The word zeal (zēlos) is an emotional word that can denote something good or bad.  It literally means “to boil,” and figuratively, “to seethe with emotion.”  In classical Greek, the word referred to either the noble passion of zeal or the ignoble emotion of jealousy.  In the New Testament, we find the word used 17 times, equally split between positive zeal and negative jealousy or envy, but it always denotes a strong emotion.

From a positive standpoint, zeal is an emotion that all Christians should have for Christ and His cause.  If we have the proper kind of zeal; that is, a burning desire for God and things that please Him, we find ourselves in good company.  Jesus got emotional when He saw money changers in the temple (John 2:16-17).

John 2:16-17 (ESV)
¹⁶ And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” ¹⁷ His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

One of the worst traits a child of God can have is a lack of zeal.  Today, apathy characterizes too many in the Lord’s church.  A major cause for this is worldliness.  When one loves the world too much, he will love the things of God too little (James 4:4).

While having zeal is good, Paul recognized that one can have the wrong kind of zeal.  In Romans 10:2, he wrote of Jews who had the wrong kind of zeal.

Romans 10:2 (ESV)
² For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.

Some of these Jews had a burning desire for the Law, but they did not realize that the Law had been fulfilled, nailed to the cross by Jesus, and taken out of the way (Romans 10:4; Colossians 2:14-15; Hebrews 8:13).  Their zeal for the Law led them further away from God instead of closer to Him.  It was zeal without knowledge.

This same kind of religious zeal plagues many in the religious world today.  Denominational churches are filled with people who have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.  For example, most churches today are products of the Reformation Movement which began in the sixteenth century when Martin Luther rebelled against the Catholic Church.  All these churches espouse Luther’s doctrine of “faith alone” (sola fide).  Advocates have so much zeal for the “faith alone” doctrine that they believe all who do not believe and teach it are lost.  The problem is the Bible does not teach that man is saved by faith only.

James 2:24 (ESV)
²⁴ You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

You can see from this simple scripture that there is a problem with believing one is saved by faith alone, and the problem is greater than being wrong about something the Bible teaches.  It is a doctrine that prevents a person from being saved because he will never obey God’s plan of salvation (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:36-38).

Zeal without knowledge is dangerous.  I have tried for nearly forty years to get “faith only” advocates to let go of this error and obey the gospel, but very few have complied.    This is just one example of having zeal without knowledge.  Having this kind of zeal is worse than having no zeal at all.  Study your Bible and make sure that your zeal is based on what the Bible teaches.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.