On Wednesday I wrote about a scene of intense road rage I witnessed in the parking lot outside of my work place, and I used it to illustrate the theological concept of fallen (wo)man's depravity. Before we were saved, we were depraved, groping in the dark, lost and blind. But then Christ rescued us and we were brought out of the darkness into the light. Yet everyone who has not trusted Christ is still buried under the thick, dark mires of their depravity.
Here is where a non-Christian will ask you a question. I got asked this question when I was emailing with an agnostic friend from my drama class. He asked me, "What about the innocent man in the African jungle who will never hear about God? Will he still go to hell?" He was trying to back me into a corner, to prove that the Bible's view of God's justice and His love are inconsistent and that humanity is really not totally depraved.
What my friend didn't realize is that there is no corner. I sent him the ten-minute sermon clip from David Platt below in response. The Bible is perfectly plain and clear regarding the "innocent man in the jungle." But people will ask you about this - if they haven't already, chances are it will happen in the future. You can be a mighty witness on them by responding with a gracious, biblical answer.
David Platt points to Romans 1 and provides that answer.
Here is where a non-Christian will ask you a question. I got asked this question when I was emailing with an agnostic friend from my drama class. He asked me, "What about the innocent man in the African jungle who will never hear about God? Will he still go to hell?" He was trying to back me into a corner, to prove that the Bible's view of God's justice and His love are inconsistent and that humanity is really not totally depraved.
What my friend didn't realize is that there is no corner. I sent him the ten-minute sermon clip from David Platt below in response. The Bible is perfectly plain and clear regarding the "innocent man in the jungle." But people will ask you about this - if they haven't already, chances are it will happen in the future. You can be a mighty witness on them by responding with a gracious, biblical answer.
David Platt points to Romans 1 and provides that answer.