Technological knowledge is increasing
I am reading George Gilder’s latest book, Knowledge and Power: the Information Theory of Capitalism and How It Is Revolutionizing our World. It is a challenging and important book. I would start with this review if you want to learn more about it.
Gilder’s work is an antidote for the economic pessimists among us. Gilder is a Christian and his book, though not openly Christian, makes an economic argument that is uplifting, optimistic and countercultural. His central argument confronts and discredits the defeatist positions held by atheists and materialists.
Daniel’s prophecy of the last days (Daniel 12:4) is being fulfilled in our age and reading Gilder explains how this is happening. His insights also explain why our standard of living is relentlessly and increasingly being driven upward—despite the doomsayers.
This is exciting stuff.
Spiritual knowledge is declining
However, even as the technological knowledge revolution is transforming our world, the world’s desire to obtain and apply moral and spiritual knowledge is drying up. Can these two diverging trend lines continue spreading apart without one pulling down the other? Gilder does not go there, but I wonder.
A prime example of our spiritual knowledge drought is the horrific lack of knowledge about lust evident not only in our greater culture but also among believers. Lust is a vice. Lust destroys lives, families, relationships and nations. Lust is a sin—it is a deniable sin (Titus 2:11-12).
However, many treat lust as inevitable and unstoppable.
Knowing how to….
I write in order to expand knowledge about lust—to shed light on this terrible vice and to help you to overcome it.
Once you understand lust and drive it from your life, you learn how to “walk and please God” (I Thessalonians 4:1). The apostle Paul understood and taught zealously about the need for this knowledge:
For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God. (I Thessalonians 4:3-5)
You are expected to “know how to control” your body in the right way, a way that does not include living “in the passion of lust, like the Gentiles.” This spiritual knowledge gives us the power to live transformed lives—to live in a way that is different than those “who do not know God.”
The benefits we are receiving from expanding technological knowledge are not reversible. However, I do believe that there is real danger for us as a nation and as the modern Church if we fail to harness revealed spiritual knowledge in such a way as to live righteously.
Will you take the time to correctly understand lust? Doing so will give you the knowledge to overcome lust.
If you have this knowledge, will you disciple others and teach them how to “please God” as well?
