Ignorance Is Not Bliss
I heard a television reporter make a statement one time that would probably shock most people who are actively involved in organized religion. This reporter said: “Evidence today reveals to us that fewer than 10% of those who are active members of any particular denomination have a WORKING UNDERSTANDING or KNOWLEDGE OF THE DOCTRINE their church believes, and an even a smaller percentage can articulate the “Articles of Faith” of their church.” Actually this doesn’t surprise me considering that the majority of churches today put little or no emphasize on the DOCTRINES OF CHRIST. All that matters to most religionists is to get a sinner to “accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Saviour”. Think about your own Church! What things do they put the most emphasize on? Is more emphasis placed on what the Lord Jesus Christ at Calvary actually accomplished for those He represented or on what the sinner will do with Christ, i.e., will you open your heart and let Christ save you? Has your Pastor ever preached a message on CHRIST'S RIGHTEOUSNESS IMPUTED as the only hope of a sinner’s salvation? Do you understand the importance of this great Biblical doctrine? Maybe you think doctrine isn’t that important, all that matters is that you believe in Jesus? As long as Satan can keep you ignorant of Christ’s righteousness as your only hope of salvation as declared in the doctrine (teachings) of Christ, he’ll encourage you to sing songs of praise, pray, give, attend church, and even preach on emotional, meaningless subjects-See II Cor.11:13-15. In this matter of salvation and eternal life, IGNORANCE ISN’T BLISS -“But if our Gospel (good news of salvation accomplished by Christ at Calvary) be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”(II Cor.4:3,4)
If you CONSULT THE SCRIPTURES, you’ll see how the Holy Spirit inspired the Apostles to stress the importance of sound doctrine. All throughout the Gospels, our Lord astonished the Pharisees with His doctrine (teaching)-Matt.7:28; 22:33; Mk.1:22; 11:18; Lk.4:32. Christ warned His hearers to “beware of the doctrine (teachings) of the Scribes and Pharisees”- Matt.16:12. Like their Master, the Apostles stressed doctrine in the early Church-“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ DOCTRINE and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”(Acts 2:42) Consider the Apostle Paul’s warning to believers-“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences CONTRARY TO THE DOCTRINE which ye have learned; and AVOID THEM.” (Rom.16:17) I’d say doctrine is quite important! I’m not advocating you must be a theologian in order to be saved, but I know based on God’s Word that men and women aren’t saved in ignorance, and they’re not brought to a knowledge of what Christ did for them at Calvary by error. THEY MUST HEAR THE TRUTH -“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”(Jn.8:32) Hear God’s Word - “So then faith (not our belief, but what we rest in) cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (DOCTRINE).(Rom.10:17)