Do Not Be Afraid (Easter)
Patrick Edwards
Mark 16:1-8
Introduction
Ignorance can be bliss, right? I mean here you have in this movie The Matrix a character who has achieved knowledge, he knows the truth, and wishes that he didn't. I mean I think for many of us ignorance can be bliss because it means we don't have to confront reality. We don't have to think about it. At times in my life I have felt that way about checking the balance of my bank account; like I didn't want to know the balance; I didn't want to have to think about it. I wanted instead to live in ignorance. I've known people who felt that way about college acceptance letters, or job offers, or maybe test results from the doctor. People who wouldn't open those letters or e-mails because they were afraid of what might be inside. Instead, as long as that letter was closed they could live in ignorance and go on with their days.
Unfortunately, the world doesn't work that way. Like sometimes my dog will be hiding and by hiding I mean doing something like this. If I can't see you, then you can't see me, right? Now, we all know it doesn't work like that. I mean even if I don't check my bank balance, I can still be broke. Whether you open or don't open that acceptance letter or job offer doesn't affect what's inside. Whether or not you check your test results won't determine whether or not you have cancer. Ignorance may make us feel better, but it doesn't change reality.
I say this because I feel like that's the way that most Americans treat the question of God. In my experience I'm finding more and more so-called "happy agnostics." Such people are agnostic in that while they believe "in God" they don't really have much of an idea of who He is or anything else. But they are perfectly happy with not knowing. Start to press them on what they believe and they get rather uncomfortable. Why? Because you're forcing them to think about some things which they have chosen to not ever think about. Case ...
Patrick Edwards
Mark 16:1-8
Introduction
Ignorance can be bliss, right? I mean here you have in this movie The Matrix a character who has achieved knowledge, he knows the truth, and wishes that he didn't. I mean I think for many of us ignorance can be bliss because it means we don't have to confront reality. We don't have to think about it. At times in my life I have felt that way about checking the balance of my bank account; like I didn't want to know the balance; I didn't want to have to think about it. I wanted instead to live in ignorance. I've known people who felt that way about college acceptance letters, or job offers, or maybe test results from the doctor. People who wouldn't open those letters or e-mails because they were afraid of what might be inside. Instead, as long as that letter was closed they could live in ignorance and go on with their days.
Unfortunately, the world doesn't work that way. Like sometimes my dog will be hiding and by hiding I mean doing something like this. If I can't see you, then you can't see me, right? Now, we all know it doesn't work like that. I mean even if I don't check my bank balance, I can still be broke. Whether you open or don't open that acceptance letter or job offer doesn't affect what's inside. Whether or not you check your test results won't determine whether or not you have cancer. Ignorance may make us feel better, but it doesn't change reality.
I say this because I feel like that's the way that most Americans treat the question of God. In my experience I'm finding more and more so-called "happy agnostics." Such people are agnostic in that while they believe "in God" they don't really have much of an idea of who He is or anything else. But they are perfectly happy with not knowing. Start to press them on what they believe and they get rather uncomfortable. Why? Because you're forcing them to think about some things which they have chosen to not ever think about. Case ...
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