Tag: excuse

What About People Who Never Hear the Gospel?

Carl Pollard

One of the most common questions people have is, what about those who never hear the gospel? What about the person born in a remote village? What about someone who never had access to a Bible? Could God condemn someone who never had an opportunity to hear about Christ?

Many people appeal to a concept often called invincible ignorance. The idea is that if a person is genuinely ignorant of the gospel through no fault of their own, God will save them anyway. While that view may sound compassionate, the real question isn’t what seems fair to us. It’s, what has God revealed?

The New Testament repeatedly teaches that salvation is found in Jesus Christ alone. Peter said, “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Jesus Himself said, “No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

Scripture also teaches that faith comes through hearing God’s Word. Paul wrote, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). In the same chapter, Paul asks, “How are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?” (Romans 10:14). His answer isn’t that people can be saved apart from hearing. His answer is that the gospel must be preached.

Some point to Romans one and argue that creation itself can save those who have never heard the gospel. But Romans one says the opposite. God’s creation reveals His power and divine nature, leaving humanity “without excuse” (Romans 1:20). Creation reveals that God exists. It doesn’t reveal the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

At the same time, Scripture gives us reason to trust God’s providence. Jesus promised, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7). Those words reveal the truth about the character of God. God doesn’t hide Himself from sincere seekers.

We see this principle throughout Scripture. The Ethiopian eunuch was searching the Scriptures, and God sent Philip to teach him the gospel (Acts 8:26-39). Cornelius was a devout man who feared God, and God sent Peter to tell him words by which he would be saved (Acts 10-11). Lydia was seeking God, and the Lord opened the door for her to hear the gospel (Acts 16:14). The Bible never portrays God as turning away someone who genuinely desires to know Him. Instead, we repeatedly see God working through His providence to bring the message of salvation to those who are seeking truth.

The Bible never presents ignorance as a means of salvation. Ignorance is a problem that must be overcome through the preaching of the gospel. That’s why Jesus commanded His followers to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20), and why Paul devoted his life to taking the gospel where Christ had not been named (Romans 15:20).

Scripture teaches two truths that must be held together. First, salvation is found only in Christ. Second, God is perfectly just and faithfully provides opportunities for those who seek Him. Abraham asked, “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” (Genesis 18:25). The answer is yes.

Nowhere does the Bible reveal a separate plan of salvation for those who never hear. Instead, it reveals one Savior, one gospel, and one mission: take the good news of Jesus Christ to the world. Rather than speculating about exceptions God hasn’t revealed, our focus should be on proclaiming the message He has revealed and trusting the justice and goodness of the God who revealed it.

“My Cat Unplugged My Alarm Clock”

Neal Pollard
A few years ago, the Baltimore Sun wrote an article about the outlandish excuses some people gave for not coming into work. To sample this pathetic pool, there was “my cat unplugged my alarm clock,” “I couldn’t find my shoes,” “my garage door is broken,” “my cat has hairballs,” and “my partner and I need to practice for the square-dancing contest in town today.” But, John Campanelli of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, relates perhaps the most classic excuse I have ever heard. It was related to him by Andrea Barnett, a human resources rep, whose MIA employee gave the excuse that he had been in jail. He had borrowed a friend’s car to get to work, which car was reported stolen by police. He said he was put in jail for possession of stolen property, a car he said had been used in a robbery. This caused the police to grill him about it, which kept him from calling in to work. He eventually convinced law enforcement of his innocence, thus earning his release. Incredible story! Incredibly untrue, Barnett found out when she called the sheriff’s office for whom that was a revelation. Runners up from Campanelli’s article include the man who was experiencing morning sickness due to his wife’s pregnancy or the guy who had to make an emergency visit to the dentist to remove dental floss that got lodged between his teeth getting ready that morning.

Excuses are not confined to employees. Students give excuses for late or incomplete assignments. Spouses and children give excuses to other family members for bad behavior or shortcomings. Leaders give excuses to followers, and followers give excuses to leaders. If we are honest, nearly all of us have been guilty of excuse-making. What we must guard against is perpetually making excuses for failing to do the will of God! Those who make any excuse to explain why they have not become a Christian will not successfully put them past the Lord on the great day of judgment (cf. Acts 17:30; 2 Th. 1:7-8; Jude 15). Christians who needed to publicly repent of a sinful lifestyle cannot expect to be successful standing before that same, perfect Judge (cf. Matt. 25:34-40).

Let us also strive to avoid flimsy excuses we give for lack of involvement or for failure to faithfully attend worship services. On the surface, these excuses may sound good to us. But, if we will step back and try to look at it from heaven’s perspective, it may sound less important and solid. Maybe we have not thought it through, that we are choosing things that are solely earthly, material, and temporary to the neglect of God’s will and purpose. We may need new and different excuses to cover our failures, but will they work in the end? God has placed us on this earth to accomplish His purpose, but if we fritter away our days and years on what will decay and dissolve to the indifference and disregard for heavenly matters what will we tell Him? Whatever we say, will it be less hollow or shallow than the excuses the fine workers of Baltimore and Cleveland gave? Rather than excuses, let us give God our best efforts. Instead of rationalizing why we cannot, let us realize why we can (cf. Phil. 4:13; 1 John 4:19).

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