CHAOS FROM IGNORANCE OR FACING HARSH TRUTH: Part III

Philip G. Ney MD

Pioneer Publishing, 17/11/09

Reasons for ignorance:

1) Willful ignorance. "I could know but I dare not because I would then have to change." There is no knowledge without the appropriate action of putting what you know into action.

2) No opportunity? I have been among the Sawi of Irian Jaya who until 1962 were living in the Stone Age. They were a tribe of headhunting cannibals who pillowed their heads on the skulls of their victims. They live in fetid swampland inhabited by crocodiles, poisonous snakes and leeches, having no contact with the outside world. They idealized treachery. (33). There was no written language and no one to tell them there was a God who cared. So, how could Paul writing to the Romans be correct? "So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God"(34). "For the truth about God is known to them instinctively. God has put this knowledge in their hearts. They can clearly see His invisible qualities"(35). In his books, (36) Don Richardson points out that everywhere he can find, there is language and customs that point to noble instincts for family and concern for children which shows they are not without civility. They have a strong curiosity. When they look at the night sky and see even one star, they can ask what, how and why. If they follow this curiosity truthfully, they will find God. That is why it is so terrible to squash a child's curiosity yet this is done routinely by formal education.

3) Apathy. "Who cares?" "Just leave me alone" "Life has always gone on as it has. Why should we ever think it would be different?"

4) Pride. "I know better. I am my god". The inherent narcissism of modern religions shows how man has yearned to be his own god. But like Narcissus, those who worship themselves eventually drown in their conceit and isolation.

5) Stupidity. People keep studying and learning, but they don't "get it". They study the opinions of the thinkers and accumulate degrees but still, they do not understand. (37)

6) Despondency: "It is all too confusing and too depressing, so pass me another beer, mate"

7) Distraction of Fun, fun, fun, or sex, sex, sex, or work, work, work or war etc.. Any kind of entertainment that will keep people from seeing their ignorance and turning towards truth.

8) Narcissism. The American Psychiatric Association now recognizes forty-five paraphilias. Orgasm, in any way, with any thing, at any time has become the ultimate pursuit for many. People are increasingly inclined to "pleasure themselves" but learn too late it is a dead end for then they can no longer have normal intimate heterosexual intercourse.

9) Fear. " He is an awesome God". Yet people will not, cannot face Him. They will seek any way to avoid a direct encounter. For the "world isn't looking for him" (38)(John 14: 17).

The current situation:

" Yes, go but tell my people this. You will hear my words, but you will not understand. You will see what I do, but you will not perceive its meaning. Harden the hearts of these people, close their ears and shut their eyes, that way they will not see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn to me for healing (Isaiah 6: 10)(39).

Jesus quoted Isaiah, "They hear my words, but they don't understand them so they will not turn from their sins and be forgiven." (40)(Mark 4: 12).

Paul also quotes Isaiah, "You will see what I do, but you will be not perceive its meaning for the hearts of these people are hardened and their ears cannot hear and they have closed their eyes, so their eyes cannot see and their ears cannot hear and their hearts cannot understand so that they cannot turn to me and let me heal them." (41) (Acts 28: 26)

The hard-heartedness of those days occurred just before the destruction of the highly ethical Israeli nation and the just Jewish and Roman civilization. That hard-heartedness is similar to that of our day when there is such an enormous need to understand and apparently so little response to offers of Hope Alive group counseling. It is almost enough to make one lose hope.

Most people reject or suppress or oppose or reject the truth for a lie or all four (42). Their ignorance is a choice and subsequent action, too often to include others in their deliberate ignorance. They refuse to make the connections that are obvious from the science and suffering right in front of their eyes. So don't be surprised with a less than enthusiastic reaction to your offers of help. Just remember that only when people understand what their persistent distress is caused by, can they recognize their need. Then the Lord can save and heal them. This means you must keep speaking up about the damaging effects of abuse and abortion. You must encourage those women, men and children who could speak out and help groups like Silent No More.

IHACAns must also answer the question asked of Isaiah, "Whom shall I send as a messenger to my people. Who will go for us?" You must be answer, " I will go." (43) because Christians are commanded to preach the gospel and heal. Servants and soldiers are under command and do not wait for a "call" or for the right "passion".

Isaiah asked for how long must he keep trying. He was basically told, until there is no one left to listen. It must seem like a thankless, endless task with no retirement. Yet to obey the Majestic King of the universe makes very good sense and we have God's mighty Spirit in us. In this we have a huge advantage over Isaiah.

1) At the beginning of Hope Alive counseling, you encourage the counselee to insist, "I must know!" That person is speaking for and to themselves. They must know themselves, which is the most difficult of all pursuits to dispel ignorance. However, when people know themselves, they have courage to face other harsh knowledge. They can face all truth and then know God. As they see God they gain a true perspective of themselves and others. They may loose friends but eventually they see more clearly who others are.

2) Hope Alive counselees must also insist, "I must grow". "I must mature". God is not so interested in healing as He is in maturing. After all you body will die or be changed. What you take to heaven is the person you are. And God wants mature friends to converse with.

3) Hope Alive counselees must learn to fight a losing battle victoriously. There is no excuse for bad manners. It seems that we have gone to far and God will let the enemy have his way to discipline us. Though our body may die, God will be glorified in our life and death and our spirit will be set free. (44) IHACA March in song book.)

4) By facing harsh truth in themselves and their families, IHACAns can stop tragic history from repeating itself (45,46) They can know the source of all truth and introduce others to Him.

5) There is an enormous, desperate and growing need. You have a clear mandate. (47) You have all the power and protection you will ever need (48).

You have a proven technique (31,32). So what are you waiting for? Remember God does not like hesitation and procrastination. He is particularly disappointed when you use, "I haven't been called" &/or "It isn't my passion".

6) Still you may ask, "What is in it for me?" You can have these wonderful blessings:
a) you become more mature and wise,
b) With wisdom, knowledge comes more readily.
c) You are not afraid to know,
d) You can deal with the ultimate questions,
e) You will know God, you will know Jesus in the fellowship of his sufferings,
f) You will know joy and peace and life eternal,
g) You will do better research. You will make more precise hypotheses and therefore discover things that others will not. Of the five most earth-changing scientific discoveries and equations, four of the five were wonderful god-fearing people: Isaac Newton, Daniel Bernouilli, Michael Faraday, and Rudolf Clausius. (1) The fifth was Albert Einstein who was an avowed atheist until he had to admit there was a creation event and thereafter spoke of the "ancient one" as did devout Jews.
h) Gratitude From those you help heal in body, mind and spirit; there will be lasting thankfulness,
i) you will discover people you can trust, people who have their priorities straight and are not afraid to be honest about themselves.
j) there will be pockets of civilization where you feel comfortable,
k) there will be "stars" in your crown,
l) there will be congruence in what you believe and what you do,
m) and there are more advantages promised by the Sovereign Lord Himself. (49,50)

The key to the future:

Let us go straight to the source of truth all day and everyday. Do not forget that for God's children, even harsh truth is beautiful because He is always loving and always has our best interests at heart. Like Isaiah, we must dispel ignorance even as the world becomes increasingly hard hearted and uninterested in the truths about abuse and abortion. As Jesus commanded we must preach the gospel and help Him heal for all our days, just as eagerly when without praise, recreation or retirement.

We must let the Lord make us mature. Since humans tend to mature only in crises, we should not avoid the crises of spiritual warfare. Fighting God's enemy, which promotes family and IHACA unity is much preferred to struggling with disunity that is more likely to arise when we become fearful and indolent. Let us ardently pursue wisdom. One should listen most carefully to those statements that make you feel most uncomfortable. In doing this, you will discover very important aspects of yourself. With that, you will gain wisdom. With Christ inside you, you will have the Holy Spirit who will lead you (individually and collectively) into all truth (51).

"You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead I have called you friends, for everything I learned from my father I have make know to you"(52). And remember, when all is said and done, as a bold IHACAn, well scared, oft disappointed, seldom appreciated, rejected, wounded and weary, we can say as Paul did, "It was worth it. I got to know Jesus" (53).

References:

33) Peace Child, Don Richardson, Regal Books, Glendale California, 1974.
34) Rom. 1:20
35) Rom. 1: 19
36) Lords of the Earth, Donald Richardson
37) 2 Tim. 3:7
38 John 14:17
39) Isaiah 6:10
40) Mark 4:12
41) Act 28:26
42) Rom. 2:8, Rom. 1:18, I Tim. 3:8, Rom. 1:28
43) Isa. 6:8
44) Songs That Jesus Loaned Me for Love and Life, Philip G. Ney, Pioneer Publishing 6th ed, Victoria, 2009.
45) Ney PG, Child mistreatment: possible reasons for its transgenerational transmission. Can J Psychiatr 34: 594-601,1989.
46) Deeply Damaged, Philip G Ney, Pioneer Publishing, Victoria 1994.
47) Luke 10:9)
48) I John 4:4
49) Psalm 41:1-3
50) II Timothy 3: 11-13
51) John 16: 13
52) John 15: 14 &15
53) Philippians 3:8