Growing in Grace and Knowledge
Tara Lang Chapman
Roman month of December 2009
The apostle Peter admonished the saints to "grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ" (2 Pet. 3:18). Do you realize that one must grow in grace (both mercy and favor) as he or she grows in knowledge? How many read over these words without ever giving this deeper thought? We know what it says, that we should grow both in grace and knowledge, but I've come to discover that as I grow in knowledge, I require more grace.
I'm thinking of something wise Solomon said, his quoted words which line my current email signature, long due for an update. He said, For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow (Ecc. 1:18). I understand this saying far too well, because I've experienced it. There's that other phrase that's probably much better known by most people, which says basically the same thing in the opposite way: "Ignorance is bliss." Ironically enough, though I agree with the former, I mostly disagree with the latter. I will explain.
While the former is true, namely that in wisdom there's grief and increased knowledge increases sorrow, the scriptures also teach against those who are willfully ignorant and who despise knowledge. Besides that, being one who loves to gain wisdom and knowledge, despite the grief and sorrow it brings, I don't believe ignorance is bliss. It's true that ignorance may be perceived as bliss by those who despise knowledge, but this is because they have little to no desire to correct any wrongs of which they're guilty and little to no desire to better themselves and others.
I do not think ignorance is bliss, because many times possessing knowledge prevents and protects against grief and sorrow. However, it's been my observation over a good while that those ignorant of something seem to have protection to an extent, more so than those not ignorant, from harm resulting from transgressions. For example, I've noticed it more likely that a person will become ill by eating something he (or she) knows he should not eat, than it is for a different person who thinks there is nothing harmful about the particular food. Have you noticed that it's usually the one time you don't do something you know you should when something bad happens. It may very well be that one time you don't wear your seatbelt that you get into a life-threatening accident, when you knew very well that most fatal accidents are the result of not wearing one's seatbelt. If you have a certain knowledge of something, you will be more likely to pay for your foolish actions than if you had done wrongly but had not known it could have gotten you in trouble. I've observed this in myself and others long enough to know how it works.
So, in this limited way, ignorance may be considered bliss, simply because one who does or doesn't do something he knows he should or shouldn't do is much more likely to suffer negative consequences, whether it be direct punishment by God or another authority/god (such as an earthly parent) or whether the person condemns himself in mind, since the mind is quite powerful and can actually cause things to happen. But besides this phenomenon, ignorance is not bliss.
I think rather than ignorance being a protective factor--a lessened risk--against negative consequences for a destructive action, choosing a destructive action while having foreknowledge of the possible negative consequences is a condemning factor--a heightened risk--for negative consequences. So ignorance only seems to have a protective factor against negative realizations and consequences but in fact is not bliss. To say it is protective is like the deceptive sayings that breast feeding vs. formula feeding lessens the risk of allergies, diabetes, cancer, and a host of other ills and that not using smoked tobacco lessens the risk of lung cancer, when in fact the reality is that formula feeding heightens the risk of those various ills, and abusing smoked tobacco heightens the risk of lung cancer. Sometimes the biggest deceptions are found in the way people convey their messages.
The reason wisdom brings grief is because the world despises wisdom. The message Solomon reiterates in another of his literary works--the Proverbs of Solomon--is that it does no good and is often even dangerous, to speak words of wisdom and reproof into the ears of fools (of which the world has many). They will hate you, because fools delight in their folly. It's also true, as I've well observed myself over a number of years, that those few who are wise are made out by the foolish masses to be foolish and lift themselves up as the ones making intelligent decision and holding correct beliefs. The foolish have power in numbers. Folly and evil are repetitively made synonymous in the scriptures, as are wisdom and righteousness.
The scriptures speak: Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (Isa. 5:20) There are so many examples I could give to show this. I'll give a few. There are those who call abortion a good thing, the Christian thing, and that anti-abortion people are the evil ones. There are those who say that homosexuality is normal and okay behavior and those who are anti-homsexuality are evil. There are those who say vaccines are good and that those who do not have their children vaccinated are the evil and stupid ones. And so it is with many things like dangerous drugs vs. good diet and wholesome herbs, keeping God's Law vs. not keeping it, warring with other nations vs. not warring, and many more. People will twist things around and call the good bad and the bad good. For those who love wisdom and knowledge, it becomes both frustrating and horrific to live in the world amongst blinded, foolish, and wicked people. It's especially difficult when they are persecuted for their righteousness.
The reason why one needs more grace (mercy) as he increases in knowledge is because as the person realizes more and more what's right and wrong and more about the deceptions and dangers in the world, it becomes increasingly difficult to walk in perfection. One may walk perfectly in spirit, wanting to do everything the right way, but it may be physically impossible. There is so much wrong with the way we live, and people are stuck. However, there is a bright side. When the person shows to God his desire to change a certain thing in his life, He is pretty faithful to make a way--in His timing--for the person to obey. This has been true, at least, in my life, in my experience, and this is a great blessing to me. Grace also can mean favor. We grow in favor as God sees our life of undying obedience.
Knowing all these things, the question one must ask him- or herself is: Do I want to grow more knowledgeable?
Do you want to study to grow in knowledge and wisdom? Do you want to be like Jesus/Yahushua? Do you seek God for understanding? Or do you deliberately shun knowledge and wisdom? Do you prefer to spend the bulk of your time delighting in foolish entertainment? (Note: This is not to say that we are never to enjoy a wholesome variety of entertaining activities, for those who love to twist words and/or miss the point.) Are you one of those who are "willfully ignorant?"
Jesus Christ of Nazareth grew in wisdom and favor [grace] (Luke 2:52). He was taught by his Father. He learned, and then he taught to others what he knew. After all, The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so (Prov. 15:7). Are you seeking to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ? Do you hunger and thirst after righteousness (Matt. 5:6)? Are you sharing your knowledge of the truth as the Lord did?
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen (2 Pet. 3:13-18).