Dictionary
Yes there's a little sarcasm in the title, I hope most people pick up on that… As you read on, you'll see why, I use this tone…
In conversations with my 13 yr old brother in law as well as a Virginia Tech student on the plane yesterday about heaven, God, evolution, etc, the question people keep bringing up is about those in Africa “who have never heard…"
I thought of this question to ask: “If someone is talking to you, but you're not listening because you're distracted by video games or TV, do you hear them?" My 13 year old brother in law answered simply, “No" and my observation of my son Gideon also confirms this to me, and then I like to explain Psalm 19, quoting what is being spoken to all the world, and made the connection of people being distracted by the pleasures of this world and not listening, so many do not hear. But then I went a step further, and I said, “If you are saying that there are people in Africa – whom you've never met because you've never been there – that don't hear about God, do you know what you're saying? You're telling me that they're bad listeners! And I don't know about you, but if someone I'd never met told me that I ‘just don't listen' I would get a little offended and respond defensively – ‘don't judge me,' because that's a pretty judgmental thing to say, now isn't it?"
I'd encourage you to bring up this idea next time someone feels the urge to be judgmental of people they've never met, giving their point of view on the listening skills of others. Tell them to remember that those people in Africa are not judging how well they listen!
The truth is, there was a man: David Livingstone who gave his life to bring the Gospel to Africa, and many there call him “the Father of Africa" I also just found that Christianity is the second most widely practiced religion in Africa, so those who bring up that question “what about those in Africa" are really just regurgitating the questions they've heard before from others… They're really not thinking for themselves if they did, they'd think of a better example of isolated people like Indonesia or the Philippines where people live on islands!!! A quick internet search will reveal just how far the Gospel has gone – to the utermost parts of the earth – especially with technology. And I have personal knowledge of the Gospel being preached there, because my wife went on a missions trip to Kenya about 10 years ago, and for over 20 years my dad has been sending money to a church in Nigeria which he has seen grow and bring many Africans into the Kingdom of God!
I hope people who read this will encourage others to think for themselves, it's pretty easy to poke holes in any question or theory, but do your own poking around, don't just ask questions because you hear other people ask them – really want the answers! And those being persecuted and killed for being Christians in Africa are really the ones we need to be concerned about!
I also just want us to think of those less fortunate than us, and just as the word is being preached by the skies here and ignored by many; it's being preached over in isolated and distant places and being believed! Remember Romans 1 as well: “For God's wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth, since what can be known about God is evident among them, because God has shown it to them. For His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse." (Romans 1:18-20 HCSB)
People in Africa or any other isolated place DO HEAR, and many DO BELIEVE, and you who read this, just heard it too (if you were listening) and none of us are without excuse!
Peace,
Adam
PS: The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky proclaims the work of His hands.
Day after day they pour out speech;
night after night they communicate knowledge.
There is no speech; there are no words;
their voice is not heard. (Psalm 19:1-3 HCSB)