Are Some People More Lost than Others?
Posted by: Jeff Adams in Ministry Musings, Scriptural Application for Everyday LifeHere’s a question for you! Are some people more lost than others?
The Bible says that Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. There is a theological sense, of course, in which all who do not know God through his Son Jesus Christ are lost – equally lost. In this sense there is no difference between someone who sings in a church choir and does not genuinely know God and another who does not know God and lives in Central Asia never having heard the name of Jesus.
Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:22-23)
There is, however, another dimension to the state of lostness. Some are lost while surrounded by people and resources that witness of Christ the Savior. Despite the surrounding witness, they choose to remain without Christ.
Over 40% of the world’s population has no contact with believers in Christ. There is no church they can attend and no friend, neighbor or family member who can share the Gospel with them. They cannot refuse to put their faith in Christ, because they have no knowledge of him. They will not have knowledge of him until someone crosses barriers of language and culture to give them the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Of the two circumstances described above, people who live in which circumstance are more lost circumstantially, even though they are equally lost theologically? What should this say about our priorities?
Email this postBut if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
(2 Corinthians 4:3)
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The answer is: “No”
Having attended church my whole life, but not having a relationship with my Savior until I was 30, I can relate to the ‘lost at church’ people. Once in my early 20s I even approached an alter, but no one from the church acknowledged my presence. I wanted help. I knew at that point I was desperately lost, but didn’t know what I needed or how to ask. I am thankful that God honored my true desire to know Him. He didn’t use a person to reach me. But my own experience has made me extremely aware of the lost in our church. I never make assumptions.
“Some are lost while surrounded by … [the] witness of Christ” – these are people who have had someone break their barrier of language and culture but have consciously (sp?) put off or rejected a decision. “The world’s population [that] has no contact with believers” – these may have accepted certain truths about God through creation and their conscience, and may possibly be more willing to accept truth when they’ve heard it.
I guess I don’t see it as different degrees of lostness, but in terms of attitude of the heart. The first group has a heart that has rejected the gospel more openly and obviously, while the second group is possibly less hindered by the things of the world and so perhaps more open to the truth about God’s nature, his love and his plan for salvation.
Our priorities? Certainly to be faithful in where we’re called, and even more certainly to seek opportunities within our own sphere of influence as well as in the world at large to teach others about the nature of God, no matter where on the spiritual spectrum they may be.
What do you make of the Muslims who came to Christ after having visions of Jesus in their dreams? Is that proof that God will work in those areas of the world even if a missionary never steps foot on the soil? I’m not saying we shouldn’t do missions work, but it seems to me that those stories confirm that God is working even when his people may have dropped the ball.
And if God works in their lives through dreams, can we really say that they’ve never heard of Jesus? I’m just thinking out loud.
If someone has heard of Jesus in America, but the Holy Spirit wasn’t actively working at that time, did they really hear it? Or is the Holy Spirit always working everytime the name of Jesus is uttered? I honestly don’t know!
How about to whom much is given is much required…???
My! Great questions. The majority who come to faith from an Islamic background have experienced a dream or vision. But, in each case God has led them to someone who has provided the scriptural truth necessary to compelte the process. So, I don’t think we can eliminate the missionary task. While your questions deserve a much more thoughtful response, I do think we can say that in whatever form, mode or setting, no one comes to faith without the working of the Holy Spirit as you suggest in your final statement. Here would fit 1Corinthians 12:3.