Thanks to all who responded to my letter about universalism.
In response to Duncan Cameron (November Letters) I suggest all of us take from the Bible what is most helpful to us. I know there are biblical passages which do not support universalism but I have found those that do are more Christ-like than those that don’t. That’s how I try to read the Bible – in the light of what I know of Jesus.
Duncan suggests my theology is based on my opinion rather than revelation. Each one of us filters biblical revelation (which I take seriously) through our understanding and experience to arrive at our own theology. He contends that the Christian Church exists not as a collection of people who say “I believe” but as a community of faith that says, “We believe.” How then, does he explain The Apostles’ Creed, which declares, “I believe?”
I apologize to Hugh Appel (above) for depressing him. That was not my purpose because for me universalism is gospel – good news. I would never expect him to tell his people it doesn’t matter how we live because we are all saved anyway. I hope that when he tells his people about God’s love he calls them to be grateful to God and to share that love with everyone.
I am glad we both agree that God is love and that God’s love is best seen in Jesus. Why then the cross? The cross is what we do to God’s love. The cross is not God’s will; God’s will is the Christ. The cross shows us how far the love of God will go for us. I do not, as a universalist, consider worship and mission a waste of time.
I worship God with gratitude and praise for God’s amazing grace. I share the gospel with others to let them know God loves them, forgives them, accepts them. I hope that leads them to want to thank God and enjoy God also.
Hugh Appel contends we have a choice, either for or against God in Christ.
I agree but, if we don’t turn to God in gratitude, God will not reject us. God’s love is eternal and too great to be defeated by our rejection. We call God “Father” and like a good father God never stops loving His children.
G. MacKintosh (November Letters) points out, rightly, that it’s not God who marginalizes people; it’s people who marginalize God. The contention is that we have the freedom to reject God’s salvation. My problem with that is that I cannot believe I have the power to defeat God’s love. I have experienced something of the winsome love of God which has overcome all my resistance. Even if we were to die denying God, God doesn’t deny us.
Whether we repent and trust in God or not doesn’t affect God’s decision to reconcile the world to Himself. Jacques Ellul puts it well. “From the very outset this reconciliation is for all (Muslims, Buddhists, Nazis, Communists etc.) And it will apply to them whether they know it or not, whether they will it or not. God is reconciled to them even if they are not reconciled to God.”
Jesus was insulted, mocked, beaten, betrayed, abandoned, crucified, but he never condemned or rejected those who were guilty of such things. He wept over them because he was reconciled to them all, no matter what they did.
