Ignorance Is Not Bliss!

I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. (Philippians 1:9–10)

I want to state openly and forcefully that ignorance is not bliss—that ignorance, even in the general, secular realm, is the breeding ground for fear and prejudice, leading ultimately to superstition and slavery. An uneducated country is a defenceless country at the mercy of an educated country. Although I study every week, I suddenly want to study harder. I love to read and do research, but I find myself wanting to drink deeper at the fountain of knowledge.

Before going one step further, let me address all of you who make your living in the world of education. I have four words of encouragement: Press on—never quit! And to you who are in the process of getting an education, I offer the same counsel: Press on. Never stop studying. Never stop reading. Never stop learning. Don’t believe something just because someone says it. Find out yourself!

I read recently that an education is nothing more than going from an unconscious to a conscious awareness of one’s ignorance. There is so much to be discovered!

What is true in the realm of general knowledge is equally true in the realm of spiritual knowledge. I am constantly amazed at the level of biblical ignorance in these United States. Aren’t you? I was watching the presidential elections in 1984. A well-known news commentator wanted to refer to the Old Testament book of 2 Chronicles. His notes, no doubt, used the Roman numeral two (II). As he read the line from the script, he called it “eleven Chronicles.” The man may be culturally suave and politically sophisticated, but he has no idea how many Chronicles there are! He doesn’t mean to sound foolish; he just cannot hide the fact that he is ignorant of the Scriptures.

That’s bad enough for a person who doesn’t claim to be a Christian, but how about you? What if someone gave you a piece of paper with questions about your faith? How would you do?