Articles
Things To Be Ignorant Of
The world may sometimes view Christians or perhaps children who are raised by parents who are Christians as sheltered because they are ignorant of certain things. God’s people are not necessarily supposed to be ignorant of naive. In fact, the Bible would often encourage us not to be ignorant of certain facts (Romans 11:25; 1 Corinthians 12:1; 2 Corinthians 1:8; 2:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13). Christians and children raised by Christians are really not ignorant of the devil and his temptations, the evil within the world, etc. Christians and children raised by Christians actually know the reality about subjects like life after death, God’s plan for man’s salvation, etc. An individual can know certain things are wrong without knowing all the details about how people engage in such actions or all the perverse ways people commit various sins. A person does not have to have an impure mind in order to understand the difference between good and evil (Hebrews 5:11-14). The Bible actually would encourage us to be ignorant of certain things.
Here are some verses which teach there are things we need to be ignorant of:
- Romans 16:19 - “For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil” (NKJV). Contrast what is said in Romans 16:19 with what is said in Jeremiah 4:22. Jeremiah 4:22 says, “For My people are foolish, they have not known Me. They are silly children, and they have no understanding. They are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge” (NKJV).
- 1 Corinthians 14:20 - “Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature” (NKJV).
- Ephesians 5:11-14 - “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: ‘Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light’” (NKJV).
God wants us to be simple concerning evil. It is fine for a person not to be an expert in how to sin. In fact, God wants us to be ignorant when it comes to knowing how to sin. God wants us to be babes in malice. Babes are ignorant of malice and thus God wants us to be ignorant of this attitude. People engage in things which are shameful to speak about and it is fine for a Christian to not know all the details about every type of wicked behavior people engage in.
Christians need to be more concerned about knowing the will of God than they are about being an expert in how to sin. Christians need to be concerned about filling their mind with God’s word (Psalm 119:11) than understanding every off-color joke the world might tell (Ephesians 5:4). Christians do not need to be ashamed of the fact they do not take things in an evil manner but instead think of them in a pure light (Titus 1:15). Christians don’t need to feel like they have missed out on something important because they have not lived a life of sinfulness. Revelation 2:24 talks about some who have remained godly in the church at Thyatira as those, “who have not known the depths of Satan” (NKJV). It is a good thing to be ignorant of the depths of Satan. Sin does not bring anything good into an individual’s life but also brings forth death (Romans 6:21-23). Let’s not think we have missed out on something important because we did not engage in some form of wickedness many of those around us engaged in. A person has not gone to the dances (Galatians 5:19-21), not tasted alcohol (Proverbs 23:29-35), not used drugs or tobacco (1 Corinthians 6:12), not engaged in fornication (1 Corinthians 6:18), not looked at pornography (Matthew 5:27-28) etc. has really not missed out on anything. In fact, they have only avoided things which would bring a lot of hardship and regret into their lives (Proverbs 13:15).
Maybe one is raised by parents who are Christians. If so, do not resent the fact they have tried to keep you from experiencing all the sin in the world. Instead be thankful for people who are trying to help keep you away from those things which would be destructive and can easily ensnare those who give into it just once.
