Maybe we can have a bit of fun with this, as there is no definite answer, and we all know there isn't one.
Here it goes........How would Christianity be changed, do you think, if all Christians believed in Christian Universal Redemption? If this was asked recently, please disregard. I haven't seen it posted.
I will be back, in a bit, to give my take.
:Chinscratch: :dunno2:
Well, I actually need to think about this question more, myself, but, in a nutshell, I think the end result would be that we would realize, even more, just how connected we are, in Christ. Instead of fear being a driving force, we would want to be more forgiving, and more compassionate, as we realize just how very huge God's love for us is. We would look at love differently, and not be as quick to give up on others, or to toss them aside.
...17By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. 18There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. 19We love, because He first loved us....1 John 4: 17 - 19
:girlheart:
Quote from: Dandelion on June 02, 2015, 04:54:23 AM
Maybe we can have a bit of fun with this, as there is no definite answer, and we all know there isn't one.
Here it goes........How would Christianity be changed, do you think, if all Christians believed in Christian Universal Redemption? If this was asked recently, please disregard. I haven't seen it posted.
I will be back, in a bit, to give my take.
:Chinscratch: :dunno2:
I believe that, if all were walking in the truth, the truth would be manifest more! If all were cognizant of the true unfathomable depths of God's love in Christ we would show it to our fellow man. If all were aware of the complete and utter triumph of Jesus Christ, we would walk in the joy of that victory together. :dsunny:
In my opinion if all Christians believed in UR, then the whole world would see us as the shining light Lord Jesus wanted us to be.
I'm sure it would result in the Good News going forth as it did in the first century, nearly reaching the then-kown ends of the earth in a single generation.
'Christianity' might be changed for the better by revealing a more loving and wise God who is the Saviour of everybody, but I do not think this is the total panacea one might immediately think it is.
I do not think that it is a question of whether someone designates them self as a believer in a doctrine that incorporates the concept of an everlasting hell [as utterly repugnant as that notion is] or a believer in Universal Reconciliation.
Rather, I believe it is how much of the Christ within has found release in the individual and is expressed in the world.
The problem, as I see it here and everywhere, is that many Christians put an ideology before the actual Christ - a mental belief is followed instead of the Reality of Jesus Christ.
This is self-defeating because it will always cause separation..."but the Bible says this"..."but the Bible says that"..."you are not properly saved"..."you follow the devil's teaching"..."the god you worship is evil"..."you are deceived"...
If Christians laid aside their man-made ideologies and followed Christ (actually follow Jesus Christ), then I believe the world would see the Body of Christ growing as the anger and pettiness became non-existent - the world has very good examples to see elsewhere.
I do not see this happening tomorrow. Some people can only find their Christ through their ideology at present, and I do not wish to dislodge them. The way I see it, is that this world itself is going through its own crucifixion while humanity is in its baby stages. Tribulation will purify the earth from evil and then Christ will manifest fully for this earth.
Personally, I see Christ in everybody. I do not need an ideology to tell me He is not there. He is suffocated in many cases by the 'carnal man' perhaps, but the Holy Spirit is at work against the lesser self constantly, seeking to lay the barriers low and allow the Christ Essence, the Life within, to become emancipated.
And, in my opinion, if that is not successful during this invaluable time in the flesh, then there is another process for this, as I have seen it, and God will be all-in-all, even as He is in myriads of angels, the general assembly who are enrolled in heaven, and the spirits of just men having been made perfect.
According to my understanding, Christ is the Light that lighteth up every man that comes into the world, and I believe the world will accept Christ and people calling themselves Christians when they lay aside their ideologies and see Christ in everyone.
I see a wonderful, beautiful Plan, so full of Divine Love that it makes me reel. I believe that man needs to stop thinking laterally and trying to materialise Divine Love so that it fits literally into an ideological compartment - and instead let Christ lead the Way.
This is my opinion.
Peace in Christ
The whole motivation of Christianity would change.
No longer would it be a waiting game and working for a future reward.
It would be a present reality in each believer, with a knowing that we are all going to have the same future.
I really like the changed motivation, it makes a BIG difference on present spirituality.
God is with us.........<such an understatement
amen,lastpost.
I don't know about "what if all Christians believed," but I believe all Christians will know universal reconciliation is the truth of the word of God.
AMEN !! LAST POST ! I do feel the Lord Jesus Christ being Lifted up in your words , they are breathing life by the HOLY SPIRIT as a witness :HeartThrob:.
and Amen Ed ! , I agree , the time to rise out of death ''being the last enemy'' that binds us all and Christ will give you life Eph 5
Children of Light
...13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.
14 For this reason it says, "Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you."
15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise,
Hmm...similarly, what signs would people be holding on street corners? REPENT. OR YOU'LL BE RECONCILED ANYWAY.
Thats funny Ian :o)
When I was in the early stages of understanding ultimate universal reconciliation, I was walking in a busy section of NYC, on my way to work, and as i walked I saw so many people. I was having a hard time then, in my personal life, and I was soldiering on. As I walked I felt as tho the chaos of existence was rolling over me as I looked at the multitudes.
Thousands, walking down sidewalks, going down to subways, walking up escalators and as I looked I felt my senses assaulted by the magnitude of the seeming futility of it all and the emptiness and lack of meaning- like a symphony of madness..
I thought about all of these people pursuing dreams, caring for families, lovers, friends, - their tragedies, sorrows, joys and frustrations and I cried out to God.
"WHY?"
"You have to help me Lord. You have to let me see something because I am beginning to drown under the idea of 6 billion people living in a tangle of confusion and lust, a torrent of war and oppression, injustice and futility."
"What is the point of all this? What keeps it going on as it is? Why bother?'
God doesnt always answer me, but he did that day, right away. He spoke to me in my heart, "If you could see the glory of what I have in store for my whole creation, you would rejoice. Think of the wings of the seraphim. Think of the sound of the rushing of many waters, like ten thousnads upon the thousands of voices praising God in absolute abandon. Think of a flock of swallows turning in the sky like a mobile cloud, rising and falling and swirling freely through the air"
These things came to me in thoughts more than words- but from that moment until now I have been at peace. I saw the glory of God through the mists of futility, and I found rest and hope and joy and above all, I found love, flowing from my heart towards every person I saw, and a sense of God's love for them and His purpose unfolding even through their indifference, even through their hostility.....everyone loved by Him and eventually to be immersed in the glorious liberty of the sons of God.
I gotta tell you. It really set me free!. :laugh:
Quote from: eaglesway on June 09, 2015, 08:55:38 PM
These things came to me in thoughts more than words- but from that moment until now I have been at peace. I saw the glory of God through the mists of futility, and I found rest and hope and joy and above all, I found love, flowing from my heart towards every person I saw, and a sense of God's love for them and His purpose unfolding even through their indifference, even through their hostility.....everyone loved by Him and eventually to be immersed in the glorious liberty of the sons of God.
I gotta tell you. It really set me free!. :laugh:
The results of a choice in faith make a huge difference on our outlook on life, God's heart, ability, purpose, and our relation to everything, it is euphoric.
I share it with as many Christians as I can. The word is getting out!
.
Aint that Awesome! :banana:
QuoteHmm...similarly, what signs would people be holding on street corners? REPENT. OR YOU'LL BE RECONCILED ANYWAY.
We are soooo very blessed to know this !!!!, but doubt rises in many peoples hearts ,,,Is it really true God , can you really save all of mankind ?
No man could ever Think like God does , we are at His mercy and His mercy endures all things ...
ours does not :sigh:
our work is to BELIEVE HIM at HIS WORD ...
Isaiah 54
Future Blessings for Zion...7"
For a brief moment I forsook you, But with great compassion I will gather you. 8"
In an outburst of anger I hid My face from you for a moment, But with everlasting lovingkindness I will have compassion on you,"
Says the LORD your Redeemer.
9"
For this is like the days of Noah to Me, When I swore that the waters of Noah Would not flood the earth again; So I have sworn that I will not be angry with you Nor will I rebuke you.... JESUS speaks of the days of Noah also in Matt 24 Be Ready at Any Hour
36"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. 37"
For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. 38"For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,... our ARK IS IN JESUS CHRIST
our safety is found under His wings
like a mother hen gathers her babies from danger
I live on a farm with chickens and seen this with my own eyes they would die for their young ones and sure put up a fight for help
we have racoons and other critters too always something wanting to kill the little ones and eat them as a snack :winkgrin:
Quote from: eaglesway on June 09, 2015, 08:55:38 PM
"What is the point of all this? What keeps it going on as it is? Why bother?'
God doesnt always answer me, but he did that day, right away. He spoke to me in my heart, "If you could see the glory of what I have in store for my whole creation, you would rejoice. Think of the wings of the seraphim. Think of the sound of the rushing of many waters, like ten thousnads upon the thousands of voices praising God in absolute abandon. Think of a flock of swallows turning in the sky like a mobile cloud, rising and falling and swirling freely through the air"
These things came to me in thoughts more than words- but from that moment until now I have been at peace. I saw the glory of God through the mists of futility, and I found rest and hope and joy and above all, I found love, flowing from my heart towards every person I saw, and a sense of God's love for them and His purpose unfolding even through their indifference, even through their hostility.....everyone loved by Him and eventually to be immersed in the glorious liberty of the sons of God.
I gotta tell you. It really set me free!. :laugh:
That's beautiful, eaglesway! You have the peace that surpasses all understanding. And the truth will set you free and has. Amen. :cloud9:
What if is fine, but isn't it God's will that things are EXACTLY as they are? I mean obviously it hasn't happened yet but it must, right? :flamebreath: :punish:
It certainly will. God is so patient. We live 60-80 years if we are lucky. We see all the bad and we don't realize how much has changed.God has AGES through which He is accomplishing His plan and we are a part of what He is doing IN THIS GENERATION. It may seem small but we may be the seed of the next great move of God in the body of Chrst world-wide.
God restored justification by faith in the Reformation.
He restored direct evangelism in the 1800's Wesley, Finney, Spurgeon, Murray
He restored the outpouring of the Spirit in the early 20th century begnning with Azuza Street and culminating in the Charismatic movement in the denominational churches in the 1960s- which led to a huge harvest of salvations in churches that had been dead.
Then the denominations drove the Spirit filled movement out and whole new churches sprang up- the Vineyards, Calvary Chapel, and others in the 80s and 90s where the ministries of the members of the body and the preisthood of the believer were restored to the assemblies.
Now it seems things are quiet- but I think it is the calm before the storm, and the revelation of the salvation of all is a FUNDAMENTAL PART of the coming storm. "He comes in clouds and thick darkness and His judgments flash like lightnings from His right hand"
I became a disciple of Jesus in 74 and i have seen so many things, great things, come and go. Sometimes we see that as the inevitability of futility- I see it as continuing progress in the plan of God.
And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
Quote from: quincyjr on June 10, 2015, 07:25:49 AM
What if is fine, but isn't it God's will that things are EXACTLY as they are? I mean obviously it hasn't happened yet but it must, right? :flamebreath: :punish:
I certainly believe so! Yet there is perspective you might gain from these questions, like the ol' "what would you do if it were your last day on Earth?"
My post about the signs was a joke, absolutely, but the tone and implications at least, are much different, like the result of this question. There would be no need for anyone to bribe others away from torment, which I believe they fear, which shouldn't be the case. After all, aren't we to fear only One? Aren't we to endure evil? The entire Christian focus could be directed toward loving the associate, praying for the enemy. I don't think believers would allocate so much time to debating academics and atheists. "Don't believe in God? I have a feeling you'll come around. Who knows, maybe you'll be singing the loudest when you do. Think I'm a weirdo? Probably accurate." :HeartThrob: