The problem of ignorant unbelievers

Dick Dowsett, Glasgow

I appreciate Simon Hawkins' kind comments about my book and the important question he raises. Jesus prayed that his Father would forgive those who crucified him, just as we should pray for those who oppose us. We know from the gospels that one of the soldiers was converted. But Jesus also knew the frustration of unanswered prayer, (in Gethsemane for example). To pray for people to experience forgiveness does not guarantee that they will be forgiven. We are, however, commanded to pray for those who persecute us, and throughout church history that prayer has frequently been wonderfully answered. The question of people rejecting Christ because of ignorance is a painful one. Jesus taught there would be different degrees of punishment, depending on a person's knowledge (Luke 12:47-48). I do not find that satisfies my longing for something more comfortable to live with. It implies that the ignorant are not all right as they are. And this fits with Paul's prayer in Romans 10:1-3 for the salvation of his compatriots who "did not know" the gospel. In the light of this, and other arguments in my book, I prefer to work on the assumption that those ignorant of the gospel need to be told. To assume that ignorance is bliss is too risky, and most probably wishful thinking. I have yet to find a Scripture that clearly teaches otherwise. This means that we ache for those who are unreached, pray for them and seek wisely to use every opportunity to share the gospel with them.

Very good