.

[Lamentation]

.

[Craig]

Hey there! God works in mysterious ways!

I always find it amazing that how people come to the truth. A few people I know, came to understand UR/CU by this format. Someone starts a sermon against Universalism and loses a few of his congregation who would never have left because they were not aware of UR/CU until that point and it resonated inside so they went out and researched it.

I tried my best with others to have the Wiki entry as factual as possible and without opinion, so I am glad to hear that it is a good entry.

Craig

[martincisneros]

I think that's hilarious, personally.  I'm downloading the movie trailer right now to see what they have to say about their movie.  Usually if a trailer sucks, I'll like the movie anyway, and if the trailer's pretty cool, then that'll wind up being the only thing that I liked about the movie!  The trailer's a bit over 8MB, so if I don't download it, there's no way of watching it via dial-up without it buffering every few seconds and taking 29 years to play.  Without having seen the trailer yet, just going by the picture of the dude in the old style hat, if it's a Western then that would make sense that it would have a line like that.  It became one of THE 19th century issues.  It was one of the causes of the American Civil War.  The South wanted absolutely no part of what they considered the damnable heresy of the North.  As the Pope apologized to the Protestants a few years ago for all of the former persecution, I have a feeling the American South is going to be doing a whole lot of apologizing before very long.  A friend of mine has been compiling a list of UR ministries and where they're at on his website and he's got listed pretty close to three dozen UR ministries just in Texas.  And if that's how many he's in touch with, then you can probably double that number, conservatively, to account for the ones he doesn't know yet.  The cat's officially out of the bag because of the internet.  UR Christianity is the only Christianity that's going to make much sense to the world. 

I've heard various prophesies in the Pentecostal world about a coming move of God where the Lord wouldn't resemble what He's looked like to them before.  As a result many would say that this isn't God at work when it will be.  And they've gone so far as to expect both/simultaneously a huge falling away from Christianity while at the same time there would be billions that would embrace the Lordship of Jesus before very long.  Absolutely no other message fits the description, except for UR.  The love of many who've only known Jesus as fire insurance would grow cold when this message goes mainstream, while those that have resisted Christianity because too many things about it didn't make sense and seemed really unjust would come running home to Father.  Because they've been looking for perfect love that never fails, never gives up, and ultimately never takes "no" for an answer.

[WhiteWings]

You know ET matches the human nature much more than UR.
"How can anything be free? If it's really good then the price is really high!"

It's just a reflection of the human nature.

[WhiteWings]

The cat's officially out of the bag because of the internet.  UR Christianity is the only Christianity that's going to make much sense to the world. 

That would be great.
If it grows on internet it most likely will 'break out' to the real world.

[martincisneros]

I just saw the trailer for the movie mentioned in the opening post of this thread.  It's the very first time I've ever found a trailer to be a bit too creepy for me! ROFLOL!  I'm glad I wasn't trying to watch that thing at night right before going to bed!  The only horror movie that's ever ever ever given me the heevie-jeevies has been the old black and white version of the "Night of the Living Dead."  I have a feeling that in a different way that this movie would have about the same effect on me.  You couldn't pay me to watch that thing! LOL!

That would be great.
If it grows on internet it most likely will 'break out' to the real world.

We're pretty much there.  The only thing that UR sites are lacking are the advertising dollars.  But it's gradually starting to happen, pretty much at the pace that it's needed to happen.  It's just a matter of getting the word out that we're out here and that there's a Christ-centered alternative to all of the insane mess that goes on in many Churches and revival meetings.  I'm in favor of Churches and of Revival meetings, but not when they use the scare tactics of telling people that God loves them, but He'll torture them forever.  Many people feel like they're already in a marriage like that, so why get into one with God as well? :laughing7:

[Average_Bear]

Great testimony!!  :thumbsup: :thumbsup: I went through almost the same thing. I've shared this before - I learned about universal salvation from an unlikely source too, Bill W's Twenty Three Minutes in Hell  :omg: Like you, for the first time I was afraid I was on my way to hell, even though I'd been a believer for 20 years. But when I started to research hell, I stumbled upon L. Ray Smith's site and later Tentmaker.
Most Christians - I think -  (especially those not in AG, Holiness, Full Gospel, Fundi, etc) never even think about hell. When you are forced to think aboutit , you'll either lose your mind or change your mind.

[WhiteWings]

Most Christians - I think -  (especially those not in AG, Holiness, Full Gospel, Fundi, etc) never even think about hell.

I think they do not
really think about anything in the Bible. I noticed all my life most people don't (try to) think for themselfs. It was in the newspaper so it's true. It was on Jerry Spring so it's true.
I think it's the same with the Bible. People read, read and read it. Try to memorize verses. And that's it. They don't look into the contradictions (that aren't when studied) they must have found in the Bible.

[albertx46]

Hi Brian,

Nice to hear your wonderful testimony! That could be a classic story. Glorify our Lord!

Albert.

[Shershalom]

"The cat's officially out of the bag because of the internet.  UR Christianity is the only Christianity that's going to make much sense to the world."

"If it grows on internet it most likely will 'break out' to the real world."

:NewB1:
Yep, me too.  I heard it through the grapevine ... the internet grapevine.  

[Paul Hazelwood]

"The cat's officially out of the bag because of the internet.  UR Christianity is the only Christianity that's going to make much sense to the world."

"If it grows on internet it most likely will 'break out' to the real world."

:NewB1:
Yep, me too.  I heard it through the grapevine ... the internet grapevine.  

Oh no, that means Christians will have even more reason to say the internet is evil.

Of course they will say that while googling.   :happy3:

[Craig]

Oh no, that means Christians will have even more reason to say the internet is evil.
Of course they will say that while googling.   :happy3:

Ironically, that is already a platform. Christianity that makes no sense wants to stop knowledge from showing up, and there are some major Christian organizations which support the control of information in a tiered Internet system.

[Paul Hazelwood]

Oh no, that means Christians will have even more reason to say the internet is evil.
Of course they will say that while googling.   :happy3:

Ironically, that is already a platform. Christianity that makes no sense wants to stop knowledge from showing up, and there are some major Christian organizations which support the control of information in a tiered Internet system.

I agree,  there are certain fundamentalists that I think would not spare the literal sword and turn america into a theocracy if given the chance.

[eirinikos]

Back in '02 I was talked into trying a cough medicine which would induce an LSD-type "trip" if you took the whole box.

I've never done LSD, so I don't know how close it was to that, but it left me in a strange sort of waking dream state of mind. At some point, I started having delusions that I was going to Hell, or that I had been in Hell and was re-incarnated, or something. It started me becoming obsessed with the fear of what it would be like to be thrown into Hell, or how other people would look and react as they were being thrown into Hell.

Of course I don't believe in "Hell" anymore, but still paranoid thoughts continue from time to time. I had a nervous break down about 6-7 months after this "trip." I have not been the same since. I had another near breakdown last year, and I almost went into a panic attack again a week or so ago that I was able to fend off by affirming my faith in Jesus.

Simply put, the "devil" or whoever or whatever he/it is wants to rape our minds and keep us swallowed up and incapacitated with fear.

[DeeDee]

Back in '02 I was talked into trying a cough medicine which would induce an LSD-type "trip" if you took the whole box.

I've never done LSD, so I don't know how close it was to that, but it left me in a strange sort of waking dream state of mind. At some point, I started having delusions that I was going to Hell, or that I had been in Hell and was re-incarnated, or something. It started me becoming obsessed with the fear of what it would be like to be thrown into Hell, or how other people would look and react as they were being thrown into Hell.

Of course I don't believe in "Hell" anymore, but still paranoid thoughts continue from time to time. I had a nervous break down about 6-7 months after this "trip." I have not been the same since. I had another near breakdown last year, and I almost went into a panic attack again a week or so ago that I was able to fend off by affirming my faith in Jesus.

Simply put, the "devil" or whoever or whatever he/it is wants to rape our minds and keep us swallowed up and incapacitated with fear.

Hi, I am just curious as to what your hallucinated 'hell' looked like? It might explain alot of hell NDE's (as fear induced hallucinations). Very good post and very good warning for others. Just keep your faith hun.  :thumbsup:

[Kevin]

Morning forum,

"it's just a reflection of the human nature."
hope you don't mind a slight input.?
"it's the reflection of the fallen, dual nature, of human nature."

Kevin

You know ET matches the human nature much more than UR.
"How can anything be free? If it's really good then the price is really high!"

It's just a reflection of the human nature.

[Kevin]

Movie, "there will be blood".

I have lived in TX on and off for 14 years, first time as an Army brat, around 10 years old.
Later in life, while in TX, I completely collapsed as a human being, and fell through society,
TX is not 1 of the places a person would want to do this.
For a time I walked though the awful state reflected in this movie, it still exists, and is not specific
to W. TX.

West Texas, historical,

It was from a line delivered in a really awful movie called, There Will Be Blood.
Line: "The doctrine of Universal Salvation is a lie!"

Never heard of it before that. So I went to Wikipedia, which was probably the best starting point, because it succinctly told me that this was mainstream theology in early (pre-Catholic) Christianity. Wow!

I started researching this for my younger brother who was so vexed by the concept of "how could a loving God torture His children for all eternity" he renounced being a Christian, which came as a terrible blow.

Then out of the blue, I had some sort of psychotic episode where I suddenly became terrified of going to hell myself. I never even really believed in hell before that and certainly never doubted my salvation. I spent several horrific weeks constantly contemplating eternal torment, either for myself or most everyone around me. I finally saw a doctor who put me on psychotropics.

Thanks to those, all the Universalism resources out there, and of course the Holy Spirit... Terror and sorrow is giving way to what I always felt before; The love from and the trust in my Lord and Savior.

Brian

[Kevin]

"you will never guess how I learned about Universal Salvation".

2005, Winter, New England; coming out from falling through society:
I learned, 'had someone I knew my entire life', explain it to me over 1.5 years.

They explained in words, actions, and by the way they lead their life, consistency.
They never pushed or tried to sell me anything,
I journal in detail, so I don't have to rely only on my memory.

The person is a devote Buddhist, to this day. Me, a UR Christian.

I don't know how accurate this quote is, or where I picked it up in my travels:

Gandhi: [ gota do it in an Indian accent. ]
" I considered converting to Christianity",
" till I meet one".   

[Doc]

It's interesting that a number of you have mentioned L. Ray Smith. His website was the first UR website I stumbled across, literally. A comment on a totally unrelated health forum had a link to his site. I was so intrigued by the comment that I checked it out. Things have never been the same since.  :laughing7:

Now mind you; I don't typically recommend his site to seekers, because he doesn't exactly have the best arguments (or perhaps doesn't state them as well as he could). I will say though, that the Lord spoke to me through Ray in spite of his awkwardness in places. I have since found much better resources (like this site), and have read a number of books and papers, print and online. It took me almost two years to fully embrace UR, but I've corresponded with those that took longer.

[Shadowland]

Do you know that there are people probably in every denomination in the world who think like you all do......but they just stay loyal to where they are going(the Building).

I can't fathom doing that....it seems sad.

[Shadowland]

The Trailer...There Will be Blood

What was scary about that?

Did I miss something?

Looks just like another movie to me.