Ignorance Is(n't) Bliss

Good evening to all of my readers! I hope all is well with all of you!

Today I started my first day of my summer classes for this year and the class I attended today is Philosophy 111 (Critical Thinking). I truly do feel as though I will really enjoy and benefit from this class, as it is a skill we all ought to have. I whole-heartedly believe that if people learned and practiced the skill of critical thinking our world, our economy, our communities, and our hearts would not be in shambles like we so often see or hear about. My friends, if you would just be so kind as to lend me but a few minutes of your precious time, I would like to try and convince you all to think!

In class, the professor was actually quite gifted in getting students into thought provoking debates. I found this in itself to be completely amazing, I mean what college student actually wants to be in a hot classroom for 3 hours on a beautiful summer day? I went into the class half expecting everybody to just sit there, apathetic to what was going on, only ritualistically taking down notes and daydreaming for the extent of the lecture. Me, being the timid type, kind of just sat back and listened, took notes, and thought about everything that was being said. If I had more courage, I would have been able to contribute quite a bit to one particular discussion I wanted to share with all of you tonight. Class was concluded today after an extensive discussion on the saying (which has become a way of life for many) "Ignorance is bliss".

This discussion was held primarily between two of my classmates. One young lass was arguing against the concept of ignorance being bliss, while one gentleman was arguing for the idea. Now let's think about this concept and our own lives for a moment. Do we either consciously or unconsciously avoid a subject because we know that we may be upset or displeased with the answer or the conclusion to that particular subject? For example, it may be the case for quite a few people these days that they put off looking at their credit card bills because they feel that if they see what they had spent, they may despair at the fact that they cannot possibly afford to pay back what they'd borrowed. In this situation, it may be true that ignorance is a means to achieve temporary feelings of bliss, but remember, this can only lead to temporary bliss and not last. This idea or concept which is adopted as a way or philosophy of life by so many can only lead to certain troubles and leads to no liberation from those troubles.

Consider now, my friends, how God or His word and His teachings are regarded these days. When you enter into your place of work, your school campus, or even your church or your own home, how openly can we speak of God without facing sure persecution? People have found a false sense of bliss by remaining ignorant to God. I attended a different church this past Sunday morning and the lack of interest, the lack of respect, and the overall complacency or apathy really shocked and disturbed me. If we can't even get excited about our Creator - who saved us without us even deserving to draw our next breath - in church, the house of God, how much more ignorant will we be to God in places where we can't even speak of Him? During the great debate during class, I took a side note of my own: "We naturally think ignorance equals bliss because it is an easy way out in a society that is lazy and morally unsound. Without Christ as the lamp to our feet as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, it will utterly crush and destroy our world."

The Word of God also cautions us that we must not live in ignorance! We must educate ourselves not only in His teachings but in all things good and we must take them into practice, only this will lead to full, lasting bliss. Peter teaches in the book of Acts after God filled him with the Holy Spirit that it was by the ignorance of the people that Jesus was put to death. After Peter prays for a man who was lame (a man who suffered from paralysis), God healed the man of his paralysis and gave him strength so that he could stand and walk and rejoice. Acts 3: 14 - 26 tells us what Peter had to say to the people about their ignorance. "14) But you denied the Holy One and the Just and asked for a murder to be granted to you, 15) and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. 16) And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man (the man whom God healed through Peter's prayer over him) strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. 17) Yet now, bretheren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18) But those things which God had foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 19) Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, 20) and the He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before. Now I'm going to jump ahead 3 verses to Acts 3: 23 - 26: 23) And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet (Jesus) shall be utterly destroyed from among the people. 24) Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. 25) You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, 'And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.' 26) To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.

Acts chapter 3 really is quite an amazing chapter of the Bible. The Holy Spirit given by Jesus speaks through Peter and tells us that if we turn away from a life of ignorance and apathy we will find true bliss (verse 26 "To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.") If we just turn to God and give Him the time of day, it is promised that He will redeem us from our troubles. I don't know about you my friends but when I feel as though nothing is troubling me, I feel pretty amazingly blissful and it is promised to us all if we repent for our sins and living in ignorance and just chase after Him open heartedly! Bear with me everyone, I'm going to give you all one more passage from the book of Acts and then I'll wrap it all up.

Acts 17: 30 - 32 also cautions us not to live a life of ignorance or apathy if you will (because they are so closely related they might as well be brother and sister). In Acts 17, it is no longer Peter teaching with the Holy Spirit, but it is now Paul. Acts 17: 30 - 32 tells us: 30) Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31) because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man (Jesus) whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead. 32) And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said 'We will hear you again on this matter.'"

It has been said that history repeats itself if we choose not to learn from it. By being ignorant and apathetic to learning, we continuously go in the same circles of turning to God and giving Him the glory and then feeling as though we have progressed to the point where God is no longer needed and then there is sure to be a downfall only to lead to people once again seeking after God. I strongly encourage you all to spend some time in prayer and reading God's word or at least picking up a book and learning about things that have transpired or watching the history channel. What you will be seeing on the history channel is what our future looks like, but with the "advancement" of humankind, the devastation and destruction only becomes more terrifying. Stand up for what you believe in and if you believe in God then you very well ought to educate yourself on who He is and who He wants us to be so that we can stand up for Him. Many will be against us in this age, but it is no different than shortly after the resurrection of Christ. Acts 17: 32 shows us clearly how history truly does repeat itself. "32) And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said 'We will hear you again on this matter.'" Even in these times, where Christ had just been taken up into Heaven not too long before, people mocked the people professing the word of God and the good news, but some did listen. We may be discouraged when we see how God is regarded in our society, but some want to hear more. Some people need to hear it and we need to go out and pray for and heal our emotionally and spiritually crippled brothers and sisters just as Peter prayed healing for the crippled man in Acts chapter 3 and he was healed by God's grace and love.

Since you are reading this right now, I'm assuming I've kept the attention of some of my readers and I am ever grateful for you all. I encourage any of you to comment or discuss these things with me. Thank you all very much for your continued support and kindness.