This is a blog post for my fellow truth-seekers, watchmen on the wall, those who have eyes to see and ears to hear.
"My family and friends won't listen to me?! What do I do? It's so frustrating!
Myself and several of my close friends have shared feelings of urgency and frustration, but no one seems to be listening. I want to share some scripture that I came across that jumped out at me so hard! If they jump out at you, maybe the Holy Spirit will lead you to pray, study, and meditate over them. Maybe you can share in the comments your discernment on the matter? I guess the topic is: Ignorance vs. Willful Ignorance
Through your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 1 Corinthians 8:11
As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.
Romans 14:1
Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
Philippians 3:15-16
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 12:9
Also, besides the above scriptures, I was reading about the 7 churches not too long ago and I came across some interesting scripture in the letter to Thyatira. Something caught my eye in the following verses while reading it. I wondered if this passage could be called not only the "corrupt" church, but also the "ignorant" church?:
In Rev 2:23-25, it sounds like it could be talking to our friends and family who can’t hear or won’t hear what we are saying. They don't realize the depths of Satan's ways...
The facts are, not EVERYONE is a watchman on the wall and some believers can not handle the depths of Satan's ways or just weren't meant to sound the alarm. We share the truth in love and God will take care of the rest.
Every believer has his/her assignment in the Kingdom of God. The kingdom is perfectly filled with a wide variety of misfits and outcasts.🖤
It just sounds like Christ is saying to believers in these verses, “𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐈 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞, 𝐠𝐮𝐲𝐬! 𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐧, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐇𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐎𝐍 because 𝐈’𝐦 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠!!”
In verses 26 and 27 up there, could those verses be speaking to the people who understand the depths of Satan, are calling out the Jezebels (verse 20), speaking truth and overcome and keep His works until the end? There will be some believers that do not participate in the false teachings going on in the church (mentioned in the above Revelation scripture); however, they don't call them out on it, either. It sure sounds to me that even though some believers won't call out the Jezebels for whatever reason, it is highlighted that that they did not participate in the false doctrines and to hold fast until Christ returns. It could be that their job is to be a prayer warrior, an encourager...there are so many functions in the body of Christ!
I am not advocating for ignorance. There is an obvious difference in ignorance and willful ignorance.
Christ warned us over and over and over to not be deceived. He warned He'd spit out the lukewarm. Then there's the verse about being blotted out. All those verses to keep us on our knees and not boasting in our own works. None of us are righteous without the blood of Christ covering us. No one. Not the pastor. Not even the most upstanding person you have ever met. No one is righteous enough to stand before a perfect and Holy God without the shed blood of Christ. Quote from a friend: "I believe that if you are truly ignorant Gods protection can be your covering. It’s those who have been being warned, been given evidence and who refuse to see and acknowledge the truth out of laziness and/or pride. This is not black and white, it 100% is a heart matter and only God knows that."
“I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” Proverbs 21:2 and Jeremiah 17:10
May God have mercy on our brothers and sisters that do not understand the deep things of Satan.
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. Matthew 10:16 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
2 Corinthians 2:11
Other blog posts relating to this topic:
"So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge." 1 Corinthians 8:11 Praying that everything I say to be edifying and led by the Holy Spirit. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 12:9
1 Corinthians 1:18-25 18For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
Finally, I'd like to highly recommend this video:
Updating to add:
A ritual that helps you keep Jesus first in your life is not a bad thing. Good for you if it helps (keeping a Sabbath day, food restrictions, etc).
But do not condemn others or create a barrier for entry into the family of Jesus for others.
Paul gets really worked up in the NT about anyone trying to create a barrier to people receiving the Grace of God.
Do not make the Sabbath or the Law a stumbling block for other believers or make them question their salvation.
And vice-versa.
For example, if you do not partake in the Sabbath in the way of setting aside a day, do not condemn those who do. We are all in different stages of our walk!
After all, Jesus Christ is our ultimate rest. We rest in Him. Every day. 24/7.
Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Present and speak truth in love - not puffed up with knowledge of the scriptures with no love to give.
Be humble and loving.
Share your growth and what you are learning...but share it in love! It's the Holy Spirit that ultimately convicts us after certain truth is presented. God's timing is also important when it comes to certain truths.
This will be our third Christmas without a Christmas tree in our house or celebrating Christ's birth on December 25th. I don't expect all believers to understand that choice....and that's alright.
A couple verses on this (a couple repeats from the above blog post, but worth repeating):
𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝟏𝟒:𝟏
"As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions."
𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝟑:𝟏𝟓-𝟏𝟔
"Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained."
𝟏 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝟖:𝟏𝟏
"So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge."
A quote from my brother Ricky Rennie:
"Is Ignorance really bliss?? Upside can be a greater degree of Gods mercy, BUT limited revelation and intimacy.
On the flip side, the converse is true with knowledge, but it comes with great responsibility!"
Would anyone like to add their thoughts on all this? We are all passionate about what we're learning and digging in! Growing in the faith! Seeking His face! It's awesome and I'm having a ball! God is good. That said, don't forget your first love while obtaining all this knowledge 🖤 Revelation 2:4
Don't get lost in letters on a page and puffed up with knowledge of the Scriptures and forget this:
“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!
Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life."
John 5:39-40