Don’t Stop With Know

Within Christianity, we have too many “lifetime students.” They have multiple bachelor's, graduate, and even post-graduate degrees. Yet, they have very little fruit to show for their labor.

One of the reasons I've found this to be the case is that Christians often struggle with being educated far above their level of personal obedience.

It's easy to do and a trap I struggle to avoid. So what do we do? How do we avoid this trend? I think the solution is not to avoid education but to be intentional in applying it.

Several years ago, I heard my college professor, Phil Brown, say that when it comes to knowledge, there are four different levels in which people process what they receive. Using his outline, let me just share how this has changed my approach to reading God’s Word, listening to the podcasts I hear, and watching the Christian communicators I enjoy.

Level 1: Recognition Knowledge

The first of these is what Phil refers to as recognition knowledge. On this level, information is processed quickly and efficiently. An example of this would be a student who spends their energy studying for a multiple-choice test. They do not grasp the full concept of what they are studying, but they are able to recognize enough keywords in a timely manner to be able to answer A, B, C, or D.

Level 2: Recollection Knowledge

The next level of knowledge has to do with a person’s ability to remember. An example of this might be studying for a fill-in-the-blank test. You remember the information, but you do not know how to apply it to your life.

Growing up in my teen years, I remember the times when I would go to a Christian youth camp in the heartland of Ohio, where I would participate in their yearly Bible quizzing competition. I would study upwards of 500 questions until I could recite the answers after the first 4-5 words of a question were read. On a recollection level, I was an A+. On a comprehension level, I was a C or a D.

Level 3: Explanation Knowledge

Deeper than recollection, there is what might be called an explanation level of knowledge. In this level, a person not only knows the answers to the questions they are asked but is also able to explain the concepts behind their answers.

I once had a teacher who was famous for his essay answer tests. You could take it to the bank that every test you received from him was going to require you to give some explanation (Not a bad thought in today's AI culture). Looking back, this turned out to be more helpful than if he had just given us a simple fill-in-the-blank answer sheet.

On an explanation level, you know what you believe and can articulate it in a way others are able to understand.

Level 4: Justification Knowledge

Finally, the premium level of knowledge and understanding is what is called justification. On this level, you go above and beyond mere explanation. You are able to justify how this knowledge is applicable to daily life. You live it out with every breath you take!

God does not expect that we have a justification level of knowledge for everything. This would be impossible. But he does expect us to have this level of understanding of the topics in life that are important. He wants us to have a justification level of knowledge on the things that matter and a recognition level for things that do not.

Our Problem

The problem is that we have the tendency to get these levels mixed up. We can justify the latest sports statistics, TikTok reels, and pop culture entertainment with absolute clarity, yet struggle to understand some of the gospel's most elementary aspects.

When it comes to understanding the things of God, it’s easy to settle for levels 1-3. But doing so goes against everything the book of James teaches and robs us of the incredible blessing we experience when we go deeper. We go beyond internalizing our faith and begin to effectively live it out with every action we take.

A thought: The next time someone asks you a question about the Christian life, ask yourself: Do I currently live out the advice I am about to give?

Before telling another believer how to handle their finances, fix their marriage, or break free of a certain addiction, ask yourself if you are being obedient to God in those areas. If the honest answer is no, pause, and maybe say something like, “Hey, what I am about to share is what God’s Word says about this issue. But honestly, I’m struggling to put this into action in my own life. Why don’t we help each other?

How My View of Maturity Has Changed

Years ago, I thought the most mature Christians were the ones who knew the most. They'd moved past verses like John 3:16 and could teach courses on the Book of Revelation. Now, I see maturity as a more layered approach.

It's not just if they know a verse and its context, but it's if that verse has genuinely transformed how they live and behave.

• Are they always a bit sarcastic and demeaning or are they known for their kindness?
• Are they always worrying, or do they have a relaxed obedience?
• Are they quicker to gossip or are they quicker to pray?
• Have they settled for a recognition level knowledge of the things of God, or are they doing their best to live like Christ in all areas of their lives?

The other day on my Substack, I wrote a piece about how to make your first $100 as a creator. But one of the points I made is that it's a lot easier to talk about creating than it is to create. Everyone has a great business idea, but few want to sit down and see it through.

From a Christian perspective, I have friends with seminary degrees who no longer want much to do with God. Buddies who used to be pastors, who no longer attend church. And acquaintances who know more than I'll ever know about tertiary doctrinal matters, but a family that wants nothing to do with them. You probably do too.

People like this should remind us that it is often easier to know the right thing than to do the right thing. So as we close out this series on James, I challenge you to embrace the slow, character-shaping work Christ is doing in your life. Don't rush the process; instead, keep putting your Sunday beliefs into Monday action.