Uh, oh, the "P" word...

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> You may now say something concerning those in those areas who died
> before the missionaries got there...well, all I can say is that it would
> be unjust for God to allow someone to die not having had a chance at
> salvation,

Bro Harrel mentioned something about the "justness" of God in this
thread too, and that's the crux of the matter: if God were just, none
of us would be rewarded with salvation!  We don't deserve what we get
from Jesus.  We gladly accept the lifeline he has thrown to us.

People like my youngest brother, OTOH, reject what Christ has to offer
precisely because he thinks it "unfair" that people will be lost and
not have the chance to hear the Good News.

I think of this analogy: a large ship is slowly sinking.  If you stay
on the ship, you drown.  Furthermore, perhaps it's not obvious that the
ship is going under.  But some people on the ship start proclaiming
that the ship is sinking, but follow up with the Good News that a
gigantic life-raft has been positioned under the port bow.  Salvation
comes by jumping off the ship at that particular location.  Since the
raft isn't visible from the deck, a "leap of faith" in sorts is
required, though there's plenty of evidence for the existance of this
raft by the joyous shouts of the "saved" down below.

Others are telling the passengers to jump off the stern.  But the the
"port bow" evangelists attempt to warn them off "No!  You'll be chewed
up by the propellors!  Jump off the port bow into the life-raft!"  The
stern-jumpers think the port-bowers are being too restrictive, however,
and go and do their own thing.

Yet another group is jumping into the smokestack, thinking the boiler
room is water-tight and will protect them from drowning.  The
port-bower apologists scream in desperation "No!  You'll burn up in
there!"  But the smoke-stackers think the port-bowers are too exclusive
and decide to do their own thing.  After all, it seems right, so they
should be okay.

An observer notes that the logic of the port-bowers seems correct, but
thinks it unfair that hundred of passengers will be lost because they
didn't hear about the life-raft below the port bow.  So he stays on the
ship and drowns when it goes under.


As another individual pointed out, those who have not heard of the
Law will be judged based on their consciences.

Richard Masoner