I am thankful I never read much of the Bible before believing in UR!

[DanielB]

I have never been very enthusiastic nor dutiful about reading the Bible until recently(I still don't read tons but I try to read 5 or 6 chapters a day or one of the smaller "books" when I get to one). There has been various reasons for this.

I got discouraged when I was a child because I just started reading in the Old Testament(I guess just trying to read it in the order they appear) because I thought all the guys it talks about were supposed to be super righteous heroes and there was a lot of argument from silence fallacy and general lack of comprehension(in short, I think children should not read the OT and that no one should until they at least understand basic stuff like avoiding the argument from silence).

When I was a teenager and right into my 20s(I am 24 now) I just either lacked enough interest(especially when I was living a more evil life), got discouraged by my insufficient reading skills(which are more of a problem with strange grammar I am not used to like in some translations and not so much an issue with vocabulary).

I started believing in Universal salvation in my late teens but just recently started seriously reading the Bible and found a translation that I can actually understand(the NIV). I am liking it but I am glad that I am reading it with the knowledge(some may say presupposition) that God is loving and that the punishments or judgments are all for goodness and not out of being ticked off or God punishing people for reasons other than love.

I am a "purgatorial" universalist and I am thankful for even uncomfortable or miserable discipline and look forward to more of it as needed (also with a little bit of an "uh oh" feeling lol because I know it will probably involve discomfort). Even though I have experienced a lot of benefit from God's refinement and see/feel sanctification as worth the suffering it sometimes takes, I am sometimes caught off guard by some of the more "severe" sounding stuff. I have just read through 1st and 2nd Peter, which I saw a lot of the truth in. Like when it is talking about false teachers who offer freedom but are slaves themselves and mastered by evil desires and how they mislead people who are just starting to get ahold of some freedom(I have seen some of this and may have almost got pulled in by some when I was struggling against sexual immorality). Anyway, those of you who have read it and remember it can probably see what I am talking about how it can sound surprisingly "severe". As a universalist, I understand these things to be for the ultimate good of everyone(including the punished) and to be done out of absolute love. They can still be a little shocking to me but I think it is probably meant to be and we should still take these things seriously(I also can appreciate the need for some rather intense judgment where it is needed).

I just pity those who read those things and don't know about the love and goodness and compassion of God. I can't imagine how much hopelessness and depression that must result in(I used to understand but I am thankful to have forgotten)! When people read the Bible with the presupposition that God is a cold judge who condemns people based on some strange alien ideas about justice, it is no wonder that so many become stuck in fear and are less open to belief in universal salvation as a result. I think such parts of the Bible give me a better appreciation of why a person struggles with fear of ECT even after becoming a universalist.

I am thankful that even promises of intense discipline can even give me more hope(even compared to no discipline or discomfort at all since I do not hope that my misguidedness or sin will be tolerated but that it will be opposed by God so that I can continue to be saved from it).

[Ross]

I am thankful that even promises of intense discipline can even give me more hope(even compared to no discipline or discomfort at all since I do not hope that my misguidedness or sin will be tolerated but that it will be opposed by God so that I can continue to be saved from it).

Hebrews 12;7 " Endure your trials as divine discipline. God is treating you as sons.
                       For what son is there whom a father does not discipline?"
vs 10,11 " For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best for them,
                 but He disciplines us for our benefit so that we may share His Holy character.
                All discipline seems not to be pleasant but painful at the time,
                 but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."

Inspirational for me.

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: It does make a difference to read it through UR eyes, because then you know that even His judgments are unto victory. Blessings...

[WhiteWings]

I am a "purgatorial" universalist

I'm too.
But nothing with fire and red guys with pitchforks and that sorta pagan stuff.

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: Me, three. Peace

[Dandelion]

For me, I read the Bible from very young. I was raised believing in Hell, from my very early days.

And, even though I did have some fear of Hell, it never came before my knowledge and spiritual awareness of God's great love and mercy.

And, I never thought God was far off or uncaring, and I didn't blame Him when things were difficult.

I always knew that God was my ally.

I believe that the Holy Spirit showed me that. I think we must give the Holy Spirit the credit due Him to enter any situation and be able to transform us, no matter how dark or fallen, and shed His light on our mind, our heart, and our path.            :girlheart:

D.

[DanielB]

I am a "purgatorial" universalist

I'm too.
But nothing with fire and red guys with pitchforks and that sorta pagan stuff.

Yes, I don't believe in that silly stuff.... they will obviously be lizard people with tridents and lava.  :icon_jokercolor:

[marie glen]

I am a "purgatorial" universalist

I'm too.
But nothing with fire and red guys with pitchforks and that sorta pagan stuff.

Yes, I don't believe in that silly stuff.... they will obviously be lizard people with tridents and lava.  :icon_jokercolor:

:laughing7:

For me, I read the Bible from very young. I was raised believing in Hell, from my very early days.

And, even though I did have some fear of Hell, it never came before my knowledge and spiritual awareness of God's great love and mercy.

And, I never thought God was far off or uncaring, and I didn't blame Him when things were difficult.

I always knew that God was my ally.

I believe that the Holy Spirit showed me that. I think we must give the Holy Spirit the credit due Him to enter any situation and be able to transform us, no matter how dark or fallen, and shed His light on our mind, our heart, and our path.            :girlheart:

D.

Amen..  :thumbsup:


Daniel, I totally agree with you.. And I think to be aware of His True nature and character of love, life and all knowing, etc... all powerful and able.. must mostly His 100% good character.. pure and stellar..

It's also a comfort to know reading His Word purifies us.. as does our love and praise/worship of Him.. Jesus told His disciples, "you are all clean (except one) because of the word I've spoken to you.." - and we know how imperfect they were when He said that.. "but in the world you will have tribulation / troubles".. including consequences to any foolish actions or even beliefs(?) of ours.. and thankfully the advocate will guide us into all truth..
:thumbsup:

And P.S - amen, the Old Testament is tricky.. usually not realizing the whole story.. of human and child sacrifice and other depraved actions.. and how the severity with Israel to keep her separate to be as swaddling cloths for the Savior of the world.. The law as tutor..

"The Spirit gives life.."