Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 20
September 12, 1968
NUMBER 19, PAGE 4-5a

Wilfull Ignorance

Editorial

Find a man or woman who possesses interest in religion and ask the question "What is the most important book in the world?" The answer you very likely get will be "The Bible." Then ask a second question: "Do you know very much about the Bible?" Maybe nine out of ten times you will get a variety of answers that can all be boiled down to a simple "No."

Is this not a strange and peculiar situation? By far the majority of people in this country will, without hesitation, proclaim the Bible to be the greatest book of all ages, and will admit that to some degree salvation is connected with knowledge of the Scriptures, (Christ agrees: "Ye search the Scriptures, because ye think that in them ye have eternal life; and these are they which bear witness of me." (John 5:39) Yet the ignorance of the common church member is appalling. It would not be much of a surprise to fine some who would not know whether Christ was shot on Bunker Hill or crucified on Calvary.

There are various excuses given for this condition, ranging from "I don't have the time" to "I can't understand the Bible." But these excuses fall apart under the weight of investigation. In the first place, we all do pretty much what we want. If we WANT to study the Bible badly enough, we will take the time. Magazines, books, and newspapers come into American homes at an increased rate every year. I cannot believe they all immediately end up in the trash can. We take time to read them. Surveys show that the T. V. set in the average home is on six hours a day. `Nuff said. Secondly, let it be known that the Bible can be understood, if we are simply willing to sit down and apply a little attention to what is read. Anything that is designed to teach is designed to be studied. You cannot read and understand the Bible in the same manner you read the latest "Whodunit," any more than you can read and understand High School Physics without study and meditation.

If there is any confidence that the Bible is the revelation of truth from God, then we must have confidence that its commands can be obeyed. In Eph. 5:17, we are instructed: "Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is." How is this to be done? Paul gives the key in an earlier passage of the book: "Whereby, when ye read, ye can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ." (Eph. 3:4) The word in the Greek language that is translated "read" suggests more than a casual scanning. Paul instructed young Timothy to "give heed to reading," (I Tim. 4:13), and to "abide...in the things which thou hast learned and has been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a babe thou hast known the sacred writings which are able to make thee wise unto salvation..." (II Tim. 3:14-15) Two things are evident from the two passages: (1) his mother and grandmother had fulfilled their responsibility towards Timothy, having taught him the way of God since infancy. (II Tim. 1:5)

But it all comes back to the same basic matter of desire. Do we want to know and understand the will of God; Peter urged us "as newborn babes, long for the spiritual milk which is without guile, that ye may grow thereby unto salvation." (I Pet. 2:2) The person who is blessed is the one whose "delight is in the law of Jehovah; and on his law doeth he meditate day and night." (Psalm 1:2) The alternative is willful ignorance, which will bring destruction. The Lord is going to come "with the angels of his power in flaming fire, rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus: who shall suffer punishment, even eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might." (II Thess. 1:7-9)

The Apostle Paul warned the Athenians: "The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked; but now he commandeth men that they should all everywhere repent: Inasmuch as he bath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead." (Acts 17:30-31)

Yes, the very fact of the resurrection of Christ is the guarantee that you and I shall stand before God on that great day. If you stand before the judgment bar and are found guilty of wilfull ignorance, what will your defense be? Better give some careful thought to it, for your eternal destiny will rest upon your defense. But that's the problem, there is no defense.

— Jefferson David Tant