Curious to see what denomination most of y'all are...

[Taffy]

So much for being brief.

Not ALL things are Possible bro  :laughing7:

[CHB]

Hi Nathan,

I was just wondering if you teach UR at your Church or do you have to be careful of what you teach? How do people respond to your teaching of UR, if you do teach it? Do you have a big congregation?  Is it a UR Church or another belief? Sorry for so many questions, am just curious.

I was raised up in a Baptist Church. I attended that off and on until my early 20's. Then I attended a Seventh Day Advantist Church for a few years. I began listening to Herbert W Armstrong on the radio in my late 20's and finally became a member of that organization. I was a member for 3 1/2 years. When Dr. Ernest Martin left the Church in the 70's I left also and have been a believer in the salvation of all ever since.  

There is an Independant Baptist Church less than a half of mile from where I live and I know the pastor since childhood, in fact his father pastored the Baptist Church where I first attended. Anyway, he started pressuring me to attend Church.  I told him I didn't believe the things most people believed and he said that it didn't matter, so about 3 years ago during a family funeral I attended Church there and have been going ever since. I had been going a little while when the pastor ask me to do Bible Study and I agreed. I decided to tell everyone that I believed in the salvation of all, which surprised the pastor, not that I believed it but that I told everyone. Anyway, everyone has accepted me, but no one has ask me anything about my beliefs. I did Bible Study a couple of weeks ago on the book of Job. I brought out the fact that God was showing Job that his works couldn't save him and didn't make him righteous. I don't think anyone got it though. Or maybe they did, I don't know. The pastor ask me to do another Bible study in the future. I don't know why God has me there but there is a reason I know. I get to say things once in a while, maybe it will make someone think twice about ET. I cringe when the pastor talks about hell because I am a firm believer in UR. After the first Bible Study I did, the pastor told me I "had to get the notion of all being saved out of my head, that I was denying Christ".. I told him "NEVER, I would be denying Christ if I believed the way he did". I told him "I loved him like a brother but I could never believe the way he does". We are still good friends. I forgot to mention that I also sing there every week.  

CHB
 

[Kevin]

Now this is only meant in humor, it popped out as I was scanning through this tread;
Ok, on with it.
" it is easier to convert a Jew to Christianity,
  than a Catholic". 

My origin is Roman Catholic. I need a map to find a church....
I read from around 70 Bibles. Most of them electronic ones.
I often use KJV because 'everyone' uses it and because it is linked to Strong.
Next step is usally comparing with YLT or Rotherham
Basicly the first step is always KJV and the second step whatever translation uses age instead of eternal

WhiteWings, would you think that it would be easier for a Roman Catholic or a Protestant to receive UR? I know all revelation comes from God, but I believe it may be more difficult for some due to their religious doctrines.

Somewhere around here (IICC) there was a post that quoted the Pope saying it was a 'possibility'. Does anyone know where that is?

[Nathan]

Now this is only meant in humor, it popped out as I was scanning through this tread;
Ok, on with it.
" it is easier to convert a Jew to Christianity,
  than a Catholic". 

My origin is Roman Catholic. I need a map to find a church....
I read from around 70 Bibles. Most of them electronic ones.
I often use KJV because 'everyone' uses it and because it is linked to Strong.
Next step is usally comparing with YLT or Rotherham
Basicly the first step is always KJV and the second step whatever translation uses age instead of eternal

WhiteWings, would you think that it would be easier for a Roman Catholic or a Protestant to receive UR? I know all revelation comes from God, but I believe it may be more difficult for some due to their religious doctrines.

Somewhere around here (IICC) there was a post that quoted the Pope saying it was a 'possibility'. Does anyone know where that is?

Really?  I would have thought it to be the other way around.

Hi Nathan,

I was just wondering if you teach UR at your Church or do you have to be careful of what you teach? How do people respond to your teaching of UR, if you do teach it? Do you have a big congregation?  Is it a UR Church or another belief? Sorry for so many questions, am just curious.

I was raised up in a Baptist Church. I attended that off and on until my early 20's. Then I attended a Seventh Day Advantist Church for a few years. I began listening to Herbert W Armstrong on the radio in my late 20's and finally became a member of that organization. I was a member for 3 1/2 years. When Dr. Ernest Martin left the Church in the 70's I left also and have been a believer in the salvation of all ever since.  

There is an Independant Baptist Church less than a half of mile from where I live and I know the pastor since childhood, in fact his father pastored the Baptist Church where I first attended. Anyway, he started pressuring me to attend Church.  I told him I didn't believe the things most people believed and he said that it didn't matter, so about 3 years ago during a family funeral I attended Church there and have been going ever since. I had been going a little while when the pastor ask me to do Bible Study and I agreed. I decided to tell everyone that I believed in the salvation of all, which surprised the pastor, not that I believed it but that I told everyone. Anyway, everyone has accepted me, but no one has ask me anything about my beliefs. I did Bible Study a couple of weeks ago on the book of Job. I brought out the fact that God was showing Job that his works couldn't save him and didn't make him righteous. I don't think anyone got it though. Or maybe they did, I don't know. The pastor ask me to do another Bible study in the future. I don't know why God has me there but there is a reason I know. I get to say things once in a while, maybe it will make someone think twice about ET. I cringe when the pastor talks about hell because I am a firm believer in UR. After the first Bible Study I did, the pastor told me I "had to get the notion of all being saved out of my head, that I was denying Christ".. I told him "NEVER, I would be denying Christ if I believed the way he did". I told him "I loved him like a brother but I could never believe the way he does". We are still good friends. I forgot to mention that I also sing there every week.  

CHB
 

I do preach UR.  Until coming to this forum, I didn't know there was a name for it.  I didn't even realize I believed in it until years after I already had been teaching on it from another angle.  I came to it literally through revelation . . .the book.  My road went through the tabernacle of Moses being the framework from which Revelation is built on.  And the laver is the symbol, or pattern for the lake of fire.  It was where the priests washed their hands . .it was a place of cleansing and purification rather than destruction.

It was where all things that adhered to the flesh of the priests from their laboring activity with the animal sacrifice would be washed away and assisted in the preparation for the priest to enter into the tabernacle.  The lake of fire is the laver that washes our flesh from our spirit to prepare us to enter into the Temple of God.  The ultimate goal is not the temple, but the holy of holies . . .10x10x10, it's dimensions . .it's the 1000 year reign of Christ, who "is" rest, the Sabbath . .the Jubilee.  He is the volume of the book.  Everything was made to illuminate his identity.  Everything was written to proclaim His Truth in us. 

So for years, I believed the lake of fire was the laver, a place of cleansing.  But I never made the connection between that and the entire world being reconciled back to him.  Even though that's exactly what it's doing.  Funny how that works.  But again, when we enter into the realm of the kingdom, there are so many things that are connected to so many other areas, and also take into account the age of the believer passing through those isles and isles of revelational truths that have no end, it's easy to be raptured up in the overall scheme without realizing all the reprocussions that are included.

But yes, I openly tell the church that what I'm preaching is considered to be heresy by the denomination.  Well, I tell them that now.  I didn't put it that way in the very beginning.  Actually, when I first became a pastor 6 years ago, I was as traditional as they come.  But shortly after my first year, I called the church to a 40 day fast, felt very strongly led to do so . . .and the purpose was to seek God for what direction he wanted us to go . . seemed like a noble cause at the time .  .but I had no clue just how drastic my direction was about to change.

To keep this short (for me . .and yes Taf, I got your post!!) when I did make the turn, I had about a third of the church leave me.  And those that stayed were doing so more out of routine than support.  But it was either I cater to the congregation, or I continued to follow the voice within me through the spirit.  I couldn't tell them that the reason I preached what I did was the answer to the 40 day fast.  Because at that time, I didn't even realize that's what it was.  It wasn't until another year or so when I was throwing away old sermon tapes that I didn't agree with anymore, that I found when the fast started and ended . .and when I went dimensional.

I have a crowbar I hang from the pulpit now.  I refer to it a lot.  In order for Christ to build his temple in me, I've first got to let him do some demo in me for the things I let other men build that no longer measure up.  Then the huge flood came and I had to use the crow bar to help my wife's parents rip the walls out of their home and it never made it back to the pulpit . . .then one Sunday, there it was . . .but it wasn't mine.  Someone had brought in another one and painted it . . .did you know a crow bar has six sides?  Six, the number of man.  They painted two sides purple (royalty) two sides silver (grace) and two sides gold (purity).  And it's been hanging there ever since.  The person that did it is one of several families that God has brought to us, replacing those that left.

The only ones that I try to fly low with are my superiors . . . but in the last several months, things were said that has put me on alert with them.  But I continue to preach freely the things God leads us into.  We are currently going through the book I got off of the home site of another forum (heart to heart) called "Hope Beyond Hell".  Which speaks of the same exact things we discuss here when talking about ET.

[Molly]

It was where all things that adhered to the flesh of the priests from their laboring activity with the animal sacrifice would be washed away and assisted in the preparation for the priest to enter into the tabernacle.  The lake of fire is the laver that washes our flesh from our spirit to prepare us to enter into the Temple of God.  The ultimate goal is not the temple, but the holy of holies . . .10x10x10, it's dimensions . .it's the 1000 year reign of Christ, who "is" rest, the Sabbath . .the Jubilee.  He is the volume of the book.  Everything was made to illuminate his identity.  Everything was written to proclaim His Truth in us. 

So for years, I believed the lake of fire was the laver, a place of cleansing.

That's beautiful.  I never would have seen that connection.

There is a lot of information hidden within the ritual of the Levite priesthood.

[alihaymeg]

Nathan,

   God bless you for your faithfulness. Even in the face of great personal risk, you have refused to perpetuate the lie of (ET). I considder it a miracle when a person is able to ignor the flesh and serve God wholeheartedly. I would love to hear more about your studies in the book of Revelation.

If it ever becomes an issue, the Christian Universalist Association offers ordination based on Universalist values. They have members of many denominations and creeds, and they don't limit their members in any way. I have been considdering it myself. God bless you my Brother!

[Texas Son]

Wow!!  :mshock:  Nathan, I think I need to invite you to come speak at our church! That was powerful!  :bgdance:

Thanks for sharing!

TS

[CHB]

Nathan,

Thanks for responding to my post. I admire you for sticking with what you believe, it is hard to do in the world of ET. I am sure your messages have made a difference in a lot of lives.

CHB

[LJ]

my parents are lutherans, so i am officially too, but in fact i have no denomination, i´m not sure if i am christian, i am a strict monotheist so i tend more to judaism beliefs, so i have problems with some christian beliefs, i reject the idea of trinity but i didnt want to arque about that topic, so i might me an arian and a heretic, but i have no problem to believe that the Mashiach will save the whole creation, so if Jesus is the Mashiach - i have no problem to believe that he saves the whole creation, its much more logical than  that he condemns allmost all mankind to hell, as there is no word written about hell in the Tanakh.

I dont know what arianism teaches exactly but with this definition of arianism i have to call me an arian.
Taken from http://thegodofjesus.com/reasons-to-believe/definitions/
Arianism: a form of unitarian theology, Arians also believe the Father is the one true God.  Arian Christology is Subordinationist.  It holds that Jesus first pre-existed as a lesser god, a spirit-being or a form of high-angel before creation, and later incarnated as the man Jesus Christ.

I believe that christ didnt come to change the judaism monoteism at all in praying to him, he tell us to pray in his name to the father.

Pitty, I myself have no congregation and no one to baptize me that has authority in my opinion. The one that baptizes me would have to be an unitarian subordinationist that believes in universal reconciliation for starts.

I did attend different churches till i realized that i dont believe in the trinity. after that i was with jehovas witnesses for 2 month or but left them. after that i didnt find anything that suited me. now i live in finland which makes to much harder to find non trinitarians.

[CST]

You are aware that Arianism was condemned as a heresy at the first council of Nicaea. I'm not sure just reading a definition really teaches what Arianism is as it's not really around anymore.

[LJ]

You are aware that Arianism was condemned as a heresy at the first council of Nicaea. I'm not sure just reading a definition really teaches what Arianism is as it's not really around anymore.

Jehovas witness are by this definition modern day arians. They just believe in annihilationism so it nothing for me. Even if they would teach universal reconciliation i would stumble over that they are holding the name jehova higher than the name of jesus that is above all other names and in no other name one will be saved: jesus christ the nazarene. You are not saved in the name jehova.
There is even a book about it: JW are modern day arians? https://www.amazon.com/Jehovahs-Witnesses-Modern-Day-Arians/dp/1535126493

[marie glen]

I consider myself to be somewhat of a christian hermit.. Though I'm not a hermit, I have always studied and worshiped on my own, never taking to churches, which I tried, but :dontknow:

I used to feel a little 'guilty' not being an active church goer - and praise the Lord! Church can be and is a great thing! But for some reason it messes with my psyche! Is it me? Is it 'them'? Who knows.. The Lord knows! I try to read my bible in such a way that I want to enter the story. in the Kingdom, when I see so and so - especially from the New Testament, I want to know who they are and what they did, etc.. And the bible stories of people Jesus healed.. i want to read it as though I am there, and know who the people were.. And read the letters of Paul and others as though written straight to all of us - and the church group of that day, of course.. (context!) Including the letter of Revelation..

I recently found myself in a group talking about this preacher and that.. and this group and that.. this church and that church.. haha.. I was completely lost/at a loss and high tailed it outa there! I finally understand the difference between Calvinism [ :eek: / :laughing7: ] and Arminianism.. And I've talked with a few Jehovah Witnesses in my day.. I have relatives who are staunch and happy Seventh Day Adventists.. I don't think any group or church is perfect.. If they teach Jesus and the Bible.. and not a lot of 'hell', and the people seem of soft hearts, I think that would be an okay bunch of folks to worship and study with, with prayers, of course, that sly satan&co. not rob or destroy/lead astray..

I'm a 'loner' in spirit.. but no one should have to be if they don't want to be! :girlheart:

I have a friend who goes to a Baptist church and is happy there, she says she has always believed all will be saved.. and I have heard others say Baptists are (or lean toward?) Universalist..

[CST]

You are aware that Arianism was condemned as a heresy at the first council of Nicaea. I'm not sure just reading a definition really teaches what Arianism is as it's not really around anymore.

Jehovas witness are by this definition modern day arians. They just believe in annihilationism so it nothing for me. Even if they would teach universal reconciliation i would stumble over that they are holding the name jehova higher than the name of jesus that is above all other names and in no other name one will be saved: jesus christ the nazarene. You are not saved in the name jehova.
There is even a book about it: JW are modern day arians? https://www.amazon.com/Jehovahs-Witnesses-Modern-Day-Arians/dp/1535126493

Yeah, I'm not sure how much I'd trust that book. It seems to suggest on the blurb that both Armenians and Jehovah's Witnesses have been misrepresented, which may be true. But since it may well (especially in the case of Armenians) be a case of various interpretation by people who read the relevant writings, I'm not at all sure that the interpretation of either in this book is correct.

Also since I'm sure both are wrong I'm not sure why I would care to find out. The Bible says that Jesus is God despite all the ways people have diluted the text to claim it doesn't.

I consider myself to be somewhat of a christian hermit.. Though I'm not a hermit, I have always studied and worshiped on my own, never taking to churches, which I tried, but :dontknow:

I used to feel a little 'guilty' not being an active church goer - and praise the Lord! Church can be and is a great thing! But for some reason it messes with my psyche! Is it me? Is it 'them'? Who knows.. The Lord knows! I try to read my bible in such a way that I want to enter the story. in the Kingdom, when I see so and so - especially from the New Testament, I want to know who they are and what they did, etc.. And the bible stories of people Jesus healed.. i want to read it as though I am there, and know who the people were.. And read the letters of Paul and others as though written straight to all of us - and the church group of that day, of course.. (context!) Including the letter of Revelation..

I recently found myself in a group talking about this preacher and that.. and this group and that.. this church and that church.. haha.. I was completely lost/at a loss and high tailed it outa there! I finally understand the difference between Calvinism [ :eek: / :laughing7: ] and Arminianism.. And I've talked with a few Jehovah Witnesses in my day.. I have relatives who are staunch and happy Seventh Day Adventists.. I don't think any group or church is perfect.. If they teach Jesus and the Bible.. and not a lot of 'hell', and the people seem of soft hearts, I think that would be an okay bunch of folks to worship and study with, with prayers, of course, that sly satan&co. not rob or destroy/lead astray..

I'm a 'loner' in spirit.. but no one should have to be if they don't want to be! :girlheart:

I have a friend who goes to a Baptist church and is happy there, she says she has always believed all will be saved.. and I have heard others say Baptists are (or lean toward?) Universalist..

I like your 'hermitry'. I go to church sometimes these days. In the past I would go and it would often seem relevant to my current week somehow. Lately I just feel like God doesn't really want me to be there.

[trettep]

If there is already a thread for this could someone kindly direct me there?  :bgdance:

Since Universalism doesn't necessarily have a denomination (as far as I know) I was wondering where everyone fellowships, whether they keep their UR leanings to themselves, and also what version of the Bible do you use?

The Bible question is one of particular interest for me as I love my NASB. Of course now I am interested in getting one that holds closer to the original text in regards to "hell" and "eternal".

TS

I'm in the Wilderness.  I belong to no socially recognizable religious organization.  I try to teach others about Universal Salvation where/when possible.  I never keep it to myself or rob God and act like the message is my own.

[Dandelion]

I identify myself as a Lutheran, but, I am an eclectic right now. I go to church a lot, and usually it is Lutheran, but I enjoy going to many different churches. I have friends from many different denominations, some in the clergy. I have Christian friends in no denomination, and many who don't go to church, too. I believe what I do. It is always evolving. It does not bother me what others believe or don't....we are all on our own journey. I enjoy what we do have in common, and know that God has a plan and a path for each of us. I love church since a child. I love everything about it....... the music, the Word of God read, the sermon, the body and blood, and so on.

I was raised Roman Catholic and became a Lutheran at 47 years old. Now, I consider myself Christian....and a UR. I am at peace with who I am.

As for keeping it to myself.....I am usually an open book, anyway. I tell people, when it seems to come up. Some of my closest friends, do not know though. My children do know and they are accepting of it. They have their own stories, too.

I know that some of my closest friends would be horrified that I am a UR. But, when the time seems right, I will tell them.

If God is for us, who can be against us?

D.

[GodIsLove]

I identify myself as a Lutheran, but, I am an eclectic right now. I go to church a lot, and usually it is Lutheran, but I enjoy going to many different churches. I have friends from many different denominations, some in the clergy. I have Christian friends in no denomination, and many who don't go to church, too. I believe what I do. It is always evolving. It does not bother me what others believe or don't....we are all on our own journey. I enjoy what we do have in common, and know that God has a plan and a path for each of us. I love church since a child. I love everything about it....... the music, the Word of God read, the sermon, the body and blood, and so on.

I was raised Roman Catholic and became a Lutheran at 47 years old. Now, I consider myself Christian....and a UR. I am at peace with who I am.

As for keeping it to myself.....I am usually an open book, anyway. I tell people, when it seems to come up. Some of my closest friends, do not know though. My children do know and they are accepting of it. They have their own stories, too.

I know that some of my closest friends would be horrified that I am a UR. But, when the time seems right, I will tell them.

If God is for us, who can be against us?

D.

:thumbsup: