The Necessity of Christian Zeal
What if I said the problem with modern evangelicals is that they aren’t passionate enough? The response would come back, “Really? Have you seen social media lately? Everyone is angry, everyone is shouting at each other, etc.”
“Who cannot see a difference between the ancient church and us? In former days, a fire burned within Christians, but our hearts seldom, if ever, burn within us.” So says Puritan scholar Joel Beeke when evaluating modern Christianity. It can be tempting to disagree with him. After all, when glancing at the American church, passion seems to be in ready supply. But upon further review, Beeke’s lamentation comes not in reaction to a lack of zeal in general but rather due to a lack of zeal for God.
He continues, “So why are so many Christians drowsy rather than being on fire for God? Like the Laodicean church, too many of us have grown lukewarm. We are not zealous for the things of God.” Beeke examines the Puritan doctrine of zeal in his excellent work Puritan Theology: Doctrine for Life, showing the priority Puritans placed on zeal for the Christian life. For the Puritans, zeal was a natural consequence of regeneration.
Such an idea should be familiar when looking at the apostles. Following the resurrection of Christ, our Lord talked with two disciples on the road to Emmaus, who thought they knew all that had happened in Jerusalem. Ironically, the one with whom they strode the dusty streets knew better, and he was about to educate them. After they explained their frustration that Jesus of Nazareth, the one they assumed would redeem Israel, had been delivered over and crucified by the chief priests, Christ redirected their attention. “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory (Luke 24:25-26)?” Christ then took the Old Testament and revealed to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself (Luke 24:27). Later in the passage, the men recount the encounter with Christ using startling language. They say, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures” (Luke 24:32)?
All true Christians know the feeling of a burning heart to one degree or another. Unfortunately, discussions regarding this passion for Christ are often in the past tense. People confess, “I was on fire for the Lord.”
The Apostle Paul had such a zeal as well. He wrote in Acts 20:24, “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Again, Paul testified in Philippians 3:13–14, “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
What is Christian Zeal?
Samuel Ward described zeal as “a spiritual heat wrought in the heart of man by the Holy Ghost.” Thomas Watson defined zeal as both love for God and anger against sin. Iain Murray described zeal as a spiritual energy affecting every part of the Christian life. From these, I define Christian zeal as a theologically grounded love for God, a biblically-fueled hatred of sin, and an aversion to spiritual lukewarmness. Look at the definition in detail:
Theologically-grounded love for God (Matthew 22:36, 37): Rightly, we don’t want to be those with zeal disconnected from knowledge (Romans 10:2-4), but that disconnection comes at both ends of the train car. Look at Ephesus in Revelation 2:1-7. Ephesus didn’t tolerate false teaching, but they also didn’t properly love God because of their proper teaching. The goal of theological instruction is love, so says 1 Timothy 1:5, “The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” So, our love for God and our correct doctrine are tethered. George Swinnock marvelously helps:
“He [the zealous Christian] believes that to fear God with a secondary fear is atheism; that to trust God with a secondary trust is treason; that to honor God with a secondary honor is idolatry; and to love God with a secondary love is adultery; therefore he loves (and fears and trusts and honors) ‘the Lord his God with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his strength.’ His measure of loving God is without measure.”[1]
Biblically-fueled hatred of sin. Scripture is replete with God’s hatred of sin and his admonition for his people to hate it. Psalm 119:11 says, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” Proverbs 8:13 says, “The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.” Romans 12:9 says, “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.” Joel Beeke points out, “The zealous Christian sincerely examines himself according to God’s law and is most zealous against those secret infirmities which are unknown to others, but which are most grievous to him.”[2]
Titus 2:11–14, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”
An aversion to lukewarmness. Look at Laodicea in Revelation 3:14-22. Jesus told the church in Laodicea that their indifference to the gospel made him sick. His remedy is to “…be zealous and repent.” Joel Beeke says elsewhere, “And are we not troubled by the Christian whose life displays carelessness and indifference toward the things of God, who cares not whether he grows in grace or puts off sin, but is satisfied with a mediocre, half-baked discipleship?”[3]
What would it look like for believers to recover such zeal for God? If Christian zeal is a part of following Christ in discipleship, and if we are told to pursue such zeal in our walk with him, how can we cultivate this virtue?
Five helpful ways:
Prayer: Samuel Ward said, “Prayer and zeal are as water and ice, mutually producing each other.” James 4:2 chides believers who complain that they aren’t zealous, “You have not because you ask not.”
Hearing The Word of God Preached: Beeke notes, “Preaching the Word is a powerful means to blow on the coals of zeal and keep them aflame because God himself speaks in preaching. When the Word is faithfully preached, God speaks to our hearts, lighting his match and blowing upon our coals with His Spirit to make our zeal burn afresh.”[4]
Meditation: Beeke says, “We must meditate often upon the love and mercy of God towards us, that though we were His enemies by nature (Eph. 2:1–3), He still loved us and sent His Son to redeem us (Rom. 5:8–10).”[5]
Church Membership: Richard Baxter said, “Live among warm and serious Christians; especially as to your intimate familiarity. There is very great power in the zeal of one to kindle zeal in others; as there is in fire to kindle fire. Serious, hearty, diligent Christians, are excellent helps to make us serious and diligent. He that travelleth with speedy travelers, will be willing to keep pace with them.” So says Hebrews 10:24–25, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
Conclusion
What about you? Are you zealous for God? Let Romans 12:11 be your theme verse, your encouragement to persevere in zeal for God: “Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.”
Notes:
[1] Swinnock, George, “The Christian Man’s Calling,” in Works, 1.1.4., 39.
[2] Joel R. Beeke and James A. La Belle, Living Zealously: With Study Questions, Deepen Your Christian Life (Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, 2012), 17.
[3] Beeke and La Belle, 3.
[4] Beeke and La Belle, 127.
[5] Beeke and La Belle, 127.