For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Romans 12:3
I think we are all born with a measure of faith. As we accept the things of God, our faith either grows or if we reject God it is squelched.
I believe God reaches each man on an individual basis. He uses what means that He will and while we have a responsibility to preach the Gospel, and I commend the missionary you heard for trying to get that point across...God does not depend only on us to woo and lead us to Him.
That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. John 1:9
Thankfully so, for most of us don't fulfill the Great Commission as we should.
In addition, God has put a law in our hearts to know good from evil.
11 For there is no respect of persons with God. 12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; 13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another
16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. Romans 2: 12-15
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Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse;
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Romans 1: 19-21
God has put the knowledge and realization of Him in our hearts. We have the ability to clearly see and understand the Godhead. (God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit.)
I don't pretend to understand it all, but God is a Righteous God and is not willing that any should perish. He makes the Way; He will not judge unfairly.
I can remember as a little child imaging about God, and I was not raised in a Christian home! He was speaking to me and making me aware of Him in my heart from a very early age. While that may not be true of every one, I do feel He comes to us on an individual basis and woos us to a relationship with Him in a manner in which we can relate to Him.
Here is what the Bible Answer Book by Hank Hanegraaff has to say:
What Happens To A Person Who Has Never Heard Of Jesus?
One of the most frequently asked questions on the Bible Answer Man broadcast is "What happens to those who have never heard of Jesus?" Will God condemn people to hell for not believing in someone they have never heard of?
First, people are not condemned to hell for not believing in Jesus. Rather, they are already condemned because of their sin. Thus, the real question is not how can God send someone to hell, but how can God condescend to same any one of us?
Furthermore, if ignorance were a ticket to heaven, the greatest evangelistic enterprise would not be a Billy Graham crusade but a concerted cover-up campaign. Such a campaign would focus on ending evangelism, burning Bibles, and closing churches. Soon no one will have heard of Christ and everyone will be on their way to heaven.
Finally, it should be emphasized that everyone has the light of both creation and conscience. God is not capricious! If we respond to the light we have, God will give us more light. In the words of the apostle Paul:
And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him,
though he be not far from every one of us:
For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own
poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Acts 17: 26-28
