Enthusiasm Undergirded by Knowledge

Enthusiasm Undergirded by Knowledge

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Proverbs 19:2 (NLT): “Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes.”

America, along with much of the free world, is at a crossroads. We are facing a crisis in the upcoming elections. Political and religious discussions abound. However, because we often enter into the enthusiasm of a discussion without a proper knowledge of the matter, our arguments frequently fall short, and frustration ensues.  In order to take our proper place as ambassadors of the Kingdom of God impacting our world for good, we need more than zeal.  We need knowledge. 

Thomas Jefferson put it another way. “A properly functioning democracy depends on an informed electorate.”  The time to become informed is now. We must avail ourselves of various resources. Even some organizations and people who do not expressly espouse Christianity can be sources for information that undergirds truth.  God’s truth in governance is truth even in secular situations.  

Today we have no excuse for ignorance. Knowledge is available to us at the click of a “Google” button.  We must be knowledgeable about developing, and promoting spiritually sound,free-market, constitutionally based answers, rather than governmental “handout solutions”, to social and economic problems.  We must learn to effectively explain the importance of parental choice in education, individual responsibility for health care, wise approaches to environmental protection and traditional family values and structures. Keep in mind that the acquisition of knowledge must be coupled with Godly wisdom.  

We must also learn to articulate our thoughts with dignity and precision.  We must be ready, not only to proclaim that God’s way is best, but also to explain why God’s way is best.  May we be like the psalmist: “My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.” (Psalm 45:1 NKJV).    

In wisdom and knowledge, we must stand firmly and speak out for the truth.  Paul wrote, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness.” (Ephesians 6:13-14 NKJV)

It is time to put away the clichés, idioms and Christian phrases that we often mouth without thought of context or content.  We must become like the sons of Issachar who understood the times and knew what their country should do.  (1 Chronicles 12:32)  It is time for us to become more knowledgeable about the political agenda that seeks to destroy the truth. We must study, prepare our arguments, rehearse them and enter the arena ready to stand.

Remember, “The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.” (Proverbs 18:15 NKJV)  

Let’s join together and pray--
▪ for Christians to have a hunger for knowledge founded in truth. (John 8:32)
▪ for an anointing of articulation in order to speak the truth in love. (Ephesians 4:15)
▪for the Church to rise up and become the army described in Joel 2.