Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.

Martin Luther King, Jr. 

I grew up in the Golden Age of sports - at the dawning of the Little League era. I played Little League Baseball and Little League Basketball and Little League Soccer. When I got older - it was the City League era. I played City League Softball and City League Volleyball (Co-ed & Power Leagues) and especially City League Basketball. 

In fact, I have played and coached so many sports throughout my life that it has really taken away some of the joy of watching them. I get aggravated when the coaches don't do something I think they should, really aggravated when the players mess up, and am driven to madness when the referees see a call different than I do. So at times, these sports that I enjoy so much, bring me anything but joy. 

Then, there is track.

I love watching track. I never ran track, never coached track, and only began watching it about eight years ago when my oldest daughter casually announced that she was going to the area finals in two or three events. Now I can't wait for track season to start. I love going to the meets, I love watching the races, and I love going home and talking about them.

Why is that, you might be wondering? It's because ignorance is bliss! Since I really don't know anything about the sport, I can simply enjoy watching those who do - and it's very entertaining.

But, what can be "blissful" in one area of life, can be very dangerous in others.

Have you ever noticed how many people approach religion in the way that I approach track? They don't know anything about it, but they like watching those who do (or at least those who claim they do). Since they know nothing about it, and really don't want to, they can bounce around from event to event just taking in the religion that suits their lifestyle the best. For such people, the words of the Bible (and, therefore, the words of God) are secondary - they just like watching the game... and "hanging" with those who agree with them and say what they want to hear.

So, what's the problem? Simply this: You and I will not be judged by the results of a sporting event, but we will be judged on the results of our religion. The fact is that service to God is not a "spectator sport" - it is the essence of our existence! If we approach religion like a spectator, drifting to the most exciting events but never bothering to learn or do enough to take part in them ourselves, then we very likely will find ourselves in the position of watching the victors receive their crowns, while we go off to join those who did not compete according to the rules or those who never even ran the race in the first place.

Are you... living in "blissful ignorance" in the most important area of your life?

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. I Corinthians 9:24, NIV