Thursday, June 1, 2017

Zealous Ignorance

Today’s Bible Reading:  Proverbs 19-21; Romans 13

Journal Entry on a passage from today’s reading:
Topic: Ignorance



SCRIPTURE:  Proverbs 19:2

It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the way. 
(Prov 19:2 NIV)


OBSERVATION:

As I read this simple proverb today I thought, “Wow, we sure see this played out a lot these days.” I see people zealously protesting for causes they apparently have no real knowledge of. I guess this is not new in America, our nation was founded out of protest. In a nation that has enshrined freedom of expression at its very core, these expressions have taken many forms throughout our past. History has shown many of these demonstrations of public outcry to have been noble and beneficial to the progress of our country; some destructive and harmful. First and foremost however, whatever the cause one is protesting for or against, is to understand and know for what and why you are protesting. If asked why and for what you are so vociferously remonstrating, you should be able to innumerate your grievances intelligently as well as with passion. To act otherwise is to “be hasty and miss the way”—to have expended your passion and energy to no end.     


APPLICATION:

I have found it somewhat revealing on the news that so often when agitators are asked what they are seeking as the result of their acts of civil disobedience or even acts of violence and/or destruction of other’s property, they have no plausible answer. To just say, “I want all cops dead,” or “I want all Wall Street executives thrown in jail,” or “I want capitalism replaced with socialism,” without any thought as to what that means in reality is to be foolish and dishonest with one’s self. Be honest! “My life hasn’t turned out like I wanted it to and I’m blaming someone else for it. I’m jealous of those who have more than me and I want to take it from them. I’m just mad as hell and I want to hurt somebody.” As pathetic as that is, at least it is honest.   


PRAYER:

God help us! Often in life on this fallen planet people go through hard times. Sometimes whole societies or people groups are severely persecuted. This is not the fault of our benevolent life-giving Creator, but of mankind ourselves. Sometimes greed, lust and anger strike the innocent and the hearts of good people bleed. May we find our answers not in rage, but may we find our peace and our solace and even our life’s purpose  in You. Through Christ Jesus. Amen.  -AP

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