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Hi Roy, I would answer your question first by offering the idea that sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ is even more wonderful and exciting when we know that what we are telling people is really Good News, not a message of fear and pessimism. Christian Universalists can go out into the world and confidently proclaim that Jesus is the savior of all people, regardless of their sins, their beliefs, or whatever other obstacles might stand in the way between them and their Creator. On the other hand, fundamentalists who believe in eternal damnation can only tell people that God is hoping they will discover and follow the correct religious doctrines in order to escape being punished forever. That's bad news, not "good news." Before hearing this "gospel," most people would feel better about God, their lives and the universe than they do afterwards. The fundamentalist gospel teaches people that God is angry, vengeful, and will never forgive some people for their mistakes. Even if that were true and we go out and preach that message, most people would end up burning forever in hell anyway, so who cares if another hundredth of one percent of the world escapes such a fate? And even if a few people were to escape eternal torment by accepting the fundamentalist gospel, could we ever really be happy in heaven, knowing that the majority of the human race -- probably including some of our own loved ones -- are condemned to never-ending suffering? I enjoy teaching the Gospel of Universal Reconciliation because I know it brings people joy, liberates them from their existential fears and insecurities, frees them from a burden of guilt in their heart, and helps them to develop a deeper relationship with God their Father in heaven. When we know that God is our Dear Father as Jesus taught, and we look to our Elder Brother in Christ for guidance about how to live, our souls will grow from the size of a tiny mustard seed to a great tree where the birds will find rest, even as Jesus taught in his parable. For as Jesus said, "the Kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:21). The Kingdom of God is not just a place, a time, or an idea. It is a reality within us, wherever we go, whatever we do, at every moment of our lives. We only need to look within to find it, and then we are enabled to express it and manifest it. The Kingdom of God is within all of us, because all of us are created in the image of God, as the Book of Genesis makes clear. All of us as the descendents of Adam are also imperfect. But the Apostle Paul unequivocally states that "For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive." (1 Cor. 15:22). Our destiny is to be patterned after Christ -- not only some of us, but ALL of us, as the scripture declares. This destiny was anticipated in God's plan, and the fall of man could not stop it -- because even despite our fall into sin, God has the remedy in Christ. Since we are created in God's image, our sins cannot forever define who we are. Since we are all to be made new in Christ, the mistakes of the race of Adam shall one day pass away, replaced by Christlike perfection. Why preach the Word if all are saved? Because it is good. It is great. It is glorious. The Gospel as understood by Christian Universalists is far more wonderful than the fundamentalist bad-news gospel of eternal hell for all but a few religious believers. The Gospel of Universal Reconciliation sets people free from a paranoid, obsessive quest to figure out exactly which doctrines they must believe and which church they must join to avoid damnation. It liberates us to focus on developing qualities that truly make us like Christ, not like the Pharisees. That's why we need to preach the Gospel -- not despite the fact that all are saved, but because of it. Peace in Christ,
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Christian Universalist FAQ -- Frequently Asked Questions
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Heavenly Father, please bless this ministry, lead multitudes to this website, and help them see the truth of Your love and forgiveness for all people through the power of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of the whole world. Open their eyes to Your true nature, take away their fears, and fill their hearts with the Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. |