For discussion
I came across something today where it was mentioned that there are 1800 languages that do not have bible translations. Even if that number isn’t accurate, it’s safe to say that there are still a lot of languages without the Bible.
With that in mind, is God failing? In Romans 10 it says
for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!” However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
— Romans 10:13-17
How can we say that everyone has had an equal chance when some have never heard the gospel? How can we say that God is all-loving when He leaves some without every hearing the gospel?
Interested in your thoughts.
Why should we say that everyone has had an equal chance? Where does the Bible say anything about that? And what does "chance" have to do with anything?
The Bible tells us that God decides the WHEN and WHERE every person lands on this planet.
Acts 17-
26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and
he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.
27
God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.
Is God omniscient? Of course. So He knows those who will respond and those who will not.
Regarding an "equal chance", the Bible tells us that man has no excuse for not recognizing God as Creator and being thankful to Him.
Rom 1-
19 since
what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.
20 For since the creation of the world
God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made,
so that people are without excuse.
21 For
although they knew God,
they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.
If a person doesn't respond to God's creation, which reveals His invisible qualities, then why would they respond to the gospel?
The Bible also says this:
Heb 11:6 - And without faith it is impossible to please God, because
anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
So, if a person doesn't respond to God's creation, which reveals His existence, they aren't going to "come to Him" because they don't believe that He exists.
God knows who will respond and is perfectly able to provide the information necessary for them to hear the gospel.