Patience With Ignorance Helps You See Love And Compassion

by Eric Elkin

“God overlooks ignorance of these things in times past, but now directs everyone everywhere to change their hearts and lives. ”

— Acts 17:30

Paul says, "God overlooks ignorance." I'm the one having trouble with it. My frustration seems to grow every day. Sometimes I wonder if the annoyance is legitimate or just a COVID-19 induced paranoia. Am I just dwelling on behaviors I used to blow off? Or, is it real? Then I visit Facebook and get confirmation that ignorance really bothers me.

Take, for instance, "Plandemic," last week's hottest conspiracy theory. Dr. Judy Mikovits released a video claiming the COVID-19 pandemic was a planned attack on the American people by the U.S. government. The grand orchestrator of the entire fiasco is Anthony Fauci. Fauci, it just so happens, is a regular target of Dr. Mikovits' extreme claims.

The story and Dr. Mikovits were easily discredited if researched. However, her video was watched by 8.4 million people. I like to think 6 million saw her as a crock, but I know that is not true. Facebook removed the video, citing something about not meeting their standards. In truth, the move only created a new conspiracy theory. Someone will now cry foul citing censorship.

It turns out I am not the only one tiring of the constant onslaught of conspiracy theories. Yesterday, I read an article from a "fake news" source, NBC News. It reported on the toll conspiracy theories are taking on E.R. doctors in New York City. If the doctors are stressed, I can only imagine the impact is equally strong among nurses, emergency workers, and hospital staff.

One doctor described the frustration he felt trying to confront someone on Facebook with his own testimony. According to the conspiracy theorist, the overflowing full ICU unit is really empty. When his attempts at providing proof fell on deaf ears, it left him deflated. Later he reflected, "Some people are out there who are sitting in their homes, going on these videos and then telling us it's fake while we're saving lives. I felt like, 'What are we doing this for?"

“The reason there’s so much ignorance is that those who have it are so eager to share it. ”

— Frank A. Clark

If God overlooks ignorance, maybe I should re-evaluate my relationship with the great omnipotent one. Perhaps it is time to find a new god to worship. The thought inspired me to search the internet for "a God who hates ignorance." Unfortunately, it turned up one blog post by the same name.

The blogger found it confusing that some people could actually say they believe in evolution and the biblical story of creation. It made them wonder, "How stupid is the average American." The author also wanted to know how anyone could believe in, "a poorly-written ancient collection of books filled with allegory and mythology...?" Then it hit me, she was calling me ignorant.

Maybe God overlooking our ignorance is a good thing. Especially considering the ignorance, God ignores maybe your own. And we are living in a world of ignorance right now. Even the brightest minds in the field of infectious disease don't know how to handle this virus pandemic. Perhaps what we could do is to learn God's patience.

Patience, I believe, can improve our vision. It allows us to see love and compassion overflowing in a time of frustration. If you pause, you will see complete strangers doing amazing things to encourage and support each other. Maybe if we see these things, it will change our hearts and lives to live more compassionately. It will be the wisdom we need in a time of ignorance.

Click to read Acts 17: 22-31

Reflection Questions:

When have you been frustrated by ignorance?
Can you think of a time you were embarrassed by your own ignorance?
What is one amazing act of love you have witnessed this week, even if it was something you read about in the news?
How can a focus on amazing acts of love help change your heart?

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