The danger of Zeal without knowledge.

The danger of Zeal without knowledge.

Acts  9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,  9:2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

Acts  8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.  8:3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

Acts  22:3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.  22:4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.  22:5 As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished.

Galatians  1:13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:  1:14 And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

Many supposedly churchgoers today fall into the category of Saul of Tarsus before his conversion.

No doubt they are churchy and religious.

Unfortunately, when they see others doing what they could not do. They despise them, bad mouth then and sometimes persecute them.

Such people seems to be zealous but they lack knowledge.

The reason why such people are doing what they are doing is because they are actually ignorant of the truth.

1 Timothy  1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;  1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

Bible believing believers must not allow the unguided zeal of these people to derail them from continuing in living according to the scriptures.

Galatians  4:17 They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.

But then Bible believing believers are called to be zealous for the truth.

They are called to defend and contend for the truth.

Philippians  1:17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.

Jude  1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

Our Lord Jesus Christ was zealous. Believers are brought into the kingdom to be zealous, but according to knowledge.

Jesus Christ our Lord

Isaiah  9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

John  2:15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables;  2:16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.  2:17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

Bible believing believers.

Titus  2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,  2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;  2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;  2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Bible believing believers right attitude towards these people is to quietly avoid them.

Romans  16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.  16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

2 Peter  2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.  2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.  2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

2 John  1:8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.  1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.  1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:  1:11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

The reason why these people should be avoided is because they deliberately and obstinately rejected the truth.

2 Thessalonians  2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.  2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:  2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

They are unknowingly according to Jesus fulfilling the role of false prophets.

Matthew  7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.  7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?  7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.  7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.  7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

The Lord will give you wisdom to relate with them, but must continually be praying for them for God to open their eyes to see the truth.

2 Corinthians  4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:  4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Let us pray.