From Ignorance to Accountability
Acts 17:30–31
“In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent. For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”
Hey Christians!!!
Paul is not speaking to pagans who reject God. He is speaking to people who love spirituality. Athens is full of worship... altars, temples, rituals, philosophy, curiosity.
They even built an altar “to an unknown god,” just in case they missed one.
Paul doesn’t accuse them of hatred toward God. He accuses them of misdirected devotion. Then he draws a line they didn’t expect.
“There was a time God overlooked ignorance,” he says.
“But that time has passed.”
Why? Because truth has now entered history. The resurrection didn’t just offer hope...it ended neutrality.
| Scripture | Verse |
|---|---|
| Luke 12:48 | To whom much is given, much is required. |
| Romans 1:18–20 | Truth revealed removes excuse. |
| Hebrews 9:27 | Judgment follows life. |
| John 14:6 | Truth is a Person |
These verses reinforce the same truth:
Revelation changes accountability.
Athens, Not Israel
Paul is not standing in a synagogue. He is standing in Athens... a city overflowing with temples, philosophies, statues, and “sincere” worship.
Altars everywhere.
Ideas everywhere.
Spirituality everywhere.
Including an altar “to an unknown god.”
Paul does not mock them. He does not flatter them. He does not blend. He reframes everything.
“You are worshiping,” he tells them,
“but not rightly.”
Then comes the shift that changes everything:
In the past, God overlooked ignorance…
but now He commands repentance.
Why?
Because Jesus has been revealed.
Ignorance is no longer neutral once truth is known.
The Hard Mirror
This verse does not target atheists.
It targets:
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Inherited Traditions
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Unexamined Customs
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Blended Worship
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“Good Intentions”
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Cultural Christianity
Once you know, you are no longer innocent.
The question is no longer:
“Is this meaningful to me?”
The question becomes:
“Is this faithful to Him?”
Repentance is not abandoning God... it is realigning with Him.
God’s patience covered ignorance...
but Christ’s resurrection removed excuse.
Truth has been revealed.
Now comes response.
CULTURAL ASPECT — WHY THIS HIT HARD
Paul is speaking in Athens, surrounded by idols, philosophies, and religious pluralism. He is not addressing pagans who know nothing of God’s truth — he is addressing people who are religious, sincere, educated, and wrong. I know I am repeating myself here. However, it is important the church wake-up! Hear what I am saying. God is speaking to us today. We have added traditions and acts of worship that is never what God asked us for. Are you listening? Are you hearing my heart here? Or do you simply dismiss me as "religious"
“Ignorance” here does not mean stupidity. It means acting without true knowledge while assuming sincerity is enough.
The shift in the verse matters:
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Then: God overlooked ignorance
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Now: God commands repentance
Why? Because truth has been revealed in Christ.
Once truth is revealed, ignorance is no longer neutral.
Greek culture believed:
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Sincerity mattered more than accuracy
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Worship was personal and customizable
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Their little-g gods could be added without consequence
Paul dismantles that idea in one sentence.
You don’t add Jesus. You answer to Him.
This confronts any culture... ancient or modern... that treats worship as preference instead of obedience.
Over the past three years, I’ve had no choice but to sink deeply into Jesus during the holiday season.
After losing my mom, it felt like the whole world drifted away. Like my voice had been locked in a box and tucked out of sight. I felt isolated, alone, and empty. Slowly, over time, God began to reveal Himself in the silence.
Somewhere between “No one cares” and “I don’t want to do this alone,” I heard God whisper, “Come alone.”
And I did.
What I learned in that season...
the growth that happened...
all of it came through obedience.
It came when messages went unanswered, and instead of chasing comfort, I took my hurt to Scripture and kept digging. I ate Scripture like it was Thanksgiving Day, again and again. I’m still filling my plate. This blog, the music, the books... every bit of it... was born in those silent nights.
I didn’t have big family gatherings to fill the empty space grief left behind. I didn’t have a full house. And today, there isn’t a single Christmas decoration displayed in my home. Not because I don’t love Jesus... but because I don’t need those things to remind me where my focus belongs.
God never leaves us completely alone.
Living out of state from family comes with consequences, and isolation is one of them. But truthfully, I don’t think my home would have been fuller had I been closer. Life has settled into a quiet, peaceful place. I have my husband, my children, and my grandchildren. And more importantly... we have Jesus.
If you don’t know Jesus, I want to invite you to know Him today.
He filled gaps in my life I didn’t even realize were there. He gave me peace in places where I shouldn’t have been able to sleep. No... your life won’t instantly get easier. If anything, I pray a hedge of protection as you make this decision. This choice isn’t light. It means surrender. It means war. It means resistance.
If you think, “I don’t have to choose today... I have time,” friend, you don’t. And not choosing is a choice. The only regret you’ll have is that you didn’t do it sooner.
If you’re ready to surrender…
Abba,
Thank You for life, freedom, peace, joy, and every gift You’ve given us. Thank You for the one reading these words right now... I know You brought them here for a reason.
Some may not know You at all, and today they want to. So, Abba, fill them. Let repentance rise naturally from their heart, like soup bubbling on a winter stove. As they pray, let Your peace fall on them. Wrap them in Your arms. Let them feel the physical warmth and weight of Your presence.
Abba, some reading these words have followed You for years. They’ve sat in the same seat, in the same pew, decade after decade... never fully surrendered. Today, they say no more. Today, they choose You completely. Reveal the idols they never knew existed. Expose the ways the world has crept into their religion. Let the scales fall from their eyes so they can see that obedience is beautiful, not religious. Show them that the miracle happens in the secret place.
Abba, protect our children this season. Make a way for truth to reach them. Raise up teachers in Your church who teach Your story, not the world’s version of it. Protect our children from the enemy using this season to confuse them. Thank You for the faithful teachers who do tell the full story... I know they exist.
Abba, the words shared this month are heavy. In a season the world fills with noise, joy, and distraction, it’s hard to pause and reflect. It’s hard to question our ways. But You have brought clarity into my life, and I ask You to soften hearts to hear. It’s easy to dismiss this and move on... so convict gently and let them sit with truth for a moment.
Let these words find eyes that see, hearts that receive, and lives willing to follow through.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
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