Grace and Mercy for You

Why I don’t believe in Universalism

Actually, I didn’t even know what that was until I looked it up on Wikipedia. I probably knew at one point during my education, but never gave it much more thought; until now.

I was going to join a discussion board called carm.org and was reading the ‘Rules’.  There are two banned subjects: Universalism and Satanism. Satanism I can see banning; after all, it’s a Christian discussion board and would be inappropriate for anyone to expound on the benefits of worshipping Christ’s nemesis. But Universalism…. that caught my interest. Why would that be such a “hot” topic?

I think I figured it out – in part perhaps.  Christians are generally afraid of the concept of Universalism because if it is true, why bother being a Christian at all  (as if being a Christian is some sort of onerous task for which those who devote their lives to being such deserve some sort of reward, like seeing the lost and not themselves get damned?

Well, I believe being a Christian to be a privilege, not a dreary task. But I cannot swallow universalism as Wikipedia defines it – That every soul, without exception, will eventually be reconciled to God our Father. There are just too many scriptural references (especially quotes from Jesus) about how some folk (who think themselves to be righteous) will be rejected because they never, ever would accept the doctrine of grace; neither in theory and especially not in practice.

Matthew 7:13-15

Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it. Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

See… Jesus doesn’t warn us against false infidels, or false Satan worshippers, or false hedonists.  He warns us against false prophets.  People who try to turn prophesying into profiteering.

I think I have a new word for what I believe. New to me, but no doubt someone (or many people) have thought of it before. After all, all wisdom doesn’t come only through me, and there is nothing new under the sun.  (My) new word……………… Surprisalism.

Matthew 25:41 “tunc dicet et his qui a sinistris erunt discedite a me maledicti in ignem aeternum qui paratus est diabolo et angelis eius”

Won’t that be a surprise?

But equally surprising will be the first half of Jesus’ welcoming speech to “all the nations”. When Lord? When did we see you thirsty, or hungry and give you food an drink? When were you a stranger, and we invited you in?  Now those of us that know the bible… will we be surprised? Or will it be rather anticlimactic to hear Jesus? Yes, yes, we did all that, and we could see your face in the faces of all those poor people we helped. We know the story. Can we inherit the kingdom now?…  I don’t think Scripture lies. Those whom Jesus addresses will be surprised. And so might some of us, when we see those of the earth whom we thought were not disciples, but Jesus considers worthy of eternal life. People who may have spoken a word against The Son of Man, but curiously, did not blaspheme against the Holy Ghost.  Surprise!

So, let no one accuse me of universalism.

I welcome your comments.