Knowledge Isn't Everything - March 18

Today’s Scripture: Gen. 45:16–28; 1 Cor. 8:1–13; Mark 6:13–29

In the last several days, as I grapple with the role of the Church during a pandemic, I have seen lots of good on social media. I have seen people reaching out to care for friends, words of encouragement for all, churches live streaming worship services and sermons, and friends sharing stories of all-out goodness and hope. This is a drastic shift from the previous days and even several years where people fight to illustrate how their truth is the ultimate truth. Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot of misinformation out there, but it also feels like the quest for knowledge and truth is tearing apart the fabric of society. Maybe that’s why people moving beyond that during this time of crisis is so hopeful. Knowledge is important, but is it everything?

It is interesting that Paul acknowledges the power of love over knowledge when he says, “Knowledge puff up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.” It is a statement that reflects the wisdom of the wise person knowing what they don’t know. Or maybe, we never fully understand the whole story. We are limited in our human capacity. Later when we learn why a person believes what they believe, or why they acted the way they acted, the story becomes even more complex. When we abandon the drive to be right, or more correct, or more woke than the other, and rest in love and humility, something rather remarkable happens. What COVID-19 seems to be doing is reducing our power and agency in life by making us humble. While I wish more than anything that we weren’t experiencing these days, and I am concerned for how it will place incredible hardships on many of us, I am hopeful in the ways we are learning that love is more powerful than any knowledge we could learn. We are learning how to care for each other in new ways, and we are learning that we are all in this mess of life together.

- John+

Questions:

  • What is something you thought you knew but no longer are sure of?

  • How has love been more powerful than knowledge to you?

Challenge

  • Recall one time when you had to be right. Consider apologizing to the person you debated.

John Burruss