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In my opinion, the two greatest dangers in the Lord’s church today are that of ignorance and inactivity. Proper knowledge and actions are absolutely essential for a congregation to please the Lord. Consider that…
…if a church does not have any biblical knowledge or any activity, then it is dead (or near-dead, anyway). In Revelation 3, the church at Smyrna thought it was alive, but it was dead, or at the very least, ready to die (v.1-2). James 2:26 reminds us, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” To paraphrase, faith without biblical knowledge or proper application is worthless. God warned His people long ago, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6).
…if a church does have biblical knowledge but has no activity, then it is diminished. The church that is like this is much less than what it could be or should be. It is wasting the resource of Scriptural knowledge that it has. Why would a church have Jesus as Lord and profess such, but not do what He asks (cf. Luke 6:46)? There are many who profess to know God but deny Him in their works, or lack of them (cf. Titus 1:16). The church that knows to do good and does not do it is wasting its potential (cf. James 4:17).
…if a church does not have biblical knowledge but does have plenty of activity, then it is dangerous. In essence, it has become a human institution and will operate as men desire and dictate – and that will lead down man’s path, not God’s. Paul was concerned about those who had a zeal (and probably plenty of activity due to it), but not according to the knowledge of God’s ways (Romans 10:2). Before he became a Christian, Paul himself had a plenty of religious activity, but it was not according to what was right (cf. Acts 26:9-11; Philippians 3:6). During those times, Paul led a life of destruction and disaster.
So, a church needs to have proper knowledge and proper activity. It is then that it will be truly dynamic (i.e. productive for the Lord). What is your part in this congregation’s proper knowledge of God’s word and proper activity of carrying out His will?
Edd Sterchi
Campbellsville, KY