Well, that's an interesting theory. What evidence do you have to support it?
Odd to think of it as
my theory. It's just stuff I've heard or been taught over the years.
Scriptures about seeking and doors being opened back up this theory.
Romans 1:20 substantiates the idea God makes himself known to everyone through his creation.
Then it's up to them to seek: "For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."
Matthew 7:8
God knows their hearts. “man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (
1 Samuel 16:7 ).
Premise 1: God reveals himself to everyone.
Premise 1: God knows the desires of their heart.
Conclusion: People's free will remains intact since they are
given a choice to seek the things of God after God reveals himself. They are therefore without excuse given their choice to not seek.
If more of the 2 billion people who never heard of Christ choose to seek, more doors would be opened like in the case of Akiane Kramarik and Helen Keller. Keller was deaf and blind before she was 2 years old. Yet she knew of God before anyone told her. She sought and, through a remarkable story of overcoming communication obstacles, eventually found Jesus.
I don't think Romans 11:17 supports the idea people are being denied free will unless they actually
hear about Christ. Hearing about Christ is downstream of their initial
choice of whether or not to seek the things of God.