UNFAIR!
One of the most common points raised against the gospel is this: “What about those who never got the chance to hear it? How can a God of love do that? That is so unfair!” The argument can be difficult not because there is no an answer but one that is based on the Bible may not satisfy their sense of inclusivism where it is imperative that no one is left behind. Come one, come all! All is welcome!
Actually, all is welcome to accept the free of gift of salvation through Jesus Christ (John 3:16, 2 Pet. 3:9, Titus 2:11) but like any invitation, not everyone will accept it. It is therefore unfair to blame God for the rejection. And then there’s the other end of the spectrum where the gospel is rejected because someone has heard of it.
A Polish woman who had eight members of her father’s family die in camps back in World War II, walked away because someone like Hitler could be forgiven and accepted into heaven if he repented during his very last breath. “How can a God of love do that? That is so unfair!” The anger is exacerbated with the realization that evil personified can escape punishment in this life and will continue to do so in the afterlife. Add to that the thought if the victims rejected God or never got the chance to hear it and are now in eternal torment. Can our finite minds take that? Perhaps not, because they are what they are---finite. Our thoughts are not God’s thoughts and neither are our ways His (Isa. 55:8).
When we reject God because of His conditions and ways, we are actually saying that we know better than God. We are more fair. Do we? Are we? This is the same deceptive tactic the serpent dangled before Eve when he made her doubt God’s words and intentions.
So how are we to react? Well, as mentioned, there is an answer for the inclusivist and the exclusivist but there might be little appreciation for it because “the god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2 Cor. 4:4 NIV) This means they need to first “taste and see that the LORD is good” (Ps. 34:8) for the unveiling of their eyes, and not the other way around.
But what about us? We might say that yes, we have tasted and seen that He is good but do we know the answer to “logical” questions? Seeds of doubt might be planted if we are ill-prepared and produce a harvest of confusion leading us to the same path of the people who think God is unfair. I know pastors and missionaries who have turned away from the faith because they faced a blank wall. So is God unfair? The Christian in you might easily say, “No” but how do you know He’s not?
The answer is not as difficult as the question: Everything God does operates out of His character. He cannot be unfair because He is just. We may not understand His actions and decisions but we can trust who He is.
The answer is not as difficult as its acceptance especially for those whom we are trying to reach out to. This is another area where we need to be prepared for but not in terms of arming ourselves with logical answers but sensitivity to their experience. It may be a time to set aside our notes and be a Christian friend where we demonstrate the character of God and let them see that indeed God is good.
One of the most common points raised against the gospel is this: “What about those who never got the chance to hear it? How can a God of love do that? That is so unfair!” The argument can be difficult not because there is no an answer but one that is based on the Bible may not satisfy their sense of inclusivism where it is imperative that no one is left behind. Come one, come all! All is welcome!
Actually, all is welcome to accept the free of gift of salvation through Jesus Christ (John 3:16, 2 Pet. 3:9, Titus 2:11) but like any invitation, not everyone will accept it. It is therefore unfair to blame God for the rejection. And then there’s the other end of the spectrum where the gospel is rejected because someone has heard of it.
A Polish woman who had eight members of her father’s family die in camps back in World War II, walked away because someone like Hitler could be forgiven and accepted into heaven if he repented during his very last breath. “How can a God of love do that? That is so unfair!” The anger is exacerbated with the realization that evil personified can escape punishment in this life and will continue to do so in the afterlife. Add to that the thought if the victims rejected God or never got the chance to hear it and are now in eternal torment. Can our finite minds take that? Perhaps not, because they are what they are---finite. Our thoughts are not God’s thoughts and neither are our ways His (Isa. 55:8).
When we reject God because of His conditions and ways, we are actually saying that we know better than God. We are more fair. Do we? Are we? This is the same deceptive tactic the serpent dangled before Eve when he made her doubt God’s words and intentions.
So how are we to react? Well, as mentioned, there is an answer for the inclusivist and the exclusivist but there might be little appreciation for it because “the god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2 Cor. 4:4 NIV) This means they need to first “taste and see that the LORD is good” (Ps. 34:8) for the unveiling of their eyes, and not the other way around.
But what about us? We might say that yes, we have tasted and seen that He is good but do we know the answer to “logical” questions? Seeds of doubt might be planted if we are ill-prepared and produce a harvest of confusion leading us to the same path of the people who think God is unfair. I know pastors and missionaries who have turned away from the faith because they faced a blank wall. So is God unfair? The Christian in you might easily say, “No” but how do you know He’s not?
The answer is not as difficult as the question: Everything God does operates out of His character. He cannot be unfair because He is just. We may not understand His actions and decisions but we can trust who He is.
The answer is not as difficult as its acceptance especially for those whom we are trying to reach out to. This is another area where we need to be prepared for but not in terms of arming ourselves with logical answers but sensitivity to their experience. It may be a time to set aside our notes and be a Christian friend where we demonstrate the character of God and let them see that indeed God is good.