A reader asked the most basic question on Christian theology. Apparently, he has asked this question to many believers over the years, never receiving a satisfactory answer. There is a reason for that and it is foundational to the Biblical Christian Worldview… the issue of faith.

The Question

“Here’s what no one has yet been able to explain to me: We are told that faith is a gift from God, but if God has chosen to withhold that gift to someone, how can He blame them for their lack of faith?”

An Unacceptable Answer

“I am not surprised that you have not yet received an acceptable answer to that question. That is likely because anyone who thinks they can answer it is only guessing and rationalizing the mind of God from a human perspective.

1 Corinthians 2:16 – “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?But we have the mind of Christ.”

It is true that we, as Christians, do have added insight into the Bible (Luke 24:45), but much remains a mystery (Romans 11:34) on this side of the grave.

So, the deep question underlying your question is… why would a loving God allow Lucifer to become Satan, and consequently the cascading events that follow… including the billions who never even hear the word “Jesus” in their lives, being sent to Hell for eternity? If He is so omnipotent, why would He allow this? 

One unacceptable Sunday School answer is that God offers man free will, whether to follow Him or not, in order for us to be able to show love and to worship Him. Otherwise, we would be functional robots. This could be an explanation for those who hear the gospel message, but reject it. However, even if that was the case, what about all the others who never get the chance to hear the gospel? As you asked, how can that be fair?

A Weak but Possible Answer

Another Sunday School answer is that God, in his omniscience, knew ‘before the foundation of the world’ (Eph. 1:4) who would freely accept Him as Lord and Savior and, conversely, who would not. So, working through mankind, God, in His foreknowledge, ensured that those who would ultimately accept Him, were exposed to the gospel message. This is more my belief, however, it still doesn’t fully answer the underlying question of why God allowed sin to enter in the first place, given the significance of an eternal Hell.

There are many theologians who see the need for evil in order to understand the concept of love. That sounds possible until one considers that evil is certainly not needed in Heaven to know what eternal love and worship of the Lord looks like for eternity. Perhaps we learn the lesson on earth that stays with us in Heaven.

The Best Answer

To one who is honest about their Christian faith, I think the best answer is “I don’t know, but trust and have faith that I serve a good, righteous God and will understand these things on the other side of the grave.”

Of course, this is totally unacceptable to the unbeliever (but perhaps not so for the seeker). 

Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.