemned] to the Gehenna fire“.
Merely hating our brothers and sisters is equated to murdering them in our hearts, and can make us liable to judgement, never mind those individuals who literally murdered their brothers in times past.
This begs us to examine ourselves… are we Christians, or just theologians? Are we studying the Bible just for knowledge? Just to “win” arguments? To be smarter than other people? Or are we studying because we want to be better people?
If we find that our study of the Bible isn’t making us better people, if it isn’t changing who we are for the better, if it isn’t improving our lives… but rather, if it’s making us more argumentative, if it’s fuelling debates, finger pointing, judgementalism… then perhaps it’s time to put down our books, put down our papers, put our down our pens, and take our fingers off of our keyboards, and do some serious soul searching and meditation.
Being Christian hinges on the two greatest commandments. Love God, and love your neighbour as yourself (Matthew 22:37-40). If our theological, scriptural and scholarly studies are moving us ‘away’ from this, then it means we’ve lost the plot and have missed the point completely.
And this can creep into our lives in all manner of ways. For example, I’ve had to catch myself almost refusing to listen or make time for someone in my own home who needed help with something… brushing them off by saying “can’t you see I’m busy studying the Bible?”… how ironic indeed.
Such was the attitude of the Pharisees also, during the 1st Century, whom Yeshua called hypocrites and liars, who honoured God with their lips, and portrayed themselves as clean on the outside, but inside, were spiritually dead…. (Matthew 15:8, Matthew 23:27)
Our studies of scripture should result in us being “more” loving, “more” patient, “more” generous, “more” understanding, “more” empathetic.
- “Now, we know what the flesh does… They include… hatreds, quarrelling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, divisions, sects, envying… I’m warning you now (as I’ve warned you before), that those who do such things won’t inherit God’s Kingdom. On the other hand, the fruitage of the Spirit is; love, joy, peace, patience, being caring, goodness, faith, reasonableness, and self-control,… and there are no laws against such things”. – Galatians 5:19-23
- “…he is puffed up with pride, not understanding anything, but having an unhealthy interest over questionings and debates about words. From these things spring; envy, strife, abusive speeches, wicked suspicions, violent disputes about trifles on the part of men corrupted in mind and despoiled of the truth, thinking that godly devotion is a means of gain.“ – 1 Timothy 6:4-5
But as we can see, if for all our studying, we are expressing more and more of the works of the flesh, we do not have the spirit of God or the Anointed One… it is a matter of the heart, not the head (Matthew 11:25).
Therefore, let us always remember, the point of our faith, and what it really means to be Christian, and to never let our desire for knowledge in such things, puff us up, resulting in us being a hypocritical walking mockery of Yeshua.
Love is what the law hangs upon.
Proselyte of Yah 