Going to a (non-Universalist) church

[Eduard]

Let me start by saying that in my life I often wished there was a church of like-minded people, like we have here on Tentmaker. But in my country, there are no Christian Universalist churches. So I am going to a church that does not teach the salvation of all.

What do you think about this, and do you also do it?

I am really interested in your thoughts.

[GodIsLove]

It depends on the teachings. If someone is preaching hellfire, I can't. If someone is actively preaching that their denomination is the only way, and other Christian denominations are damned, I can't. If the church is legalist, I can't.

I do go to a church sometime, and while UR is not preached plainly, it's hinted at, and I met with the pastor privately and he told me he doesn't believe in eternal hell, and gave reasons that I agree with about his beliefs.

So you'd be surprised how many Christians, including pastors, are closet UR believers, so it's possible to find a UR friendly church that isn't labeled UR.

[Eduard]

It depends on the teachings. If someone is preaching hellfire, I can't. If someone is actively preaching that their denomination is the only way, and other Christian denominations are damned, I can't. If the church is legalist, I can't.

I agree. I don't know if this one is UR friendly but maybe it is.

I am currently going to a church that preaches annihilation for the wicked. They are also not teaching that they are the only way.

[marie glen]

Hi Eduard, I totally agree with Godislove. I personally gave up, but I LIKE being a (spiritual) hermit these forty years avoiding teachers and doctrines.. (I found myself confirming to a more worldly image than, well, I can live with.. It may be different now and I am stronger in my person because of the Lord, and I may try one of these days, especially if life responsibilities should slow down for me. I would try to remember if it came up, UR/CU that is, to ask do I have to believe in hell to be saved? It seems to calm people down.. And to point out what God is doing, that all must be made over to be like Jesus.. but to be born / created fully programmed and not able to think and reason, is not anybody's idea of a good thing! lol. ...It's a good thing we're not all hermits.. lol. I hope the church works out for you! :Peace2:

[JBrenner]

I go to non-universalist churches because in Brazil there are not many universalist churches. Where I live there is no universalist church.

I often feel alone in the crowd. I often go to churches for the benefit of participating in a community, some of which are very fundamentalist. I feel like a secret agent unable to reveal what I believe.

I wish I could speak my belief to them but I know it would never be accepted. So when someone asks what I believe, I change the subject of the conversation.

So far I've only revealed myself to five friends and converted one. Everywhere I am I try to make a difference.

When I am among the fundamentalists and they will do harm to someone I try to be the one who calms the mood and shows the most peaceful way. I think this is a good way to go.

Be the divine light wherever you are. God will do his work through you.


- Amor Vincit Omnia -

"That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe." I Tm 4, 10

"Se trabalhamos e lutamos é porque temos colocado a nossa esperança no Deus vivo, o Salvador de todos os homens, especialmente dos que crêem." I Tm 4, 10

[shorazorblade]

Let me start by saying that in my life I often wished there was a church of like-minded people, like we have here on Tentmaker. But in my country, there are no Christian Universalist churches. So I am going to a church that does not teach the salvation of all.

What do you think about this, and do you also do it?

I am really interested in your thoughts.

I have believed in UR from the outset and have been alone as a believer in that aside from fellowship with a few people online over the years.
It's lonely at times and we all know the difficulty in not having that physical link with people.   :friendstu:
Sure...People can be with us in 'spirit' I guess we could say (or being of one mind (in Christ))  :HeartThrob: but there is no denying that it is nice to have the physical aspect (being in the physical world ourselves)...A place (church) to go too...A time to be there (a bit of 'ritual' (sometimes some of us enjoy that)...People to fellowship with face to face etc.  For one thing: Jesus didn't 'text' his disciples but rather spoke to them face to face.  :laugh: One on one contact is important I think and is something most UR believers I have spoken to over the years crave.

From what i've learned recently regarding this matter...I wouldn't have any expectations anymore...Good or bad of any church I'd go to.  (Or anywhere else for that matter).
I've found just as much if not more 'faith' and loving people in bars and 'dodgy' places than in most churches throughout my life.
I've realized that like-minded people are all around us...They might not call 'Love' God but they may believe in Love for example.  (I'm not sure that belief is specific to getting the names right in anything...It's 'spirit' which is....Feeling etc).
As I said to a woman a few weeks ago who asked me:
"How can you worship God like you claim if you dont' even go to a church".
..."God dwells not in buildings built by men". (Acts 7:48)...There is nothing quite like a scripture verse to cause a commotion :laughing7:

I do think we have to tread carefully. - Folk of other beliefs will bombard your brain with teachings contrary to the truth and things could get confusing. 
Like it or not...Hearing the same lies and unhappy, unholy nonsense again and again does have it's effect upon us.  For example:- Miserable, negative, depressing music or a movie will eventually bring us down.  Depressing people we avoid because...They depress us.  We 'rightly' should 'flock' to where the joy and love is...Guarding our thoughts carefully.
Lets face it...Worshipping an eternal torturer isn't mentally healthy by any standards.
"What does dark and light have in common" and all that? 
Personally I couldn't attend an ET believing church comfortably; in the same way I couldn't attend other religious buildings comfortably with their teachings which are contrary to the gospel...even say an 'evolutionist convention' or atheist ceremony lol. - I wouldnt' get anything out of it...I'd just be listening to their lies and what for? 
Also If you do go to such places you rightly should be respectful to what they believe because you are in their place but I couldn't sit for long and listen to them badmouth 'Love/God', calling love hate and hate love...So why bother?
I do think we have to 'go where our own kind go' to an extent...I feel honestly that most bars or even brothels etc have more morals and respectable people than the average church.  The only difference is that the religious tend to be more sneaky and hide their sins moreso than others who wear them on their sleeve (whitewashing lol).  Religious people or those of faith (including atheists) are often the most stubborn-minded people who will never change their views irrespective of truth or not so I don't even know if it's possible to change them or if we should even try.  I certainly don't feel called too....Too me such people made their choice...Firm in the lies they chose to believe.

REV 22:11 "Let he who is unrighteous -- let him be unrighteous still, and he who is filthy -- let him be filthy still".

Maybe you should go and get it out of your system...It's all a learning experience.  I'd love to hear how you get on and hope that it goes well.  :gimmefive: 

P.S.
If I do attend a church nowadays it is an Episcopal Church not far from me. 
Generally they (Episcopalians) are UR believers and a 'sort of' half baked UR message is preached there (though never fully for whatever reason (lack of faith/fear/two-mindedness/uncertainty/that politically correct 'accept all beliefs' attitude)...I've no idea to be honest. - Either way they lack any real zeal and there is far too much religious nonsense (ceremony/ritual) for me to be bothered with (or to take seriously). 
However when I do attend on rare occassions I show respect since I am in their territory and take part in their ceremony (though my heart isn't really in it).
I've tried to fire them up on many occassions and get some bible study groups together and proper fellowship etc but all to no avail.  I've tried to get them involved in important matters etc, offered help to members who could use help and other such things but all my efforts have been turned down.  The only offer I had to do any 'good works' was an offer to tend the large church gardens because (and I quote):
"I can't be bothered doing it and neither can my son" - The Church Rector/Preacher.   :punish:
I've spoken to the rector about faith also. 
He told me: "I don't have much because God never answers my prayers".
So...Just like I wouldn't go to a butcher for an eye test...So too I wouldn't go to a church for spiritual/faith matters.
It's all very dissapointing...And it's all about money for most churches. 
"I don't come cheap" the preacher told me one day. 
But he appears to be cheap enough to rely on very old people to tend his garden because he and his son is too lazy rather than hire a gardener.
They meet on a Sunday morning and that's it, aside from the women who get together for tea and cake and chit-chat mornings where just about anything aside from spiritual matters are discussed.  ... There is nothing of any deep, meaningful, spiritual value going on there unfortunately and I doubt there is in any conventional church.   :doh:   
I've made that church sound terrible but you know what? - By church standards...It's actually an amazing place.  I mean at least they preach some sort of 'UR' message there and for all their faults (and I have zillions of faults on my own), the focus is on the 'love' of God rather than anything else.  But to me...They just aren't zealous enough.  They put away cans of food for the foodbanks which is a nice thing to do...But nobody is out there actually visiting the homeless etc...  There is never any 'real' work being done...Jesus was right in the guts of things and I believe that's where the church should be...Not simply setting aside an old can of beans they don't want any longer and leaving it out for the 'poor people' as an afterthought. 

All being said....people are people and 'there but by the grace of God and all that'.  We should put love first at all times and 'keep up the good fight' and let our light shine and hope for the best...We should do our duty.
For me...Going to churches just tends to just fill me with dissapointmentment oif what could...should be.
For example; In a pub i'd expect a few drunken clowns now and then.  In a bad area of the city I'd expect a someone asking for money (for booze or drugs or whatever)...But in a 'church' one 'expects' some 'Godliness'...and seldom finds any...and quite often finds the complete opposite.  :eek: