Is Ignorance Really “Bliss?”

I’m beginning to wonder if ignorance is bliss. If having too much information is really more damaging than having too little information.  Naturally, in some disciplines, that would not be the case and I believe Bible study is one of those. However, I am finding out that other areas can be a bit frightening when it comes to information overload.

I subscribe to several blogs and newsletters, most conservative in nature. What I am learning is that day after day, almost hour after hour I am getting inundated with information. Much of it preceded by requests for money and others simply throwing out bits of information. Much of it, at least on the surface, seems immediately unverifiable or a “day late and a dollar short” on timing. Here’s just a few of the sources that I explore:

The Media Research “Free Speech Alliance”

AARP Grassroots Organization

The Liberty Council

Focus on the Family Action Council

The Patriotic Resistance

Normally, I would not be interested in these sites or their platforms. But we are not living in “normal” times.  I fear our country is heading down a road that we will soon find disastrous. How anyone believes a government that cannot manage its own affairs with any modicum of restraint, can now, somehow provide relief for businesses or classes of citizens that cannot manage their affairs with any modicum of restraint is beyond me. Not only that….well, I’ll not go down that road.

As I said earlier, I wonder if having too much information is really more damaging than having too little information.  Naturally, in some disciplines, that would not be the case and I believe Bible study is one of those. Having extensive political and social information readily available to everyone can be daunting. However, when it comes to the study of the Bible I’m not certain you could ever have too much information. Yes, I am aware that there are many out there who would prefer to live within their own sphere of ignorance (lack of information). However, being a disciple of Christ means we are followers AND learners. We cannot truly follow someone we do not know without the peril of misunderstanding and misrepresenting what that someone believes and teaches.

Jesus challenged his disciples in a variety of ways. Pushed their knowledge of the holy to new limits. I wonder sometimes if I am letting him do the same thing to me. Or have I narrowed my focus to much and kept my information sequestered to those sources I agree with, or better, agree with my way of thinking.

It would be true that there are absolute truths. It would also be true that anything beyond absolute truth is up for discussion and even disagreement. I hesitate to say that never before in modern history as the environment been so rich for such discussions. I also hesitate to say that never before have the consequences of such discussions been so intimidating.   Yet I fear both observations are true. All in all, now could be a good time for ignorance. Time for just muddling along and living in my own little world.  Now if I can just find bliss.

A Little Laughter

I don’t know if you’ve seen any of these drawings before, but when my sister sent them to me (the above drawing is just one of many) I was taken back by the wonderful thought of Jesus laughing.  Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever given much thought to his pleasurable side. I suspect I’ve known he was warm and caring. Perhaps at times dumbfounded by some of his disciples remarks or actions. But I’ve never given thought to times of laughter and joy he might have enjoyed.  Furthermore, I don’t know that I’ve ever heard a sermon or read a book that would deliver such an image of my savior.

The gospel writers don’t give us much of a picture of the “lighter” side of Christ. Perhaps they were too busy getting what they had heard or seen down on paper and gave little thought to those special moments when life was just a “walk in the park”.  It’s true the synoptic writers tell us of Jesus letting the little children come to him; his laying hands on them and blessing them. But that’s about it.

I rather like the image portrayed in the drawings and am thankful for the chance to experience them. I’m not sure who the Jesus Painter is, but I’d like to meet him. I’ll bet his heart is definitely in the right place.  There is a web site for The Jesus Painter, but it does not contain any of the drawings I’ve seen. So I’m not certain it’s the same person.

Heaven or Hell

“Heaven is a wonderful place —- filled with glory and grace — I long to see my Savior’s face — Heaven is a wonderful place.“

That’s a chorus from a song we used to sing in College and occasionally in church. Naturally it’s upbeat and the song conveys the sweet, serene environment that awaits all Believers.

The opposite of course is Hell. People don’t enjoy talking about Hell – at least the Hell of the Bible. Hell, I don’t like talking about Hell. The Bible has nothing good to say about the place. It is described “as a place of fire and darkness (Jude 7,13), weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matt 8:12, 13:42, 50 & others), of destruction (2Peter 3:7 & others) (Reformation Bible, ESV, p 1432).”  And even though these descriptions may be symbolic, it is not a pretty place and may be much worse than the human mind could ever imagine.

In the news recently there is a story of a 93 year old man in MI who froze to death in his own home because he had not paid his utility bill and the company had cut his power. In the story it talks about the slow, agonizing death this man must have experienced as his body slowly shut down. Hell would be like that. A slow agonizing process – but having it never end.

Most Christians don’t like to think about that when it comes to Hell. We talk about it and make reference to it as the place where unbelievers will spend eternity, but then we don’t really contemplate the significance when cast against the concept of God’s love and grace. You know, never ending torment as a result of choosing not to believe in God through Christ. If we push the concept past our own sphere of relatives and friends to some far off continent and unnamed face, then it doesn’t seem so bad. But when it comes to a loved one, we somehow want to rationalize that a good and loving God would never do such a thing to a person who had lived a selfless life and touched the lives of so many, even without faith as we know or describe it. That person could be a parent, a child, or favorite teacher.

I would like to think my Dad will be in heaven and not in hell. He did not lead a perfect life, but he did touch the lives of  countless number of people. Also my Uncle Cliff, who never said an unkind word or did an unkind deed as near as I recall. There are others, but you get the point. Would an all-loving, all-knowing, compassionate God turn his back on such persons? Apparently so. Does that make God less loving, less compassionate? Not really, since it was not his choice, although (depending on your thoughts of predestination and election) he knew that would be their end from the beginning. Now, that’s something I struggle with mightily.

There is nothing comforting when the conversation turns to Hell. There is nothing compassionate when the reality of it’s domain is discussed in rational terms. In fact, most people would choose not to talk about it all. For it is a person’s choice, apparently, that determines their eternal abode in such a terrifying place. Whether it’s common grace or rejecting a personal witness, a person chooses to turn their back on God. Consequently, living in the absence of the presence of God is not enough, there are more severe and eternal consequences. Just like living in the presence of God is not enough, there are eternal blessings.

To be honest, I don’t think of either concept that much. I suppose I should. But they just don’t seem that significant in the present. Isn’t it enough to say believers enjoy the personal, peaceful, and joyful presence of God through Christ when they believe and unbelievers find themselves always searching for true peace and personal joy in the absence of that personal relationship?  Is “hell” a necessary element in coercing people to believe? Is it the one point that tips a person’s private scale to acknowledge and embrace the Almighty? If so, isn’t that kind of belief simply – as some would say – “life assurance” and not the belief of one who chooses to follow and learn from Christ?

If there is a heavenly home and I find myself there, I suspect I’ll sing praises to God with the rest. If, perchance, there is not a heaven, as we often describe it, then I doubt I’ll be banging the walls of my casket thinking I was cheated out of my room above the garage at the heavenly mansion.

Moments in Time

There are certain “moments in time” that one expects to see as a forever part of their lives. Not necessarily epiphanies, although I’m sure that may be the case, but regular moments when you get caught up in the excitement and almost surreal nature of the experience.  I had one of those moments today.

My wife and I teach a new members group for our church. Alice, my wife, was instrumental in getting it organized and laying out the “curriculum” for it. I’ve been a teacher/helper along with some others. Part of my role is to teach sessions on certain church ordinances, the “Baptist Faith & Message”, gifting and a couple other things.

This mornings class was focused on what is a Southern Baptist and Southern Baptists compared with other baptists and certain doctrines outlined in the Baptist Faith and Message. What made everything special was the excitement and energy of people opening their hearts and minds to explore and think about things they may have made assumptions about for a good deal of their lives. Some in our class, Southern Baptists for thirty, forty or more years were opening their minds and hearts to realize that some of what they knew was not really what they knew.

Let me explain that last statement. Much of learning takes place simply by coming to the realization that we know what we don’t know and have a certain freedom in that not knowing. Not only that, but realizing that we don’t know will free us to begin to learn and know. Not simply because someone tells us something, but because we’ve examined it for perhaps the first time and now have an “ah ha” moment.  Those, my friend, are moments in time to cherish.

Myself, I enjoy learning and stretching my mind around new ideas and concepts. Either that, or closely examining something I’ve thought I knew and attempt to come to terms with its strength or weakness as an idea. But….when I get to share those moments with others – well, that’s simply hard to beat.

Life is short. Too short to not be learning. Therefore, I think I’ll use today as a springboard for tomorrow. Perhaps, I’ll stumble across another moment in time.

Ain’t life grand!

What To Do?

I must admit my head is spinning. My heart and mind is reeling with “what ifs”.  Not so much from inner turmoil rather from a sincere uncertainty as to what is happening to our country and the collective mindset that seems to say, “Let government solve the problem.”

After watching senators and congressmen and women put their hand on a Bible and swear to uphold God knows what in the months and years ahead. Then watch our President in a prayer breakfast knowing that it’s likely he’ll go back to his office and sign the freedom of choice act allowing more abortions and eliminating any band on partial birth abortions. Then watching his wife fumble through the words of the National Anthem as she stood by his side.

It was also interesting reading the post on the Baptist Press on Obama’s policies and what seems to be on his agenda.

Yes, I know God is in control and perhaps all those praying for President Obama will be willing to confess that is a fact and as much as they may see Obama as the “savior”, that job has already been taken.  Furthermore, I would urge anyone anywhere to take note and be alert. Whether it’s a new national bank (which IS being discussed), national health care, wide open national borders or unhampered assault against the unborn, this country will soon become the home of government rule, not the home of the free. And the land of the brave…?

The push this is having on my heart and mind is intense. It’s been thousands of years and not much has happened that falls out of the eye of God. So I suspect, this too will not go unnoticed – not my anguish but the direction of our country. Yes, I will trust. But I will also seek ways to take action.  That’s not normal for me, but then I suspect these are not normal times.

God help the United States of America.