Ok, so we’re going to go back and visit Appeasement Theology, because it keeps popping up. I was talking with a group of teens the other day about the exclusive claim of Jesus -that He was and is the only way to get into heaven, and it was received with mixed emotions. Mainly that it wasn’t fair, that there were some people who would not be saved, and would have never heard the name of Jesus in their lifetime. Surely God wouldn’t send those people to Hell. Right?
I still believe what the Bible says in that “there is no other name, not in heaven nor on earth, but Jesus Christ – by which men will be saved.”
This is why Jesus gave the Great Commission, so that all family groups of the earth, might know and have the opportunity to call upon the name of the Lord. It was the mission given to the disciples (all followers of Christ) to go with the Good News of God’s Kingdom to every family on the earth.
2,000 years later the job has still not been completed! It’s still not done. I’m not sure what the exact statistics are, but there were over 3,000 people groups who have yet to hear the Good news around the turn of the millennium. I’m pretty sure that this uncompleted task is what’s inhibiting Christ’s imminent return.
Why? Because He’s long-suffering. He doesn’t want anyone to perish. He desires that all men everywhere might come to repentance.
But still men cry that God is unjust and unfair. But is that so? Didn’t someone somewhere in the ancestral lines of the “Unreached People” groups make a decision to follow their own way instead of God’s?
An interesting study was done on primitive people groups across the globe, and the outcome of the study was astounding. Take for instance the Indians that live in the mountains and caves of Mexico. They are a very primitive people. No electricity, plumbing, extreme poverty. But when their roots were traced back, it was found that they were the descendants of the great Mayan empire. This was the find in each and every case, that the primitive people that we know today are actually descendants of once great civilizations. The researchers concluded that men did not start primitively and become more advanced, but rather quite the opposite. That man was advanced, and has become primitive.
The logical conclusion is that the further these people groups get away from God and His principles and laws, the more primitive they become. Now that’s something to think about!
Confessions of a Heretic 
Hi Heretic,
Very interesting post. I’m not here to argue with your beliefs, however, I would like to make one point. It is in relation to the following comment:
But still men cry that God is unjust and unfair. But is that so? Didn’t someone somewhere in the ancestral lines of the “Unreached People” groups make a decision to follow their own way instead of God’s?
I certainly never thought about it that way, however, I’m not so sure that I can go along with it. When did God’s way come about? Was it during the time of Adam and Eve, when man supposedly turned his back on God in order to have knowledge? Was it during the time of Abraham, when it would appear from the Bible that God’s way was unknown to all humanity with the exception of Abraham and his household? Was it during the time of Moses, when Egyptian religion was certainly already solidly instituted?
I guess what I’m trying to get at, is that it would seem that God’s way (i.e. Judaism, then Christianity) is rather regional. Meaning, that in places all throughout the world, during biblical times, religious practices other than God’s were well established. I don’t know that someone in the ancestral line merely decided not to follow God’s way, instead, when people adopt and believe any religious view, it would seem that they are indeed following what they believe to be God’s way.
Regards.
mjackson-
First off – let me say welcome!
Secondly, I would love to respond to some of what you posted. I just might not get it all done right now. Please don’t take the following as a personal attack, because it’s not. It’s just me thinking aloud through your question!
Let me take your first question:
My question in response to your question would be: “When did God come about?” Your following questions always relate God back to a man. Who came first? God or man? When did God try to establish His way among men? Was it not from the beginning? Was not His desire to walk in close intimate relationship with Adam – and all men?
Does His Word not say that no man anywhere is without excuse, because He has written His word on our hearts?
During the tower of Babel it says that man wanted to make his name great. This was exactly opposite of God’s way – which was to make His name great. This was always His goal (as selfish as it may sound) from the beginning.
Man chose his own way. To make his own name great instead of God’s.
Has it not been God’s agenda to redeem mankind into a perfect relationship with Himself since the fall? Is that not why He brought division at the Tower of Babel? Is that not why He brought about the flood in Noah’s day? Is that not why He chose Abraham, so that through one family He might reveal His Kingdom to all mankind?
God is eternal. He is timeless, and He never changes. So His way never came about. It always was. It always is. And it always will be!
Blessings!
(PS – I may comment more later. This is all I have time for right now.)
Thanks for the reply.
I guess that yes, my questions do relate to God back to man as that is the whole point of religion. I also understand the christian story of God trying to have man come back to relationship with him. My problem, is that it would appear since the “fall” of Adam and Eve, that man never had a chance at the true knowledge of God’s way, unless God reached out to the individual (i.e. Abraham, Moses, etc…) Even God’s own people were not following his way.
So, if people in another region of the world than the Middle East are worshiping God, it is their understanding of God through General Revelation (i.e. nature). My point is that these people had no ability to know God’s way. The only explanation of this could be the fall of Adam and Eve, and I must say that it’s rather disturbing to think of people going to hell because of the desire for wisdom that one couple had in the beginning. I’m sure you’re aware by now, that I don’t hold to the biblical story of Adam and Eve.
I promise I’m not trying to be difficult, I just can’t go along with it.
Wish you the best.
great to hear something from ya for the first time in a while. i really enjoyed reading your stuff in the past and was wondering what had happened to your blog.
as far as appeasement goes, i think that God reaching every people group isnt necessarily the point. you see, if you think in terms of total people, there are many more who have had the opportunity to hear and reject the Good News than there are those people groups who havent. i dont pretend to know the mind of God, because as far as His timing, i am still clueless.
in regard to the civilizations declining. i think there is always a decline of civilizations. western civilization is in decline. all of this is i think because people harden themselves from God’s will. but we must always remain humble and not point the finger at other civilizations when we ourselves have so much to repent of.
just my thoughts.
peter
mjackson-
A few thoughts in response to your response. No offenses taken, and hopefully none given.
First:
I think you misunderstand what it was Adam & Eve were after. It was not wisdom – it was authority. You see God gave Adam & Eve authority over the whole earth – except for 2 trees. That was the only restriction to the authority that they received. Why did God restrict their authority, because He couldn’t give them more authority than He has. It is impossible. So their desire was not for wisdom, per se, but rather all authority – just as God had.
Second:
God’s way has always been relationship. I don’t think God thinks too highly of religion, because it is man’s attempt to reach God. God has made a way already for man to reach God, and many times it is far from what we see offerred in religion today.
The 2 highest laws are:
1. To love God
2. To love others
Adam and Eve were given a mission by God (the same mission that was given to Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the Hebrews, and all would be followers of Jesus Christ). That mission was to make God’s name great to the whole world. They were to live in the Kingdom of God (not the kingdom’s of man) and through their living there & their relationships, the whole world would be filled with the glory of God. The problem is however, that man has continually chosen to build his own kingdom in stead of God’s. This is seen over and over in the history of man.
We are to love God, and love others. If we love others well, (and we already love God) we’ll introduce them to His superior Kingdom, or way of life.
To say that God could only reach out individually to people is to totally misunderstand how God’s Kingdom is supposed to work. It is God & people. It is God through people. His Kingdom is supposed to be displayed in His children (those who have chosen to live in His Kingdom through the sacrifice of His Son), by the love they have for Him, and the love they have for mankind.
Third:
I don’t think I’m going to convince you that you’re wrong. I may cause you to think more about the subject. But my eloquent words (Ha! Ha!) probably aren’t going to convince you that you are wrong. But I believe that if you desire Truth, and you search for it, you will find it. So my prayer for you is, that you will find the Way, the Truth, and the Life & that God’s Kingdom may come in your life, your home, and in your family – here and now on earth, just as it is in heaven. After all, that is God’s way. To establish His Kingdom over every other kingdom. To make His name great on the earth. When that happens – life is good. It is full, and we as men are free to be who He created us to be!
Blessings!
PS. I want to clear something up. I made the statement:
This statement was in no way trying to convey contempt or disdain for mankind. The statement is what it is. A reflection of the truth. But I agree, it doesn’t seem fair that innocent children have to suffer for the sins of their fathers. But it happens everyday. That is why God’s mission is so important. To bring His light into every dark place on the earth!
pbandj-
Welcome back! Yeah, blogging wasn’t a top priority for me there for a while! It’s still not, but this is a good place for me to compose my thoughts.
Anyway in response to your statement:
I must respectfully disagree with you. Here’s why: Jesus said that He would not return untill the mission he gave has been fullfilled:
It’s in the heart of God that a representative from every people group on the earth be represented in heaven.
Blessings!
heretic
i think that i didnt effectively communicate what i meant. i was saying that if God’s reasoning were to be that He wanted to reach more people, then He couldve dont that a long time ago. but clearly, He has His own plan, which we may not fully understand.
i, for one, dont.
anyway, there is an interesting pt that paul makes about reaching all the nations.
but i agree with you that Christ did intend us to reach all nations. but i dont think we will know when we have reached the nations, because no one knows the day or the hour.
peter
Peter-
I agree, “no one knows.” But it was very eye-opening to me, at how far we actually are away from fulfilling the Great Commission.
I think it would seem that the longer time goes on, and the greater the earth’s population becomes, then the more difficult the task. To reach the entire world in the Apostles time might not have been possible – I don’t know. But there sure were less people.
I’m not trying to purport in any way that I know the mind of God. But I think the Bible makes His heart pretty clear. And that is:
1. He desires all men everywhere to come to repentance.
2. He will not send Jesus back until there are believers from every tribe, every nation, and every tongue of the earth.
He loves diversity!
Blessings!