Despite what people might say, Ignorance is not bliss!
When the truth makes us uncomfortable, do we ignore it? Selah* (Pause and calmly think of that.)
“I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.” Romans 16:17-18
Many devout Christians are being led astray because they are naive. That means they are unsuspecting (easily deceived, exploitable, ripe for the picking). By definition, they don’t know they’re deceived.
I was taken in by the Word of Faith teaching myself once. In fact, I had to “unlearn” a lot of teaching, and that is not easy to do.
We must learn to identify false teaching for ourselves through studying the Word of God. If I tell someone that a Bible teacher they like teaches false doctrine, I know what they would think because it’s what I used to think: “They don’t understand because they’re in a dead church.” OR “They don’t have revelation.” OR, my favorite: “They’re just religious.”
I assure you, I am not dead or religious! (Isn’t that judging someone’s heart?)
All this stems from pride – the false assumption that I have revelation of the Scripture others don’t have. Selah
I would venture to say that all those “old, religious people at the church down the street” have more experience walking through trials with the Lord at their side than some of us ever will.
How I wish I could talk to my grandmother about God, again. She would be about 130 years old now. If only I had known to seek her wisdom when I was a youth and she was still around.
But, alas, when we’re young, we think we know it all. I know this because I used to teach in a middle school! Students will argue about anything, even how to do a math problem! (Are you kidding me?)
You can think you’re right “till the cows come home”, but that doesn’t make you right.
My point is, if you are learning about God from a Bible teacher, rather than from the Bible, be careful. Check the Scriptures given to see if they have been taken out of context. (That happens a lot and is the basis of much of the false teaching accepted today!)
Respect those “old Christians” you may think are “dead” or “religious”. It’s wise to listen to the elderly with respect.
Have you ever heard someone say, “I wish I knew then what I know now.”? Selah
“Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?” Job 12:12
Did my journey with false teachers and false prophets affect my life?
Yes! It almost shipwrecked my faith and took many years for me to recover. So, no, ignorance is not bliss.
“For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4 NLT
Dear Lord, Guide us and teach us to walk with you in Truth and humility. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
*The Amplified Bible translates selah as “pause, and calmly think of that.”
In His Love, Cindy
To learn more about Jesus, read Who Is Jesus? A message for the Skeptic
“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.”
Psalm 122:6 NASB
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