Defining Ignorance

“Its not who you are on the inside, its what you do that defines you.” These words were spoken by Rachel Dawes in Batman Begins, and thought it was a suiting way to start this post. I don’t intend to define the term “ignorance,” but rather show an ignorance that defines one’s character.

Ignorance is such a negative term in our culture. Even when used in a correct way, with no negative connotations, as meaning “lack of knowledge” its always taken in the worst possible way. People always get so fidgety around the term.

Been reading a book that I would like to pull a quote from. “These are people who do not have to invest a lot of reflection in doing good for others. Their deeds are ‘in secret’ no matter who is watching, for they are absorbed in love of God and of those around them. They hardly notice their own deed, and rarely remember it.”

Dallas Willard writes these words and is commenting on the Sermon on the Mount, chapter 6 in particular. Jesus remarks that when we do a good deed, we should not let our “left hand know what our right is doing.”

“‘Don’t think of elephants. What are you thinking of?’ ‘Elephants.’” This line from Inception illustrates the inability to not think of something by commanding it. Of course if you set out to not know, or be aware of an action, you must be aware of it on some level in order to “not be aware.”

Seems like there is more at play here than simple “rule following.” This is why I love the Gospel.

“The Gospel? You mean that whole Jesus died for people thing?” That is precisely what I mean. But to boil it down to just that I think is a disservice. Its a disservice because the thing that typically follows this is (solely) some kind of entrance into heaven following death thought. Again, something I do not push aside. But what if the aim of Jesus’ death is not simply for our “eternity” but our “reality” also?

Jesus certainly taught like our lives here are important. Going back, this is why I love the Gospel. It impacts everything, past, present, and future. And it aims at our character. The very depth of our being. The aim of Jesus’ teaching, and the life that he brings his disciples (and not just the 12) is to alter our heart so that loving our enemies, and praying for them too, is the natural outcome of the heart.

I don’t know if you’ve ever tried to love or pray for your enemies. Its tough. When we mention (or think of) loving our enemies, we usually get (or think of) 2 responses. (1) Why!? or (2) Yea… Thats a tough one… 1 reveals our unwillingness to love our enemies and 2 reveals our lack of belief that its really possible in a consistent fashion.

Can we really be blamed for these responses? This is the traditional Christian view, right? Well, no… and yes. I am not going to be so blind as to say “Yes, we deserve blame!” Of course we do. Be it an active “Why!?” or a passive “Yea…,” we still neglect loving a person, on some level at least. But, I also understand why we would say we do not. I understand the struggle to “keep our heads above water.” Often we just try to get by with the best we got. Our intentions are aiming for the stars, even if our actions sometimes fall short.

What if our actions always reached our aim? What if we could do away with our aiming sight altogether, so as not to aim at all? What if the striving to “keep our heads above water” was no more?

Maybe the whole point of Jesus life, death, and resurrection is to give us ignorance. To free us from the fight to be selfish or caring. To alter our character so foundationally, that love to God and love to people just comes to us.

Maybe he wants to make “the good” our defining characteristic.

I know that attaining this isn’t easy. It costs me daily. The more I seek this, though, the more I am pleased with the changes going on within my heart.

The cost is there, but its worth every penny.