The excellency of a believer

The difference between believers and unbelievers as to knowledge is not so much in the matter of their knowledge as in the manner of their knowing. Unbelievers, some of them, may know more and be able to say more of God, his perfections, and his will, than many believers; but they know nothing as they ought, nothing in a right manner, nothing spiritually and savingly, nothing with a holy, heavenly light. The excellency of a believer is, not that he has a large apprehension of things, but that what he does apprehend, which perhaps may be very little, he sees it in the light of the Spirit of God, in a saving, soul-transforming light; and this is that which gives us communion with God, and not prying thoughts or curious-raised notions. (John Owen Overcoming Sin and Temptation p117)

As I read John Owen, I cannot help but see the many implications for parenting. Both children and adults become proud of their knowledge, because "knowledge puffs up." So it is that unless deliberately checked by the Gospel, a child raised in a Christian home may very easily come to think of him or herself as better than others who do not know things about God, and so pray, "God, thank you that I am not like . . ." A child needs to hear early and often that:

"The excellency of a believer is, not that he [knows more than others], but that what he does apprehend . . . he sees . . . in light of the Spirit of God . . . which gives us communion with God."

This reminder of the Gospel keeps us humble, since we cannot boast of what we receive from the Spirit, and sets us after that which the Gospel procures: not mere knowledge about God, but communion with God.