We are taught God “so loved the world” John 3:16. We are taught that love does no harm, and that is fulfillment of the law Romans 13:10. We are taught to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind as well as love our neighbor as ourselves Mark 12:30 -31. For the most part, loving ourselves comes fairly easy, although the rest does require thought, study and action.

Let me pose this question; is it better to attend the funeral of a dead soldier, or to work to avoid, and/or stop the war before the soldier is killed? If you chose the latter, then you chose well, and it should be obvious. Stopping the war would be much more “loving” than allowing it to go on. Shall we call out corrupt politicians before their corruption causes death, or should we say nothing and let death happen? Jesus is called the Prince of Peace Isaiah 9:6. Biblically, the word peace implies peace with GOD first and foremost. It then applies to the cessations of any hostilities between men.

But, the deceitfulness of Satan has led to another meaning for peace – peace with the devil. That peace is what the unbeliever has, but it is a false peace. We know that Satan is the “Father of lies”, a deceiver and murderer from the beginning.

Now, let me pose another question. What if you knew that something was wrong, and instead of warning others, you remained silent. Would you not be guilty? Proverbs 24:11 & 12 teaches that ignorance of an evil is no excuse. Is verse 11 speaking only of spiritual things? The pro-life community would say “No!”- emphatically. Good sense would dictate that it has a general application toward preserving life spiritually and materially – all life!

The Westminster Larger Catechism says of the Sixth Commandment “Thou shall not murder”:

Q. 135. What are the duties required in the sixth commandment?
A. The duties required in the sixth commandment are, all careful studies, and lawful endeavors, to preserve the life of ourselves and others by resisting all thoughts and purposes, subduing all passions, and avoiding all occasions, temptations, and practices, which tend to the unjust taking away the life of any; by just defense thereof against violence, patient bearing of the hand of God, quietness of mind, cheerfulness of spirit; a sober use of meat, drink, physic, sleep, labor, and recreations; by charitable thoughts, love, compassion, meekness, gentleness, kindness; peaceable, mild and courteous speeches and behavior; forbearance, readiness to be reconciled, patient bearing and forgiving of injuries, and requiting good for evil; comforting and succoring the distressed, and protecting and defending the innocent.

That which is highlighted in bold is huge by itself. We are “to carefully study” how we can accomplish the preservation of life! The way it is to be done is through “lawful endeavors”. We are not limited to the Bible only in our “careful study”. If so, we would not be able to know and “study” what is going on in the world around us in order to fulfill the commandment to preserve life! “Lawful endeavors” would be always within the Biblical moral constraints and restraints. They would include obedience to GOD first and foremost, then being adequately informed, then prayer over that information, then lawful action in response to that information. Obedience, information, prayer, action OIPA (pronounced OYPAH) Remember, love does no harm, and wilful ignorance and apathy can be very harmful.

Obedience to the Ten Commandments is a start. They summarize all of the laws of GOD in the Bible. There are ceremonial and sacrificial laws which pointed to Jesus Christ’s advent, and upon His death and resurrection, those laws were abrogated because He fulfilled them John 19:30. Christ did not come to abolish the law Matthew 5:17. He did come to “fulfill” it! There’s no way he could fulfill the moral or civil laws as they are ongoing. Jesus confirmed that with the rich young ruler Matthew 19:16,17.

Having gotten this far, let me ask if it is o.k. to be ignorant? God had a sacrifice for ignorant sins in ancient Israel Leviticus 5:18. GOD is merciful, and He realizes we are only human and not omniscient (all knowing). But, what if someone who has knowledge of something tries to alert you to it, and you refuse to hear what that person has to say? That would be willful ignorance. If that person is known to you and is emphatic on the knowledge they are trying to share with you, and you still persist on being ignorant of that knowledge, that is not only willful ignorance, but that might just well be evil. Obviously the circumstances of the information would have to be a factor. If the information that person is trying to share is how to write code properly when programming computer software, then probably your desire to remain ignorant is not only understandable, but certainly no evil.

On the other hand, if that person is trying to alert you to a very specific evil being perpetrated upon mankind and which is harmful to life, should you then be prepared to put your ignorance aside and listen and learn. In my estimate, the answer is “Yes!” – an emphatic Yes! Now, there are multiple reasons why people are ignorant. No exposure to information is the understandable one, and the one about which GOD is speaking in Leviticus 5:18 but in Proverbs 24:11 & 12 ignorance is no excuse, so you are still a sinner and in error even if ignorant. Proverbs 24:11 & 12 definitely does not allow for “willful” ignorance.

Another, and very common, reason for ignorance is being the victim of lies (propaganda). How are lies spread? In today’s culture, television news and newspapers are the biggest culprits. They are owned by wealthy people with an agenda, and they will lie to accomplish that agenda whatever it may be. There are other special interest groups that purvey lies as well. Communists, Socialists, NAZI’s, Fascists, Monopoly Capitalists are economic ideological groups that purvey lies that contradict the Bible. Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Atheists etc. contradict the Bible – St. Paul said “Let GOD be true and all men liars Romans 3:4 “all men liars” means the lies could even come from the pulpit and preaching! Study to show yourself approved II Timothy 2:15 – approved by whom – man or GOD? Now, let’s get down to some SPECIFIC examples. (If you prefer willful ignorance, you better stop reading now)

A recent example would be the COVID situation – called a pandemic by some, and a plandemic by others. This writer tried to warn everyone in his church and family and neighborhood that the COVID plandemic was a fraud and the vaccine was a “death jab” and debilitating. This writer has been proven correct by the likes of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Pharmaceutical whistle blowers, Del Bigtree, Mike Adams, Dr. Robert Malone, Greg Hunter, Dr. Judy Mikovitz, Ed Dowd and scores, if not hundreds, of others who are scientists, doctors, business men, clergy, professors etc. etc. But, what happened when this writer spoke out? He was mocked, vilified and denied as not credible by his fellow Christians who were egregiously indoctrinated with government and pharmaceutical propaganda foisted upon them by people in mainstream media and positions of authority. In other words, they chose willful ignorance over knowledge that would have save millions of lives. Was this writer wrong?

Let’s look for a moment at something that is a little more nuanced, but still important. It has been documented that people die at a greater rate when taxes go up. Should people know what is a tax? That seems reasonable. So, let’s examine what is a tax. The most common and apparent is a sales tax when you purchase a product. That is acceptable as long as it doesn’t apply to the absolute necessities of life – air, water, food, shelter, energy and medical care. Well, already we have a problem in that all of those are taxed, but they are hidden taxes for the most part. The hidden taxes are through regulations and inflation. Regulations cost Americans over $1 Trillion a year – that’s close to 8% of the GDP. Inflation is the increase in the supply of money and credit which is taxing Americans at a rate roughly of 20% a year today. Then there is income tax which is not hidden, and affects most everyone in America. That takes another 14.5%. Property tax is roughly 20% (renters pay it even though they don’t realize it). So, we’re up to almost 63% of people’s income and we haven’t detailed all of the taxes yet. Look at you phone or utility bill some day and see how much you’re paying in taxes on those. Then there’s excise taxes, environmental taxes, use taxes etc. etc. It has been estimated that as much as 70% (possibly more) goes to taxes in America. Is that stressing people out? Does stress kill?

Let’s look at another nuanced situation that amounts to stealing and burdening our neighbor with debt that stresses him out and stress kills! A bond is debt and a tax both. It is money that is advanced at a high interest rate (attractive to investors) for some civil project i.e. a water treatment plant, a new school, more money for teachers, new highways, a new civic center etc. etc. Bonds are usually passed at the ballot box and put the voters in debt causing a tax increase (increased taxes kill) for anywhere from 10 – 50 years. Now, you may like what the bond is going to provide, and you may be able to afford the increased taxes, but what about your neighbor – can he afford them? If not, and the bond passes, will he be hurt (no harm in love – remember?) A Christian, in good conscience, can not vote for a bond issue period! Get the government leaders on a mindset to pay as you go instead of the banksters mindset of enriching them through debt!

This writer has concluded some of these things through “careful study” both of the Bible and of the world’s ways. Is this writer ignorant – of course! Does this writer ever lie – not knowingly! This writer can not know all there is to know, although this writer wants to know the important things in life that will preserve and protect life. There are those who are agents of Satan who seek to kill and destroy. They must be exposed Ephesians 5:11. Failure to expose them and to help protect life is a sin in this writer’s viewpoint. Exposing them will bring you criticism, vitriol, death threats, shunning, lawfare, persecution etc. Jesus was persecuted unto death, but we have not shed blood yet striving against sin Hebrews 12:4. This writer can not say just how much courage is in my possession. Nobody can until they are confronted. But how pusillanimous and naive is it to think you can be willfully ignorant about important issues that affect people’s daily lives?

The early Christians overcame the fear of government to do what was right – worship the one true GOD regardless of the consequences. Should we also obey the one true GOD regardless of the consequences – WLC 135 protect and preserve life!

Pensiamento Peligroso