ZEAL WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE

Proverbs 19.2
ZEAL WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE
"It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way."

A MAGAZINE ONCE FEATURED A contemporary religious movement, and asked if it is "a surge without substance". This is surely an important question. Whether it is a person or a movement, it is possible to have zeal without knowledge, surge without substance, haste without direction.

Zeal is good. Nothing is more disheartening than someone who is insipid, lukewarm and lethargic. By contrast, an enthusiastic person livens up the atmosphere, sets other people on fire, and gets things going. In Proverbs, the sluggard is condemned, precisely because he lacks motivation and zeal (e.g. 26.13-15).

But zeal can exist apart from knowledge. A student travelling abroad was told of a demonstration in his university back home. He immediately exclaimed, "l wish I were there to join in!" The amazing thing is that he had not even bothered to find out what the demonstration was all about! He wanted a piece of the action, and it didn't matter what it was for. It was zeal, all right, but without knowledge.

The apostle Paul said this of his countrymen, "For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge" (Rom 10.2). The religious leaders in Jesus' day were not lacking in passion when they single-mindedly plotted to kill him. Neither were the people who cried for him to be crucified lacking in ardour. They just did not know they were putting the Son of God to death.

The word for zeal without knowledge is fanaticism. Of course, there are fanatics in politics: the guerrillas, terrorists, and hijackers. But fanatics in religion are probably the worst sort. They use the name of God, but their actions are in no way consistent with what we know of God.

How can we avoid such fanaticism? Firstly, we need to inform our zeal with knowledge. May we never adopt the mentality that says, "My mind is made up; don't confuse me with the facts!" Our zeal is a force that must be channelled and directed in the right direction. Secondly, we need to be wary of haste. True, certain things are urgent and need to be done quickly. But many things deserve careful and prayerful thought. An informed mind is essential to an inflamed zeal. Neither a hot head nor a cold heart is desirable. The best combination is a warm heart and a cool head.

Do I match my knowledge with zeal, and my zeal with knowledge?