Is Ignorance a Sin? by Reuben B. Will

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · May 31, 1877

Is Ignorance a Sin?

By Reuben B. Will

To be ignorant of duty toward God, is thought by many at the present day to be almost a virtue; for, say they, If we do wrong and do not know any better we will never be condemned for it. Evidently this is a very loose view, and leads its possessor to indifference and carelessness in the service of God. Surely such are to be pitied.

To be ignorant in worldly matters is considered so blamable, as to render its possessor unworthy of mingling with the higher class of minds, and such an one is soon banished into the outer darkness of society; but to be ignorant of God and his holy commandments, of Jesus Christ and his Holy Spirit, and a Christian experience is considered to be nothing worthy of blame. According to the judgment of the world, he that hears not Chesterfield shall be damned, but it is neither shame nor sin to him that hears not Christ, Paul or the prophets; but God's thoughts are not as man's thoughts nor his ways as man's ways.

“To the law and to the testimony,” whoever does not speak and act according to these, is not in the way of truth. In the old dispensation, ignorance was regarded as an offense, and God gave express directions what to do for sins of ignorance. Lev. 5: 4-6. When a person did wrong ignorantly and it afterward became known to him, he must confess it, and then bring an offering with which to make an atonement. Without an atonement, the person would bear his own iniquity. Chap. 5: 17.

The New Testament recognizes the same law. Peter, when charging the Jews with killing the Prince of Life, says: “I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers” (Acts 3: 17), but did he excuse them and say, because you were ignorant it was no sin? No indeed. He says: “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.”

Paul regarded ignorance inexcusable. Concerning the heathen he says: “For the invisible things of him [God] from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead, so that they [the heathen] are without excuse.” Rom. 1: 20. Jesus says: “He that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes.” Luke 12: 48. His ignorance does not clear him.

In most cases where men sin ignorantly they might have known better, but many now prefer a newspaper to a religious paper, and would rather read the last report of fashion than search the Scriptures, or fix an ornament on their head, rather than a religious doctrine in it.

Some men will read more in a day about politics, stocks, accidents, and nonsense than they will about Christ and his commandments in a month. They will read more about a candidate for President and study his policy more in one campaign, than they will about the King of kings and his future reign in a whole life time.

Would it not be considered a foolish thing for a man to shut his eyes at midday and then blame the sun if he strikes his foot against a stone and falls? When we consider man in his creation as endowed with intelligence, there is, and can be no excuse for ignorance.

To know duty, one must use the means provided of God. He has given his word and called men to teach it, so that with the religious press to aid, no one need be ignorant of their duty toward God and man. Some do not desire knowledge, for say they, where much is given much will be required. This is willful ignorance, hence a double sin. We are responsible not only for what we know, but for what we might know, and will not take the trouble to find out. Heb. 2: 3.

There is a heavy responsibility resting in this matter. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me. . . . They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity. And there shall be, like people, like priest.” Hosea 4: 6-9. The ministers of the present day are to a great extent responsible for the condition of the people. If the word of God is not just as they wish it to be they will not practice, much less teach it, for fear of becoming unpopular, and consequently lose their position and salary. See Isa. 26: 10, 11.

The work of Christ is the wonder of angels, and shall we, who ought to be more interested in it, remain ignorant of the great plan of redemption, and the wonderful love of God in ordaining it? Let us not forget the tender mercies of God toward those who are willing to renounce their wrongs, and walk in his truth. And let us also remember that the excuse of ignorance will not be a cloak for our sins if we turn away from the light God gives us.

REUBEN B. WILL. New Market, Va.