Journal: Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
Volume: JETS 32:3 (Sep 1989)
Article: Those Who Have Never Heard: Have They No Hope?
Author: Evert D. Osburn

JETS 32:3 (September 1989) p. 367

Those Who Have Never Heard: Have They No Hope?

Evert D. Osburn*

Anthropological studies have revealed that the Yoruba people of Nigeria worship a Supreme Being whom they call Olodumare. Olodumare is known as the Creator (cf. Isa 40:28), the Most High (cf. Ps 91:1), and the King who dwells in the heavens (cf. 113:5). He possesses all superlative attributes, executes judgment (cf. 75:7), is the discerner of hearts who sees both the inside and outside of man (cf. Heb 4:12–13), and he alone can accomplish his work merely by speaking (cf. Gen 1:3 ff.). Olodumare is the all-powerful Creator who deserves to be worshiped by mankind. He cannot be represented by images, but he can be approached as the Father.1

It is not known when the Yoruba traditions about Olodumare originated, but “research has shown that the High God [of the Yoruba] was not a later insertion through contact with Western Christianity.”2

Where did the Yoruba obtain their knowledge of God? More importantly, could a Yoruba tribesman who recognizes his need cast himself upon the mercy of God as he knows him and still be saved without ever hearing the gospel?

What about those who have never heard the Christian message? M. Erickson says that this is one of the most troublesome questions asked him by undergraduates in a Christian liberal-arts college, second only to the problem of evil.3

The words of William Cowper, written two hundred years ago, still express the sentiment of many hearts toward this perplexing issue:

Is virtue, then, unless of Christian growth,
Mere fallacy, or foolishness, or both?
Ten thousand sages lost in endless woe,
For ignorance of what they could not know?
That speech betrays at once a bigot’s tongue,
Charge not a God with such outrageous wrong.
Truly not I—the partial light men have,
My creed persuades me, well employed, may save.4

* Evert Osburn is assistant pastor of the Nishiarakawa Church in Tokyo, Japan.

JETS 32:3 (September 1989) p. 368

Cowper’s words reflect what perhaps many of us hope is true. The problem at hand is so difficult because passages like John 14...