The Plumbline

It takes considerable knowledge just to realize the extent of your own ignorance.  (Thomas Sowell) Since we are God’s children, you must not think that God is like something that people imagine or make from gold, silver, or rock. In the past, people did not understand God, and he ignored this. But now, God tells all people in the world to change their hearts and lives. (Acts 17:29-30) God may let us get away with some things for a while, just because we really don't know any better. Let him begin to unfold the Word of God and his principles on how to live upright lives for a bit and he begins to ask for some change. Why? We are no longer ignorant - we know what is expected. Sometimes it does take quite a bit of knowledge to show us just how ignorant we have become - not because we are 'dumb', but because we have been influenced to ignore those things for so long. For a long time, God's people may go along, living as they want, then the day comes when they realize what t...

The greater our knowledge increases the more our ignorance unfolds. (John F. Kennedy) Imagine that you are a well-studied, perhaps even having accumulated a few degrees you proudly display on your walls, yet lacking in all manner of common sense. If you don't think this is possible, look again! We are told to value the degrees we can amass - gaining more and more education from our books and halls of learning - yet we oftentimes forsake common sense when we need to count on it the most! While scripture clearly encourages us to be open to 'new ideas', we are also reminded of the importance of learning 'good judgment' in light of all our 'new knowledge'. The intelligent man is always open to new ideas. In fact, he looks for them. (Proverbs 18:15) Now teach me good judgment as well as knowledge. For your laws are my guide. (Psalm 119:66) It was Kennedy who also reminded us there were risks and costs to our every action - as well as the risks of ...

There is a saying in today's culture which goes something like, "You cannot fix stupid".  In other words, sometimes it is just beyond your control - you don't have the influence, the wherewithal, or the know-how to stop whatever "dumb stuff" is happening.  When this is said as an insult, someone is implying you are beyond learning.  There were times when my kids were growing up where I almost thought this principle applied.  I'd watch them do exactly what I had taught them repeatedly not to do and then see them suffer the consequences of their actions.  Now, lest you think I am some kind of terrible mom, I never knowingly let them do something which would hurt themselves, but I did let them struggle on occasion because it was this very struggle which helped them to realize there was some wisdom in what I had taught.  They had to "learn" from their missteps - or they would keep repeating them.  We cannot expect others to just accept at "fa...