What About the Heathen?

Christian theology states that Jesus is the only way of salvation from Hell. When detractors hear this, the question ultimately comes up, “What about the heathen in Africa or South America who have never heard about Jesus? Will God send them to hell because they have never heard of Jesus?” First of all, that question is loaded. God doesn’t send people to hell because they’ve never heard of Jesus. There are people in hell who have heard of Jesus. But what about the heathen in the hidden villages of Africa or South America who have never heard of Jesus? I believe the answer to that question is a complex one.          First of all, we can thank Paul for addressing that very question in Romans 2. He says that those who sin without the law will perish without the law. He then speaks of those who have not heard the law. When they “by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, ¹⁵ who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness…” When pagan or heathen or unreached societies pass laws and obey laws that are in accordance with the Law of God, they witness against themselves that they know the difference between good and evil. Their conscience even testifies against them.
          When Cain killed Abel, the first thing he did was hide the body. When God came to him and asked where his brother, Abel, was, Cain replied, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Not only did he seek to distance himself from the crime, but he even sought to put God on the defensive. Yet, God would have none of it. He told him that He knew what he had done and He punished Him for it. Cain did not have the Law. The Law was not given until Moses. Yet, societies had rules of law that were in accordance with God’s Law because God’s law is written in their hearts. They were then judged by God based on the amount of knowledge they had. The amount of knowledge they had is based on how well they followed the commands of God  They will not be judged by the Law of Moses but by their own law, with their conscience and their thoughts bearing witness either for them or against them.

Ok, so what about those who have not heard of Jesus? The same principle is true. God will judge people based on the amount of knowledge they have. Even though they have never heard of Jesus, God will not send them to hell based on that but based on how well they sought to know Him and to follow His law. As Paul goes on to say, it is not those who hear the Law that are righteous in God’s eyes but those who do the things that are in the Law.

Theology teaches that God reveals Himself in two ways: general revelation and specific revelation. General revelation means that God reveals Himself to everyone usually through nature. As a painting declares there’s a painter and a sculpture declares there’s a sculptor, creation declares that there is a Creator. When a person realizes this and seeks to know the Creator, He reveals more of Himself to them (Jeremiah 33:3). This is specific revelation. Specific revelation is when God reveal Himself to a person in a personal way. How does He do this? He may send a missionary. He may send an angel. Christ may come Himself to preach to them. God will find a way. It is not His desire that any should perish but for all to come to repentance.

When a person tries to explain away creation through Big Bang Theories and evolution, they reject the revelation that God has given and, therefore, don’t receive any further revelation.

There is no Bible verse on this, but knowing the nature of God and from some testimonies I have heard, it is possible that God gives the person who has never heard a chance to hear and receive the Gospel, even after death. This only pertains to those who have NEVER heard of Jesus nor had the chance to hear of Jesus. I believe God give everyone a chance to accept or reject. This is why Jesus said that the Gospel must be preached in all the world as a witness before the end of the age comes. Again, there is no Bible verse to confirm this. This is just my opinion.

In short, those who have never heard of Jesus will not be without excuse. God will judge them based on the knowledge that they have. That does not mean that we are not to get the Gospel out there. We are. It is how a person can come to have a personal relationship with God and have life abundant. Yet, the Bible teaches us that God is not unjust. He is not going to hold people accountable to a law or a Gospel of which they have never heard.