Wondering about perspectives on UR in evangelism ...

[Confident UR Christian]

Hello everyone! Sorry, but this is a long post...  :Sparkletooth:

I was wondering what role everyone thinks that telling people about Universal Reconciliation should play in the variety of situations that people find themselves in, if a person is told/encouraged about the Gospel (i.e. should it be positively mentioned or left out).

This may differ based on circumstance (a few are mentioned here):

a) A person from a fundamentalist Christian background, who is struggling with faith, but who may be told that believing in UR prevents their salvation

b) A 'normal' conservative Christian, who does not believe in UR (and who may not think about the issue very much) but isn't particularly having any major doubts, and is content in the position that they are

c) A Muslim who has expressed an interest in Christianity, but has fears about judgement in Islam

d) A person who is not a Christian (i.e. agnostic/atheist) and has never been a particularly committed Christian (being nominal at best, never really being committed to church or anything)

e) A person who used to be a committed Christian but has since left the faith, on whatever grounds, for agnosticism / atheism

I am uncertain about which groups of the above people should be positively told about UR immediately (some may be better just with apologetics, testimony and a general Gospel message), but I have some ideas below. However, I am very inexperienced, and so I would welcome other views:

NOTE: These approaches may not be very good, and so I do not recommend following them unless there are good reasons apart from my own reasoning

a) This is a difficult case. The belief in ET may have more than one effect: it could, 1) cause the person to keep with Christianity, which they would otherwise have left on the basis of doubts, 2) be a source of the doubt due to a feeling of inconsistency and 3) be a cause of distress and depression that could lead to emotional doubt and pain.

In this case, if they are told about (and given Biblical evidence for) UR, it may be either beneficial or problematic. On the one hand, they could turn further away from Christianity because their only motivation for belief was (sadly) ET, and, even worse, it could isolate them from their family and church, and cause further guilt and rejection. On the other hand, it could, if they kept it private and managed to remain in a (silent) state of disagreement with their church, give them great joy and take away much of their doubt, thus keeping them with Christianity.

On this basis, perhaps the Biblical evidence for UR could be given as a possibility but not 'pushed' too much, so they have some hope even if they are not convinced, with other apologetics to assist factual doubt. If they do choose to believe it, they would need to be reassured that it isn't grounds for condemnation, and (maybe?) advised to not be too 'open' with UR to their church (but potentially mentioning it to other people outside the church) to prevent rejection.

b) For this person, perhaps they can be made aware of UR (so they can fall on it later if they need to), but not particularly actively persuaded (unless they're curious about it), because it could throw them into turmoil of thought and doubt where they didn't already have it.

c) For the Muslim, explanation of the Gospel in general and apologetics are probably most suitable. Being made aware of UR may also be important, however, because this would mean that they would not have to believe that their family, if they are Muslims, are being condemned (as seen in the Hope Beyond Hell book), which would cause both distress. There is the problem, however, regardless, that a decision to become a Christian could completely cut them off from their family, but this isn't really related to UR.

d) This is a very difficult case: UR may, on the one hand, make a person complacent about choosing Christianity, but, on the other hand, it could remove the barrier to faith of ET. Perhaps they could have UR hinted to them (which is useful in apologetics), and be persuaded largely on the basis of factual apologetics and given other reasons, rather than being actively persuaded about UR (which (may?) prevent them wanting to become a Christian anyway, and may, if they do, turn them away from many mainstream churches)

e) This is also difficult. An ex-Christian is likely wanting desperately for there to be no evidence for ET (and hence Christianity in general), and so, perhaps, UR may be useful for these people, if used alongside apologetics. However, again there is the problem that UR may discourage a person from returning to Christianity (since they may prefer not being a Christian, and so, with UR, be willing to take their chances). Therefore, maybe it should only be used very sparingly, if at all, and perhaps only then if they ask about doubts relating to judgement..

As I mentioned, I have virtually no experience, and so the above is based on detached reasoning rather than experience. I am also wary of some of the moral implications of the choices above: is it better for a person to stay with Christianity because of fear of ET, or for them to leave having been reassured by UR? Of course, it's better if they stay and believe in UR, but this could also backfire.

Is it better that people are, in general, just made aware of UR (to look at in more detail if they later feel the need) rather than actively persuaded? I am very uncertain about the answer to this.

Has anyone got any comments? Blessings....  :Chinscratch:

[Beloved Servant]

Whatever the Lord puts in my mouth I speak.

I have found if I even give it a one-second thought I'll corrupt it.

There have been many times that I'll just say nothing if nothing is given.

Just speak the truth and don't candy-coat it, tiptoe around it or beat around the bush trying to spare Adam's feelings. It's time for him to grow up.