I Agree: Information Alone Is Not Enough. But...

I've not kept track in any sort of official way, but it seems that a handful of times each year I hear something along the lines of "information transfer is not enough for discipleship."  And, for the record, I whole-heartedly agree.

But - just so we're clear - while information alone isn't enough, that doesn't make information a non-essential.  Let me explain.

Think of it this way: Tortilla chips alone are not enough to make a plate of nachos.  But that doesn't make the tortilla chips unnecessary.  In fact, if you don't have them, you end up with a mess of meat, and cheese, and sour cream (and other stuff).  It might be edible, but it's not nachos.  You kinda need the chips to finish off the recipe for nachos.

In the same way, information alone is not enough to cultivate disciples of Jesus Christ.  In fact, if the information you're heard DOES say information alone is sufficient, I'd probably question that information.  We need information (knowledge) AND virtue (character) AND obedience (action).  If you remove information from this equation, you've got a sincere heart and eager hands, but you're missing a renewed mind.  It might sound nice, but it's not holistic discipleship.  You kinda need information to finish off the "recipe" that goes into forming disciples.

So while information alone isn't enough, that doesn't make information a non-essential.  Let's grow in knowledge AND these other essential components, instead of pitting them against each other in subtle or overt ways.