We know that “all of us possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he will possess the knowledge of God.  1 Corinthians 8:1-3

Those of us who teach can (and often do) end up limiting our effectiveness by increasing our knowledge of the truths of God without increasing our awareness and experience of God’s presence and glory. As today’s verse says, “Knowledge puffs up”.

That is equally true for those we teach if we are presenting the truths we are teaching as the central focus of the Christian life. And that is where knowledge-based Christianity falls short.

Fact-based knowledge about truth without an equal or greater experience of God (seeing His Glory is how John 1 expresses it) –this fact-based truth will inevitably lead to puffing us up: pride–and that pride paves the way to a fall (Prov 16:18).

It is telling that most Christian congregations in North America revolve around passing on facts, cognitive understanding/truth. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but if our churches fill us with facts and don’t coach us into a moment-by-moment experience of God, then they are setting us up for a fall.

You might think I’m playing with words (semantics) but there really is a difference between what is true (facts) and what is Truth. We want the Truth that Jesus was talking about. If something is true but it doesn’t set us free, it’s not the Truth Jesus was talking about (Jn 8:32). That’s how we know the difference.

If it condemns, but doesn’t set us free, it might be factual, but it’s not the Truth Jesus refers us to. It’s not about calling people out about their failures (facts), it’s about calling people up to their status as new creations (2 Cor 5:17).

Why is this important? Because you and I will never experience the presence of God–we’ll never see His glory–never walk in His power–if we aren’t daily receiving His “grace upon grace” (Jn 1:16), experiencing a camaraderie with Him in our daily lives.

Once touched by grace, the set-free Truth is easy.
Once touched by Truth, faith flows naturally.