When Ignorance Meets Arrogance

What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes and think themselves so clever. Isaiah 5:21 (NLT)

Never before in the history of the world has humanity had access to so much information. But information alone is not enough. While access to information has proliferated, the wisdom to interpret and understand is tragically lacking.

Spanish-American philosopher George Santayana said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” We are seeing a rise in interest in failed ideas and philosophies because many people cannot remember the past. This ignorance of the past gives way to the arrogance which believes that even though all that have come before them have failed, this generation is smart and capable enough to make it work.

Somebody once said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Whether it is insanity or arrogance, we face a serious problem because true wisdom only comes through humility. God’s word plainly states: When arrogance comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 11:2 (CSB)

It is easier to see the speck in someone else’s eye, while ignoring the plank in our own eye. We must exercise caution when speaking of someone else’s ignorance and arrogance. We do not want to be guilty of thinking more highly of ourselves than we should.

Remember, God loves the whole world including the ignorant and the arrogant. When the arrogantly ignorant refuse to accept truths that they cannot personally reconcile or fully understand, they imagine that anything beyond their knowledge is impossible or irrelevant. As followers of Christ, our mandate and commission are still in effect. We need wisdom and Holy Spirit strategy to win this generation for Christ.

What They Don’t Know

Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. Ephesians 4:18 (NLT)

There are those people who would prefer to think that what you don’t know can’t hurt you, but the truth is what you don’t know can kill you. Ignorance is bliss until it isn’t. Not knowing what you don’t know creates a particular vulnerability. You cannot seek what you are unaware is missing, and you have no way of preparing for challenges that you ignorantly or willfully ignore.

Willful ignorance will never be an acceptable excuse. They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. Romans 1:19–20 (NLT)

God has revealed his truth through the Scriptures and through nature. Willful ignorance occurs when someone chooses not to know, since knowledge requires active effort rather than passive reception. God’s light does shine in the darkness, but continued resistance will make a heart resistant to the light.

The French philosopher Blaise Pascal said, “In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don’t.” The light is greater than the darkness, and the light of the gospel is still burning brightly. However, even though the darkness cannot overcome the light, we must choose to walk in the light of God’s truth. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. John 3:20 (NLT)

Let It Shine

Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and him him him him him him him him him him glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16 (NASB 2020)

It is frustrating to deal with those who are both ignorant and arrogant, who choose to live their lives hiding from the revealed truth of God. Those of us who are called to preach the gospel might like to believe that we can preach our way into people’s hearts. However, the ignorantly arrogant often have a resistance to the proclamation of the gospel.

We will continue to preach the word, as we have been commanded to do, but the key is in letting our light shine by the way we live. This requires relationship, patience, and compassion. As always, Jesus is our example: When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36 (CSB)

Those who are ignorant, even arrogant, still need a Savior, and our compassion and willingness can make the difference. We must never forget that Christ had compassion for us or forget that at one time we too lived our lives in the darkness.

Even so, we must remain clear-eyed about our undertaking. God does not condone willful ignorance. Ignorance and arrogance are a choice that people make because knowledge and revelation would demand change that might be uncomfortable.

It is not our job to convert or to save anyone. Our mission is to show compassion and set an example by the way we live our lives. Patience is required especially when it involves those who are closely associated with us. “This Little light of mine. I’m going to let it shine.”

God Will Make Things Right

Human pride will be brought down, and human arrogance will be humbled. Only the Lord will be exalted on that day of judgment. For the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has a day of reckoning. He will punish the proud and mighty and bring down everything that is exalted. Isaiah 2:11–12 (NLT)

In today’s world, it can be easy to slip into Asaph’s perspective in Psalm 73. The proud and the arrogant might appear to be winning the day. They do not seem to be plagued by the same things that trouble the rest of us. We must go beyond envy and instead view them with compassion.

It can be difficult to maintain the proper perspective in a world that has turned its back on God. But that is exactly what we are called to do. We are to keep our eye on the prize and if our heart is in the right place, our greatest desire will be to bring as many people with us as possible. When ignorance meets arrogance, the world is chaotic, but God has promised to make things right.

Steve Ekeroth