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Voluntary Ignorance

The Bible has many statements that describe unbelievers. Here are a few:

“Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools.” (Romans 1:22)

“The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.” (I Corinthians 2:14)

“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (II Corinthians 4:4)

“This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.” (John 3:19)

All of this is inexcusable. It is understandable, but not excusable. The above statements are obviously true of all non-Christians of whatever description. They do not explain the ignorance of Christians.

Christians are not claiming to be wise. They are not blinded by the god of this age. They can understand spiritual things, and they love light. What is the cause of their ignorance?

William Wilberforce, a Christian who fought to end the slave trade, said it this way 200 years ago:

“It were almost a waste of time to multiply arguments in order to prove how criminal the voluntary ignorance, of which we have been speaking, must appear in the sight of God.”

And from the same:

“When God has of his goodness vouchsafed to grant us such abundant means of instruction in that which we are most concerned to know, how great must be the guilt, and how awful the punishment of voluntary ignorance!”

Voluntary ignorance! When was the last time you read all of the New Testament? You don’t know? Please ask us for a schedule called “How to Read the New Testament in 67 Days.”

Do not stay voluntarily ignorant of truth you need to know.


In the Lord Jesus Christ,

Jim Wilson

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