Universalism: Dangerous and Wrong

When I pick up my dry cleaning, I usually take the back roads in order to avoid traffic and all the stoplights. There is a Unitarian Universalist church located on that back road. They often have catchy "earthy" types of sayings on the marque that sits alongside the road.

Today, Neil has another great post up called Recycled Heresy: Universalism.

One blogging commenter caught my eye. His screen name is "Erudite Redneck."

I have to admit that I was a bit surprised by his comment. He seems torn between belief in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and belief in Universalism. He wrote:

Erudite Redneck, on December 18th, 2007 at 10:15 am Said:
Universalism does not always mean there are other ways than Jesus. The stripes of Universalism I know about, in fact, argue precisely that Jesus, alone, saves — and that everyone will eventually be reconciled to God through Him. That, they say, is the Good News, and that makes sense to me: “You’re saved!” is great news. “You’re going to hell” is not. The aim of preaching the Good News to people now is so they can have life and it more abundantly now — and so they can take part in advancing the kingdom, which is way more than gaining intellectual assent of people to sets of facts and assertions and beliefs about God: It does mean to go about doing good in Jesus name.

I am not quite a Universalist, but the older I get, the more I think, and read, and meditate, the closer I get to it. Indeed, one can find strains of Universalist thought in the Bible, just as one can find lots about hell. One can pick and choose the ideas one can pick and choose from the Bible.

I decided to visit his blog to get a better idea about his personal beliefs. This post immediately caught my eye:

The Prayer of Confession:

Lord of Life, there are many different approaches to the life of faith, and we must be able to choose which one to follow. There are songs of war, sung in the name of God, and there are songs of peace, sung in the name of the same God. Or are they the same? What sort of God has been revealed to us by Jesus of Nazareth? Are all versions equally valid? Are we Baptizers, following John, or are we disciples of The Way, following Jesus? Make no mistake, they are not the same. Choose therefore, this day, whom you shall follow. Amen.

I'm not sure what this means. But if I didn't enjoy a good mystery, I would have gotten off this path a long time ago.

Most of the message of modern Christianity seems to be more like what John's turn-or-burn call to repentance than Jesus's example, and message, of love and self-emptying.

Jesus insisted that John baptize him. Why?

If not to signify His own repentance, then to signify a wholesale repentance from bargaining with God, whether by demonstrating piety or sacrificing animals -- or even by repenting, I think, because repentence itself can become a bargaining chip, can't it?

What do y'all think?

He seems very confused.

The following is my reply over at Neil's blog. It is just a small attempt to help this guy away from his confusion.

Erudite Redneck,

You wrote: “Universalism does not always mean there are other ways than Jesus. The stripes of Universalism I know about, in fact, argue precisely that Jesus, alone, saves — and that everyone will eventually be reconciled to God through Him.”

Where in the Bible does it say that everyone will eventually be reconciled to God through Him?

I do not see any “strains of Universalist thought” in God’s Word. What Bible are you reading?

Discernment and Scripture knowledge is the key to recognizing truth from error.

“Universalism” may appeal to the emotions and senses. Those who believe in the concept may even be quite sincere. However, they are sincerely wrong in their beliefs. Why? Because the true Gospel doesn’t teach universalistic beliefs.

Christians who are “taken in” by such a temptation are not “advancing the kingdom.” They could actually be doing the complete opposite!

What are we to do when we find a Christian brother or sister in error while sharing the Gospel?

They are to be corrected.

Where do we go for this correction? God’s Word. It is always the plumbline of Scripture that keeps us going in the right direction when sharing God’s Word correctly, the true Gospel of Jesus Christ and what is necessary to enter into the kingdom of God.

2Ti 3:16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

Quote: “The point again is….the plumbline of scripture is the only test for a believer, a ministry, and a church. Whenever you veer from viewing scripture the way it was intended, as Holy, and as profitable for wisdom, and correction, you end up serving a different God, a different Lord, and ultimately a different christianity.” - blogger Steve Adkins

See also An examination of the doctrine of universalism and how it is dangerous and wrong at CARM.