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Ignorance is not bliss
K. Allan Blume, BR Editor
November 07, 2014
7 MIN READ TIME

Ignorance is not bliss

Ignorance is not bliss
K. Allan Blume, BR Editor
November 07, 2014

The old adage, “Ignorance is bliss,” is not true. A similar lie is hidden in the statement, “What you don’t know won’t hurt you.” The Bible respectfully disagrees with both of these old sayings. There is no happiness associated with being uninformed.

In Hosea 4:6 God said, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” God was grieved that His covenant people were not being given the truth. He was angry the priests were not doing their job. Therefore He informed them that He was bringing His judgment on the priests and the people. The nation was falling apart, and the people were living in confusion because they did not have the vital information they needed to sustain a proper relationship with Him.

While the knowledge addressed in this text was primarily the knowledge of God, the principle flows into our present setting. People need to know! Let it be known that God is never afraid of the truth. He has never shown the slightest reluctance to raw truth.

Today the people in your church family really need to know what is happening in the culture, in mission work and in the ministries they are supporting though the Cooperative Program. Where are they getting their information? Is secular media feeding the information diet of your families with an unbiblical agenda? What can you do about it?

As I travel around the state I am amazed at the large number of Baptists who do not know there is a news agency for North Carolina Baptists. They are not getting the news and information that supports the work of the local church and guides them through the maze of challenging cultural clashes. Many are clueless when it comes to the massive impact of the ministries they support across the state and around the world.

The Biblical Recorder exists to support the work of your local congregation. We want to support the preaching and teaching of God’s Word in your church. Pastors and church leaders are faithfully engaged in proclaiming truth in worship services and Bible study groups. But when the people scatter to serve God throughout the week, they need access to news and information that will strengthen the truth they get on Sunday.

This is the reason your Biblical Recorder is important to you. We are your church’s trusted information source. Everyone in your church fellowship can get good information through the avenues we provide:

  • The Biblical Recorder in print is a great value. Individual members can subscribe or the church can provide a group plan for its members at a discounted rate. A copy will be mailed directly to their home. Also, bulk copies can be sent to the church for distribution. Visit BRnow.org/Subscribe.
  • Get the Biblical Recorder in a digital format. This is the full version of the printed copy, in an easy-to-read digital format. Subscriptions are very reasonable.
  • Our website, BRnow.org, is packed with more than 13,500 pages of valuable information. It is one of the highest ranked websites among Baptist newspapers worldwide. Averaging between 20,000 to 35,000 visits per day, visitors around the world trust BRnow.org for up-to-date news and information.
  • Download the BR app to your smartphone today. It is a free, easy way to get important news items at your fingertips. The new app has become a popular way to stay close to vital information. Watch for the release of our iPad app in early 2015.
  • BRweekly is another free, easy way to keep in touch with important news. Sign up today. Every Wednesday morning you will receive a brief summary of the week’s important news and comments from the editor in your inbox.
  • Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. We’ll give you breaking news and important information quickly.

When you subscribe to the Biblical Recorder or visit our website, you are feeding yourself and your church family the kind of material that will strengthen your church’s Kingdom vision. It will encourage and motivate you in your partnership with your local association, North Carolina Baptists and Southern Baptists as we fulfill the Great Commission of our Savior. It will be an instrument to connect you with other churches in Kingdom work, also.

We hope you will encourage your congregation to read the Recorder. And, we hope you will make room in your budget to provide the printed edition for your leadership. If possible, make it available to as many members who want it. Another option is to subscribe to the online digital edition for your leaders and members. There is a subscription plan that fits your church budget.

We want to help your members be stronger in every way: stronger in their personal walk with God, stronger in their support of their church, stronger in their involvement with Baptist missions and ministries in North Carolina, stronger in their work with national and international missions.

This blesses your church and honors God. Regardless of what you have perceived the Recorder to be in the past, this is our present focus and commitment. We want to serve you!

Please visit BRnow.org/PromoteBR to learn how you can inform your church about the many ways the Biblical Recorder will help the people in your congregation stay informed.

The Biblical Recorder receives support through your gifts to the Cooperative Program, allowing subscription rates to be much lower than the actual cost of production.

We are proud to be an agency of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina since 1939. We are equally proud to support the ministries of the Southern Baptist Convention.

BR staff

The Biblical Recorder staff is made up of five full-time and two part-time employees. Freelancers and wire services such as Baptist Press, Religion News Service and World News Service, are used to supplement stories for the print and web products.

Allan Blume is editor and president of the Biblical Recorder. He writes and travels the state to spread the word about the Recorder and what North Carolina Baptists are doing to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth. Contact [email protected] or (919) 459-5696.

Content Editor Michael McEwen writes and manages the content for the Recorder, the website and the e-newsletter. He also coordinates social media content. Contact the content editor at (919) 459-5697.

Dianna Cagle is production editor and is responsible for the layout and design of the paper. She also writes and helps with web and social media outlets. Contact [email protected] or (919) 459-5698.

Alison McKinney is business and advertising manager. She manages human resources and day-to-day operations at the BR and coordinates advertising for the newspaper, e-newsletter and website. Contact [email protected] or (919) 459-5691.

Erin Gandy is circulation manager. She manages the databases for subscribers to the Recorder and those on the regular mailing list. She also maintains the mailing list for our BRweekly newsletter which is emailed on Wednesday mornings. Call (919) 459-5693.

Emily Blake is a part-time editorial aide who provides assistance to the BR staff. She helps with church staff changes, the opportunity corner and church news. She also writes, is a proofreader and helps maintain the BR website and social media.

Kelly Hunter is a contract graphic designer who provides design content for the front page of the Recorder, the website, BRweekly and special assignments. She also works with advertisers on their graphic needs for the BR.

The BR relies on churches and associations to share information with us. Send news to [email protected].