Ignorant Conscientiousness
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) | Categories: Apostasy, Choices, Faith, 1 Samuel
"An ignorant conscientiousness may be quite as dangerous to a community as deliberate weakness." (Albert C. Knudson; The Beacon Lights of Prophecy; New York: Eaton & Maines, 1914)
Last week, I was studying in preparation for our upcoming adult Wednesday bible class on the Minor Prophets. While reading some background and introductory material in Homer Hailey’s book on this subject, the author was discussing the fact that false prophets were often contemporaries of the literary, inspired prophets. He continued by classifying these false prophets as either (1) mercenary (prophesying for the highest bidder); or (2) political (nationalistic). While discussing the dangers associated with such men as these, he quoted from Albert C. Knudson who wrote: “An ignorant conscientiousness may be quite as dangerous to a community as deliberate wickedness.” (The Beacon Lights of Prophecy; New York: Eaton & Maines, 1914).
What an insightful statement! The phrasing and impact of the statement really struck me. Mr. Knudson seemed to be saying that just “doing something” in the name of religion without real knowledge of what God wants, expects, and commands, can be just as destructive as outright sinfulness. When the conscience is not guided by a “Thus saith the Lord…” and is therefore ignorant, it destroys the effects of true Christianity by dilution. It reduces the positive potential of influence by causing our interests and activities to be focused on the wrong things– like worshipping and serve God “In my own way” instead of the way He said! Therefore, a skewed view of what Christianity actually is results. People are then converted to a false concept of Christianity rather than to the real thing. And yet, they go away with a warm and fuzzy-feeling thinking that they have “carried out the command of the Lord” (cf. 1Samuel 15:13). Their partial obedience, though perhaps purely motivated, is all that could result because of the lack of knowledge. Simply put: We cannot obey that which we do not know! Partial obedience and seemingly rational motivations were not accepted by God when King Saul rendered them in 1Samuel 15. Saul had done part of what God commanded and had "good" (according to his logic) reasons (see vv.20-21) for not carrying out the rest of what God had said. But he was told that he “did not obey the voice of the Lord” and “did evil” (v.19)! Did you get that? Samuel, God’s prophet, equated the actions of Saul’s ignorant conscientiousness with “evil”!
Look at one more example from the life of Saul. In 1Samuel 13 Saul had the army of Israel assembled to do battle with the Philistines. The prophet Samuel had told him to not proceed until he could get there, which would be within seven days. On the seventh day, as the army of Israel began to scatter because of fear, Saul decided he had to do something. So, he offered the sacrifice himself and prepared for war. The point? Saul was the king from the tribe of Benjamin- not a priest from Levi. Only priests were to offer sacrifices to God. As soon as Saul finished the sacrifice, Samuel arrives and scolds him saying, “You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you…” (v.13ff). Saul’s ignorant conscientiousness caused him to disobey the Law of God. His feeling that he had to do something produced sin and ultimately cost him the kingship. In v.14, we read of the prescribed punishment for Saul’s disobedience, “But now your kingdom shall not endure. The Lord has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.” Saul acted from desire to do good and with good motivations, but he violated God’s law. The lesson is simple: It does matter what we do! It is not just about being “honest and sincere” as so many believe and practice.
Ignorant conscientiousness destroys more than outright wickedness because it gives false hope and false security. Wickedness is recognized and everyone knows it doesn’t produce salvation. But because so many believe in the notion that “it doesn’t matter what you believe as long as your honest and sincere,” millions are led blindly to the slaughter thinking, like Saul, that they have “obeyed the voice of the Lord.” How sad! Both Hosea and Paul lamented the ignorance of their own people (Hosea 4:6 and Romans 10:1-3), but Jesus said it better than any other, “Not everyone who says ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is heaven.” Matthew 7:21 Don’t be guided or motivated by an ignorant conscientiousness- know what the will of God is, and do it!