I have personally heard a Christian say they wish they had never been taught a certain something was wrong. They wished they could partake in the worldly pleasure and maintain a good conscience. In short, they were claiming that ignorance is bliss. This mindset is the complete opposite of what a Christian should have. We should desire knowledge, as it supplies us the necessary tools to serve God and abstain from evil. Instead of wishing we had never heard the admonition, we should be glad we now know that the action is wrong! Ignorance has never had a positive connotation when considering spiritual matters.

Think upon Paul’s statement toward the men of Athens. “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30). This idea that God “overlooked” this time of ignorance does not mean it was accepted by Him. The mystery had not yet been revealed that all men everywhere could be saved (Ephesians 3:1-7). For this reason the times of ignorance were permitted by God to continue until the mystery was unveiled. Paul had revealed the mystery that all men are called to salvation through Christ. They were to repent! Ignorance was not an excuse. Neither was it an exemption from God’s final judgment. “Because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained” (Acts 17:31). The men of Athens were held accountable for their ignorance.

Jesus said, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32). In order to be set free from the bondage of sin (John 8:34) we must know the truth! The idea of being guilty only if you know the action is wrong is not seen in scripture. Ignorance while committing an offense does not minimize the consequences awarded said offense.

Ignorance is a tool the devil uses to make us subject to the law of sin. Paul wrote, “to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness” (Romans 6:16). Paul did not specify whether or not the action was recognized as being sin. Sin is sin, whether you know it or not. Just because someone does not know the consumption of alcohol is wrong, does not make it okay for them to partake in the action. This is true for any transgression. Whether you are sinning knowingly, or ignorantly, you are a slave to that sin, and the punishment is death (Romans 6:23).

The inevitable conclusion of an ignorant life is spiritual death. How could ignorance possibly be bliss? There might be some who are living a luxurious lifestyle without the slightest hint of a guilty conscience, but this does not mean their life is pleasing to God. Instead of wishing something wasn’t sinful, or wishing you had never discovered it was sinful, we should be glad we know it’s sinful so we can abstain from it. Recognize that the pleasures of this life are fleeting and will not get us to Heaven. Our true desire should be to “come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4) – to know right from wrong in order to live a life that is pleasing to God.