What happens to the poor innocent native in Africa or Australia or South America

or wherever who has never ever heard of Jesus Christ.

It's amazing how often that question comes.

I teach seminary and frequently the question comes out of

the lips of seminary students who are bothered by this question and I sometimes

when I hear it I think oh I've heard that question so many many times

I'm getting tired of answering it and then I check myself in midthought and I say yes

But I remember the first time I raised that question it bothered me it's an obvious question, isn't it?

I mean, if we have any concern for people, if we have any compassion for people, we must ask

the question, what happens to people who have never ever had the opportunity

to hear about Christ?

And so this is not just an idle question. It's an important question. But usually the way

it's phrased is what happens to the poor innocent native in Africa who has never heard of Christ.

Well, when I hear the question phrased in that manner, I have two answers for it, one of which

is kind of a trick answer designed to stimulate deeper thought, and the other

answer is a more serious or more sober answer.

Then I'll give you both.

I'll give you the first answer first when people say to me

or see what happens to the poor innocent native in Africa who has never heard of Christ?

I said nothing happens to the poor innocent native in Africa. The poor innocent native in Africa doesn't have a thing to worry

about, the poor innocent native of Africa when he dies, goes directly to heaven, he doesn't

pass go, he doesn't collect his $200 he has a free ride for eternal life and

...