Overcoming Ignorance: Building Wise and Resilient Believers

Overcoming Ignorance: Building Wise and Resilient Believers

June 4, 2024
Katherine Schultz
In our Christian leadership roles, our ultimate goal is to guide individuals to follow Jesus wholeheartedly, both in their daily actions and throughout their lives, even into eternity. We want them to be informed and resilient so they “stand firm in the faith” (1 Corinthians 16:13). To achieve this, it’s critical that they possess a firm understanding of their faith and worldview. Understanding and defending one’s faith is essential in today’s complex world, where challenges to Christian beliefs abound. 

Believers need firm knowledge to stand against the influence of the world every day. They should be living out their faith in daily actions that demonstrate their love for Jesus. They should be seeking God with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength, arranging their lives around him. This post will explore the significance of recognizing ignorance, identifying dangers and challenges, and sharing specific strategies to establish biblical foundations for informed and resilient believers.

Recognizing Ignorance

Ignorance in faith and worldview ranges from not knowing God at all to knowing Him deeply and living out His Word. The journey from ignorance to knowledge is multifaceted, encompassing various levels of understanding and application.

• Level 0: Willful Ignorance. Not wanting to know God
  At the most basic level, ignorance in faith and worldview involves not knowing God, which the Bible describes as foolishness (Psalm 14:1). 
• Level 1: Simple Ignorance. Not knowing God
  Proverbs 19:2 says, “Desire without knowledge is not good— how much more will hasty feet miss the way!” 
• Level 3: Out of Ignorance. Knowing God and His Word but not applying It
  Moving beyond ignorance requires knowing God and His Word, recognizing the importance of Scripture in shaping our beliefs and actions.
• Level 4: Sidestepping Ignorance. Knowing God and His Word but applying it out of obligation
  This isn’t really a progression, but a detour into the wrong path. When we only do “spiritual” things out of obligation, we’ve missed the point of grace.
• Level 5: Wisdom instead of Ignorance. Knowing God and His Word, and applying it out of love and gratitude
  True wisdom comes when we not only know God’s Word but also live it out of love and gratitude for what He has done for us. It involves not only knowing God’s Word but also applying it in our daily lives, allowing it to transform our beliefs, behaviors, and attitudes.

Of course, recognizing ignorance is only the first step.

The Dangers of Ignorance in Discipleship

There are several dangers related to ignorance. 

• Hypocrisy – intentional or unintentional. When our actions do not align with our professed beliefs, we risk being perceived as hypocrites, undermining the credibility of our witness. And it doesn’t really matter whether we knew we were doing it or not, because it has the same impact on others. 
• Pharisaism – doing it for the benefit of self, or to lord it over other people. Adopting a legalistic mindset focused on outward conformity rather than genuine heart transformation can lead to self-righteousness and spiritual pride.
• Susceptibility to Cultural Influences – being buffeted about on every wave of culture that comes along. Failing to discern the influence of culture on our beliefs and behaviors can result in compromising our faith. It can keep us from growing deeper in our relationship with Jesus because we are always on the lookout for the next “shiny new thing.”
• Risk of Not Truly Knowing Jesus – discovering at the end of one’s life that one has not actually known Jesus at all. Ultimately, the greatest danger of ignorance is the risk of standing before God at the end of our lives and hearing Him say, “I never knew you” (Matthew 7:21-23).

If we want those we disciple to be firm in the faith and to love and serve Jesus, we need to show them these dangers. Even with the best of intentions, I know we all face challenges, and that includes those we disciple. Let’s look at some of those challenges.

Identifying Challenges to Wisdom and Resilience

Wise, resilient discipleship and a mature biblical worldview involves growing in faith, knowledge, and obedience to Jesus Christ. However, several common challenges can hinder this growth:

• Lack of Biblical Literacy – Many believers do not have a strong foundational understanding of Scripture, leading to misinterpretations and a weak faith foundation.
• Cultural Pressures – Secular worldviews and societal norms often conflict with biblical teachings, making it difficult to live out one’s faith authentically.
• Busyness and Distractions – The demands of modern life, such as work, family, and entertainment, can crowd out time for spiritual practices like prayer, Bible study, and fellowship.
• Shallow Community Engagement – Superficial relationships within the church can hinder deep, meaningful connections that provide accountability, encouragement, and spiritual growth.
• Moral Relativism – The belief that moral truth is subjective can undermine the authority of Scripture and lead to ethical confusion.
• Lack of Discipleship Training – Many churches do not offer comprehensive discipleship programs that equip believers to grow in their faith and disciple others effectively.
• Fear of Persecution or Rejection – Fear of being marginalized or persecuted for one’s faith can deter believers from openly sharing the gospel and living out their faith boldly.
• Theological Confusion – Conflicting teachings and doctrines within the broader Christian community can lead to confusion and uncertainty about core beliefs.
• Spiritual Apathy – A lack of passion or commitment to spiritual growth can result in stagnation and complacency in one’s faith.
• Personal Sin and Temptation – Ongoing struggles with sin can create barriers to spiritual growth and a sense of unworthiness or distance from God.
• Emotional and Mental Health Issues – Anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges can impact one’s ability to engage in spiritual practices and community.
• Materialism and Consumerism – The pursuit of wealth and material possessions can distract from spiritual priorities and create an unhealthy focus on worldly success.

These challenges are real, and we all face at least some of them. So do those we disciple. But we need to direct them toward the ways God has established for us to grow in Him. That’s the best way to build wisdom, and a strong resilient faith.

Building Wisdom and Resilience

There are several components to building wisdom and resilience. Let’s address three: apologetics, discernment, and strategies.

First, let’s understand the importance of apologetics in defending the faith. Apologetics plays a crucial role in defending the faith, empowering believers to know, defend, and share the truth effectively (1 Peter 3:15). Understanding the foundational truths of the Christian faith and being able to articulate them with clarity and conviction is essential for defending against attacks on our beliefs.

Next, let’s look at the role of discernment. It is vital, as believers must navigate a world filled with subtle deceptions. God has given us the gift of reason, and we are called to use it in service to Him. Developing discernment enables us to evaluate information critically and discern truth from falsehood. We need to be discerning – the world is a mess, but some of that mess is subtle. 

The apostle Paul warns us that Satan masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), meaning that not all that appears good or appealing is necessarily from God. Discernment is the ability to recognize and resist deceptive influences. That ability comes when we seek godly wisdom. Proverbs 3:2 says, “My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion.” And according to Philippians 1:9-10, we can pray for deeper knowledge and wisdom: “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.”

Finally, let’s identify some specific strategies to help in strengthening our defense against challenges to faith.

1. Study and Apply Scripture: Commit to a regular Bible study schedule, focusing on understanding and applying biblical teachings to your daily life. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) 
2. Memorize Scripture: Choose key verses to memorize frequently, hiding God’s Word in your heart to strengthen your faith and resist temptation. (Psalm 119:11) 
3. Practice Repentance and Humility: Regularly examine your actions and thoughts, seeking to repent from sin and draw nearer to God through prayer and reading His Word. (James 4:7-8)
4. Develop a Prayer Habit: Set aside specific times each day to pray, presenting your concerns to God with a thankful heart and trusting Him to provide peace. (Philippians 4:6-7)
5. Vigilant Prayer: Incorporate watchfulness into your prayer life by praying for strength to resist specific temptations and seeking God’s guidance. (Matthew 26:41)
6. Daily Prayer for Strength: Begin each day by praying for God’s strength and protection, consciously putting on the full armor of God. (Ephesians 6:10-11)
7. Spiritual Readiness Routine: Develop a morning routine that includes prayer, reading Scripture, and meditating on these verses to remind yourself to put on each piece of the armor of God. (Ephesians 6:13-17)
8. Immerse in Worship and Fellowship: Participate actively in worship services, Bible studies, and small groups where you can share and learn God’s wisdom together. (Colossians 3:16)
9. Commit to Fellowship: Regularly attend and participate in church services, small groups, or Christian community events to encourage and be encouraged in your faith. (Hebrews 10:24-25)
10. Stay Vigilant and Encourage Others: Be alert to spiritual attacks and temptations. Join or form a small group to encourage and support each other in standing firm in the faith. (1 Peter 5:8-9)
11. Cultivate a Mature Biblical Worldview: Regularly renew your mind by aligning your beliefs, behaviors, and attitudes with God’s will, thereby transforming your perspective to discern and follow His good, pleasing, and perfect will. (Romans 12:2)
12. Invite Others into the Family of God: Actively share the gospel and make disciples, baptizing them and teaching them to obey Jesus’ commands, fulfilling the Great Commission. (Matthew 28:19-20)

Cultivating our preparation through apologetics, discernment, and specific spiritual strategies will build wisdom and resilience. 

Now What?

We have explored the significance of recognizing ignorance, identified dangers and challenges, and shared specific strategies to establish biblical foundations for informed and resilient believers. And we need to pursue a deeper understanding of faith and worldview. We want to foster a robust relationship with God for ourselves and in those we disciple so that we are all wise and resilient in our faith. 

We are convinced of the immediate relevance of developing a 3-dimensional and biblical worldview in students so that they have a firm foundation of beliefs that they live out in their daily behavior as they continue with an attitude that orients their heart toward the Lord Jesus Christ throughout their lives. 

• What Is the 3-D Worldview Survey?
• Take the 3-D Worldview for yourself

If you haven’t yet used the 3-D Worldview Survey with your class, check out the pdf below for some questions to get you started.

#3dworldview #biblicalworldview #assessingworldview