It has been assumed that knowledge and education will lead to morality.
However, Scriptures and experience deny this.
God says, “Knowledge puffs up,” (1 Corinthians 8:1). In other words, knowledge makes people proud. And in another place, God says that only those who humble themselves will enter His kingdom (see Matt. 18:4). Therefore, knowledge on its own can lead you away from God’s kingdom.
In experience, we recently had an academically bright kid (studying a neuroscience doctor program) dye his hair red and shoot up a movie theatre in Colorado, killing many and wounding even more. A little further back we had an educated Adolph Hitler with an educated group of people slaughter millions in the tirade that became World War II.
Knowledge is not directly proportional to morality.
This does not suggest that knowledge is all wrong or should be avoided. Instead, the knowledge that “always learns and never comes to a knowledge of the truth,” (2 Tim. 3:8) should be avoided. Truth, wisdom, and Godly knowledge, however, we are commanded to seek out. In fact, we are told that wisdom produces meekness (see James 3:13). This is the opposite of the arrogance produced by earthly knowledge.
How do we gain this sort of wisdom and godly knowledge?
Answer: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge…” (Prov. 9:10). When the heart surrenders to God, the mind receives God’s illumination. Jesus says, “He who is willing to do God’s will will know of My teaching,” (John 7:17). Willingness in the heart produces knowledge. And Paul writes, “when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away,” (2 Cor. 3:16). Notice the order: (1) turn, (2) see. We have wrongly preached that sight comes first, then we can turn. Instead, God is looking for a surrendered heart FIRST. Again, He says, “blessed are the pure in heart for they will SEE God”.
Of course, education is not a problem in itself, and a mind flowing from a heart surrendered to God is an amazing weapon (look at Paul), but it cannot be seen as THE solution. We will lose our generation if we believe that.
-Brian
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