…..that is, we are if we have come to Christ having heard the WHOLE gospel (of universal salvation.)

*We’re saved from the lie of a god that tortures his own offspring for eternity.
*We’re saved from sleepless nights of wondering whether a not skuzz buckets like ourselves have been “truly” born again or not.

*We’re saved from trying to adore, love and worship a god that we think is burning alive our cherished nonChristian loved ones for eternity.

*We’re saved from evangelizing others with the good(?) news that God (meaningfully and redemptively) loves them conditionally, based on their performance in this lifetime.

*We’re saved from jabbering a load of religious double-speak about “unconditional love” and “never-ending punishment” for people who failed to make wise and timely choices just as we (?) did.

*We’re saved from despair, chronic depression and addiction to prescription drugs, alcoholism, jail time for public intoxication etc., long stays in mental hospitals, and all of the bill$ that follow.

*We’re saved from thinking that we are somehow “special” for having made timely and wise choices–or because God has “elected” us because He supposedly loves us more than He does most of the human race.

*We’re saved from the yeast of the scribes and Pharisees: I.E., the ideology that God gets rid of losers forever and “we” are among the few winners that will make it through the pearly gates.

*We’re saved from the alienation that comes between family members when one member joins a “us only” cult.

*We’re saved from becoming spiritual abusers that offer “chances” to deeply shattered people who aren’t looking for more chances to blow. They’re looking for a Love that never fails, even if they fail–miserably.

*We’re saved from all the above so we can tell a hurting world, “God will NEVER give up on you. He loves you too much to lose you, my friend. So YOU may as well give up resisting His advances and start enjoying the Best Friend you will ever have!”

* We’re saved so that we can proclaim authentically good news–and BE good news–to a suffering world that desperately needs it.

Well, as you can see, I could go on for times “eonian”–but I’ll bail out for now!

Charlie

Those who proclaim UR aren’t trying to be divisive or controversial, believe it or not. Neither are they merely trying to prove a “doctrinal point” by maintaining that 100% of humanity will be drawn into Christ through His cross. It’s not a matter of driving doctrinal details down the throats of other people. The real issue that UR addresses is simply this:

THE LOVE OF GOD.

How deep plumbs the love of God? How high does it reach? How long does it endure? How wide is its range?

Traditional churchianity for 1500 years has been and is telling us that God’s love is only as deep as YOU are wise enough to let it be for you–in THIS lifetime. UR proclaims that it goes far deeper than that! “It reaches to the lowest hell!” (To quote the words of a famous gospel song that many Christians love, but fail to believe.)

Traditional Churchianity says that God’s (meaningful and active) love reaches only such a height as to impact with those “chosen few” who have been elected to “go to heaven” to the everlasting exclusion of the rest of the human race. (Calvinism) Or to those who have shown valid faith by their acts of obedience to make it to the further shore (Arminianism). UR proclaims that God’s love reaches far higher than that, and that His dreams for his human offspring aspire far higher than that. UR maintains that those who are “elected” now aren’t elected for “pie in the sky” to the exclusion of everyone else. No, they are chosen to s..p..r..e..a..d heaven until Holy Love Himself becomes “all in all.” Everything in everyone and everything everywhere.

Traditional churchianity maintains that the length of God’s–redemptive, meaningful and active–love endures AS LONG AS nonChristian people are still living and breathing in physical bodies on this physical planet. But if they die unconverted–poof! It is no more. And that is the “long and the short” of it! On the other hand, UR proclaims that God’s love endures for all time–and infinitely beyond– and is never-ending at all times and in all realms. His love is an ACTIVE and EFFECTIVE quality that never fails for–anyone. Not even for Satan and the fallen angels. (Although some UR believers don’t see fallen angels as literal personages in need of restoration.)

Traditional Churchianity maintains that the width of God’s (meaningful) love ranges to those whom He has elected to escape an endless hell, or to those who demonstrate by their faith and good works that they merit it. UR proclaims that God’s Son “GIVES life to the world” according to Scripture, and that “the gifts and callings of God are without repentance.” Therefore all Israel–as well as ALL of the WORLD will be saved.

So the issue is not about “doctrine” and trying to get everyone straightened out on “eschatology” (the doctrine of “last things”). No, not at all.

The REAL issue is LOVE.

Is it really effective? Is it really unconditional? Can we rely on it (Him!) even when we have lost control and cannot rely on ourselves–one iota? Can we rely on Love to prove faithful to our nonChristian departed loved ones? Does Love ever fail–in any respect or to any degree? Does Love plan to abandon billions of His cherished (?) offspring to an eternity of endless fiery torture? If this is so, how can people–with a normal conscience–SINCERELY love, admire and worship Him? How can we aspire after Love and seek to be “loving people” when this is the net result of its working?

How, then, does Love REALLY differ from hate?

Do we have to earn or merit or “receive” or “appropriate” Love (whatever!) in a wise and timely fashion in order for it to accomplish its healing work?

Is Love (God Himself) more reliable than we are?

Does Love Himself REALLY care about the objects of His (professed) affection?

Is Love Something (and Someone) we can REALLY count on?

THAT is the issue. And that is what UR is about.

Thanks for putting up with my sounding off again…

Love to all,
Charlie

Hank Hanagraaff, of “The Bible Answer Man” and head of “Christian Research’ fame wrote an article entitled “The Existence of Hell” shortly after the Boston Bombings. The slogan for Christian Research Institute (CRI) is “because the truth matters.” Can you believe they put a trademark on this phrase? Anyway, I read the article and was simply dumbfounded. I’ve read a LOT of nonsense articles from Christian apologists on why God needs a Hell to reveal how holy and just He is, but I don’t think I’ve read anything as nonsensical as what the Bible Answer Man wrote. Below are Hank Hanagraaff’s words. Honest, I didn’t put words in his mouth. This is really the mind of “The Bible Answer Man” himself. After you read the article, I’ll post my response to Hank’s assessment of why God must have a hell and why we must believe in such a concept even thought the original languages of the Bible (Hebrew and Greek) contain no such idea.

Hank Hanagraaff, of CRI, “The Bible Answer Man” wrote in “The Existence of Hell”:

“When I got done speaking and answering questions in Boston last week and started autographing books one man walked up to me. He immediately said I was a false prophet and that I was going to go straight to hell. The reason he gave was that I taught that we are saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. He said that prior to the Reformation no one ever taught such a thing. Not only that, but he said you’re saved through the Roman Catholic Church and through the Roman Catholic Church alone. If you are not part of the Roman Catholic Church you are a false prophet and you’re going to go to hell. That was my first encounter.

“I also encountered a man who was very sincere, an unbeliever, who is a man who believes that there are many reasons why he cannot accept the historic Christian faith but is open to reason. That’s what we’re looking for; people who are sincerely open to reason. This gentleman has a number of questions that I’m going to be addressing with him personally, but I thought it would be instructive to take some of those questions and deal with them in the next several blog entries. These are issues that separate people from the historic Christian faith or Christian worldview. They say it’s simply irrational. “There are these unanswered questions, they nag at me, they bother me and I can’t become a Christian until they’re resolved.” That’s a problem for him and I imagine it’s a problem for many other people as well.

“For example, he says that the Bible teaches hell and he thinks that’s a horrendously primitive and cruel concept. Or, the Bible supports slavery, or the Bible is full of contradictions, or Jesus is not qualified to be God’s representative because He was mistaken about the end times – a question I’ve got many, many different times as I’ve talked to skeptics throughout the years. “I find the Bible discriminates against Gay people.” Another objection, “The Bible contradicts science.” Yet another, “The Bible’s prophecies are unimpressive” or “I find the Bible’s answer to the problem of evil unsatisfying.” So we have the top ten objections here, and again, let’s deal with some of them.

“The first of these objections is the objection which is often raised with respect to eternal, conscious torment in hell. Why do we, as Christians, believe in hell? I’ve outlined this in various places, including my book Resurrection and The Bible Answer Book, Volume 1.

“The first reason I believe in hell’s irrevocable reality is that Christ communicated that hell was real. In fact, in the Sermon on the Mount alone He explicitly warned His followers about the dangers of hell a half a dozen or more times.

“Secondly, I believe that the concept of choice demands that we believe in hell. Without hell there’s no choice, and without choice heaven would not be heaven, heaven would be hell. The righteous would inherit a counterfeit heaven and the unrighteous would be incarcerated in heaven against their wills, which would be a torture worse than hell. Imagine spending a lifetime voluntarily distancing yourself from God only in the end to find yourself involuntarily dragged into His loving presence for all eternity! The alternative to hell is worse than hell itself in that it is taking humans who are made in the image of God and stripping them of freedom and forcing them to worship God against their wills.

“So the first reason I believe in hell is Christ taught there was a hell and you can demonstrate that Jesus Christ is the one who spoke and the universe leapt into existence. The second reason I believe in hell is choice demands that there be a hell. Without hell there’s no choice.

“There’s one other reason I should cite, and that is common sense dictates that there must be a hell. Without hell the wrongs of Hitler’s holocaust are never going to be righted. Justice would be impugned if, after slaughtering 6 million Jews, Hitler would merely die in the comforting arms of his mistress with no eternal consequences. The ancients knew better than to think such a thing. David knew that for a time it might seem as though the wicked prosper in spite of their deeds but in the end justice would be served.

“Common sense also dictates that without a hell there’s no need for a Savior. Little needs to be said about the absurdity of suggesting that the Creator would suffer more than the cumulative sufferings of all of mankind if there’s no hell to save us from. Without hell there’s no need for salvation. Without salvation there’s no need for a sacrifice, and without a sacrifice there’s no need for a Savior.

“As much as we might want to think that all will be saved, I think that common sense precludes the possibility. So I believe in hell first and foremost because Christ taught there was a hell. Secondly, because choice demands there be a hell. Thirdly, because common sense dictates there is a hell. Endquote of Hank Hanagraaff’s explanation for “The Existence of Hell.”

In the following post “Reply to Hank Hanagraaff’s Hell” I will use reason and scripture to refute Hank’s “common sense.” I agree, Hank’s common sense is common among traditional Christians, but it is not common sense or common knowledge in our Father’s kingdom. What is common knowledge among those who know Jesus Christ, the Savior of all mankind, is that Jesus does NOT fail in His mission to “draw all mankind to Himself.” If you want to do a little homework before reading my response to “The Bible Answer Man,” visit the Scholar’s Corner at:

Tentmaker Ministries ScholarsCorner

Jesus “Nuke” Christ

http://tentmaker.org/blog1/projecting-our-vengeance-on-to-god/

Freedom in Christ

So if the Son sets you free, you will  be free indeed. John 8:36

My yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matt. 11:30

Led by Holy Spirit

denomination. Most of us just keep worshiping Jesus and arguing over the right way to do it. The amazing thing is that Jesus never once says, “Worship me!” whereas he frequently says, “Follow me” (e.g., Matthew 4:19 [1]).

Christianity is a lifestyle-a way of being in the world that is simple, non-violent, shared, and loving. However, we made it into an established “religion” (and all that goes with that) and avoided the lifestyle change itself. One could be warlike, greedy, racist, selfish, and vain in most of Christian history, and still believe that Jesus is one’s “personal Lord and Savior” or continue to receive Sacraments in good standing. The world has no time for such silliness anymore. The suffering on Earth is too great. Richard Rohr

If we are truly led of the Spirit into the “works prepared from the foundation of the world beforehand that we should walk in” (Eph. 2:10), then we will not be led by pride, egotism, nationalism, denominationalism, selfishness, materialism and other works of the flesh. Our daily lives will be an act of worship. We will be led by love, not fear.

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Romans 8:14

Is God Pro-Choice or Pro-Life?

Let me explain.

When it comes to the issue of abortion, the traditional Church, both Catholic and Evangelical take the stand that God is Pro-Life and against Pro-Choice. Choose life, the church says, let the baby live. And now it gets complicated.

One part of the church, (Augustinian, Calvinist, Reformed, Presbyterian) teaches those who will receive true life, eternal life, cannot choose it, it has been predetermined by God from the foundation of the world as to who will receive life and who will be eternally damned. Perhaps we could phrase “eternally damned” as “eternally aborted from the foundation of the world.” So for this part of the church, the issue of abortion is really a non-issue, it is to make much of nothing.

The rest of the traditional church, Arminian, teaches we must choose in this lifetime whether we want to receive life. If we don’t choose Jesus and serve Him as Lord in this lifetime, we are eternally damned. However, most Arminians make an exception to this rule — if children, before the “age of accountability” die, they will automatically be given eternal life. The length of the age of accountability varies from denomination to denomination. Under this scenario, abortionists become the world’s greatest evangelists for they guarantee the child will live eternally by killing them, while those who are pro-choice put all children in harm’s way. Based upon the requirements the church has made as to who actually “Chooses to get saved,” most of the world is damned to everlasting punishment.

So then, under the Calvinist/Augustinian or Arminian branches of the Church, the issue of Pro-life and Pro-choice gets rather messy. For Calvinists the issue is really a non-issue, pointless, meaningless. God has already made up His mind who will receive real life and who will be eternally damned/aborted. And if Arminians REALLY believed what they are taught, they would be praising abortionists as the greatest evangelists instead of condemning them. Adrea Yates, who drowned her children before the age of accountability,  really did the right thing for her children, if the majority of the church was right about having to “choose Jesus” and “choosing” to live a life proving they really repented.

The traditional church and its gospel in which scarcely anyone received eternal life is really pretty pathetic. God either hates most of mankind so much He is going to torture them forever or God’s love is so weak and pathetic He can scarcely draw anyone to Him. Both images of our heavenly Father are quite pathetic.

Now there are scores of Scripture that declare our heavenly Father and His Son both Pro-choice and Pro-life. They have chosen from the foundation of the world to give eternal life to all mankind. It is their Choice and it is their Life. What I find absolutely remarkable is that this truly Good News is considered bad news to both sides of the traditional church. They don’t like a God who chooses to give eternal life to all mankind.

It’s insanity, isn’t it? I am so grateful, we have a Father who will deliver us all from garbage.

Gary Amirault

Funerals: When pastors become universalists

Nearly all pastors, according to sixth generation funeral director, Caleb Wilde, become universalists at funeral services. He writes,

“I have worked about 3,000 funerals in my 10 years as a funeral director and I have never heard a pastor state conclusively that the person they are memorializing is going to hell, although I’ve heard thousands of messages that state CONCLUSIVELY that the deceased is in heaven!”

So when are they lying? On Sunday morning when they damn to Hell all those who have not been born again and leading a godly life (which is 99 percent of mankind)? Or when they assure those at their funeral services (for which they usually get paid) the deceased are in heaven? Or are they just lying all the time?

Having coffee with friends

A day at the beach

Cheering on your team

Having dinner out with your friends

Out on an intimate date

Having a conversation with your BFF

A visit to the museum

Enjoying the sights

That day has arrived.