IS IGNORANCE AN EXCUSE? PARTIALLY!

The answer to this question also bears upon a greater question: Is God just?

Although Paul had admitted that he had been the worst sinner, he also claimed that he had received God’s mercy because he had an excuse - ignorance:

• ...though I was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: howbeit I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. ‭‭(1 Timothy‬ ‭1:13‬ ‭ASV‬)

However, Paul also taught that we are all “without excuse” for rejecting God, because we have the evidences of God’s existence and even His character:

• For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse: because that, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings, and their senseless heart was darkened. ‭‭(Romans‬ ‭1:20-21‬)

On the surface, this seems like a contradiction. However, it seems that this paradox can be resolved once we recognize that Scripture makes important distinctions between levels of ignorance. Some ignorance is far more guilt-worthy than others.

Jesus told the Pharisees that their sin would never be forgiven. Why not? Because they had witnessed many of His miracles and had willfully hardened themselves against the evidence, ascribing, without evidence, Jesus’ miracles to Satan rather than to the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12). He also condemned the Israelite towns that had seen His miracles more than the Gentle towns which had not:

• Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not. “Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment, than for you.” ‭‭(Matthew‬ ‭11:20-22‬ )

Jesus explicitly taught that rejecting the greater light or evidence brings greater guilt and condemnation:

“And that servant, who knew his lord’s will, and made not ready, nor did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes; but he that knew not, and did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. And to whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required: and to whom they commit much, of him will they ask the more.” ‭‭(Luke‬ ‭12:47-48; John 15:22-24‬)

Although ignorance is an excuse, no one is perfectly ignorant. All have some light but reject it in favor of the darkness (John 3:19-20).

We find this same principle operating throughout the Scriptures. Peter informed the skeptical crowds about the crucifixion and their culpability:

• “And now, brethren, I know that in ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.” ‭‭(Acts‬ ‭3:17)‬

They couldn’t have been perfectly ignorant, but they were more ignorant than the Pharisees who had been meticulously investigating Jesus. Therefore, while on the Cross, Jesus prayed that His crucifiers would be forgiven for they didn’t really know what they were doing (Luke 23:34).

We are also reminded that rejecting Jesus is far more serious than rejecting Moses’ revelation:

• See that ye refuse not him [Jesus] that speaketh. For if they escaped not when they refused him [Moses] that warned them on earth, much more shall not we escape who turn away from him that warneth from heaven. ‭‭(Hebrews‬ ‭12:25‬)

• For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? ‭‭(Hebrews‬ ‭2:2-4‬)

This principle also seems to pertain to those who had never met Jesus, suggesting that, to some degree, we are all accountable.

Whenever the greater light or evidence is rejected, there is greater judgment. Therefore, when I am asked, “Will your god condemn everyone to hell if they don’t believe is Jesus,” I simply respond, “I trust that God will be just.”