Biblical Universalism - Part 2 Reasons to Believe

First read Part 1.

To me, being a blogger is about sharing your journey out loud so that others might peer into your life, and even journey alongside you; it does NOT imply that I am a SME (subject matter expert).  Please take the time to follow each link (below), and contribute to the discussion.  Before we begin, however, I recommend doing something first:

Consider (or write down) your own list of questions and assumptions concerning your personal views on Salvation and/or spirituality, and consider (or write down) what you imagine the consequences for believing in UR would be.  It's important to consider the cost before you embark on any journey, so I recommend that you first ask yourself "Will it be worth it?", and "Do I really want to know the truth?" before you begin down this wonderful, yet initially frightening path.  Pray as you go, and you cannot go wrong.  Christ's Spirit lives within you, and will lead you into all truth (John 16:13).

Now, there are many reasons to take a close look at the the evidence for Biblical Universalism...
First, the burden of proof lies on "them" to prove it, not on "us" to search it out.  After all, "we" were doing fine before "they" came along and suggested that we needed to believe differently, right?  I know that I already saw Christ as a beautiful Messiah even before I understand the fullness of His Rescue.

So, for example, if you wanted to know if the doctrine of "total depravity" (TD) is true, you would not want to read articles (or watch videos) on how TD is false (i.e. "Exposing Total Depravity", etc.).  This would only serve to stroke your precious worldview, and would actually hinder you from learning something new.  Instead, you would want to allow those who actually defend the position to properly defend it.  And it takes great faith, because you're exposing yourself to potentially worldview-altering ideas, trusting that God's Spirit will lead you into Truth, just as Jesus has promised (John 16:13).  Of course, if the argument is solid, it will stand the test of scrutiny, but if the argument for TD is weak, it will fall.  In the same way, then, the arguments for Christian Universalism will either stand or fall, depending on whether or not it is actually true.  And God's Spirit is faithful.

Second, we are called to be seekers of truth, and are called to test the spirits to see if they're from God (1 John 4:1).  Paul says that any spirit who says that Jesus came in the flesh is from God, and that any who deny this are not (1 John 4:2).  Another way to say it is that the most important theology to hold tightly in your "closed hand" is a vibrant, rigorous, orthodox Christology where Jesus is exactly who Scripture claims He is (e.g. God-incarnate, Eternal Son, etc.).

So, as your checking out the claims for Universal Reconciliation (UR), you will either begin to see Christ as even more glorious than before (e.g.  Eph 1:1-23), or your conscience will not bear witness, and God's Spirit will lead you to believe something else, just as Jesus faithfully prayed for in John 17:11.  He will protect us, and keep us in Him, so have faith, and be courageous as you search the Scriptures, and your own heart, readying yourself for a possible worldview change.  And most of all, obey your conscience as you study.  If God says "stop, and pray", then do it.  If you just don't know, then wait until you experience His peace.  We are not alone as we study, for He is right there beside us, and even in us.

On the other hand, keep your flesh/ego in check.  When we refuse to check out the claims of UR, not only are we forfeiting the right to honestly speak out against it (since we haven't properly checked out the claims ourselves), but we can never truly say that we are truth-seekers, since our journey is not honest (ignoring the possibility of being wrong, and not willing to alter our beliefs if they are).  So, for even the best of us, these types of investigations have a way of either purifying us, or turning us into greater, truth-suppressing hypocrites.

So, it is very important that we do our very best to understand any claim before we step out and try to refute something.  This is called integrity, and followers of Jesus should seek this much more than everyone else, since we claim to "know the Truth."  Arguing about something you haven't actually properly checked out yourself is one of the reasons that people do not have respect for many evangelicals today.  So, do your homework, and be generous when discussing these things with others.

For this reason (integrity), I am going to map out a quest for those of you who are on an honest, truth-seeking journey.  Please note that I am still "student", not "teacher" as I am only pointing my fellow students toward further study (a la a study-group).  I will be providing important questions, with links to resources so that you can find out the answers for yourselves.  I will not be offering the actual defenses here as if they are my own original ideas, as I am again, only a student, and certainly not a scholar.  Enjoy the ride!


Four Reasons To Believe That Jesus Is The Savior Of The Entire World  |  Quick Map

1.  The Hell Myth ←(first link)

This is where most people begin, and is a crucial study for those who are checking out the claims of Universal Reconciliation for the first time.  However, as you begin to realize that eternal-conscious-torment is not a biblical idea, but a pagan myth, begin to ask yourself this question:  

What Will God's Judgment Look Like ←(second link) Without Hell?

2.  Scriptural Support ←(third link) of Christ As Savior of ALL

(Click HERE for even more Scriptural support for UR.)

3.  The Heart of God, ←(fourth link) and the Importance of God's Heartbeat in Mankind
The big idea here is that, if God is rooting for an empty hell (aka a victorious gospel), then shouldn't we?

4.  Hell, And The Nature of God ←(fifth link)

It just doesn't make sense that God would do something that He never did before in the biblical narrative.  God never once punishes for punishment's sake, but His discipline always serves a restorative purpose-- from Genesis to Malachi.  Hell is never mentioned in the OT/Torah, but God does bring judgment repeatedly on Israel, as well as mankind in general.  However, never does God leave His children to their own destruction.  The God revealed in Scripture is not a god who leaves His children to suffer in eternal-conscious-torment, and the mental gymnastics it takes to justify such a false teaching is exhausting, and truth-suppressing.  Hell is probably the greatest slander against God's good name in the history of the world, and it can be found NOWHERE in Scripture, once you realize how the words have been improperly translated.

If you made it to the end, you may not want to call yourself a Christian Universalist just yet, but at least you can say that you have spent a little bit of time (a mere evening) trying to understand what, how, and why they believe the way they do.  And, at least now you can understand your growing number of brothers and sisters in Christ who are coming to believe that Christ's salvation is for ALL that believe and repent (which is every single person who has every lived, after the judgment, Phil 2:10-11).

Grace and peace to you, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.