Universalism, although more complexed than my description, is the essential belief that, ultimately, everyone will be saved. The posture of this position opens the door to the notion that no matter one's focus or object of worship, in the end, all humanity will end up in the same place. At the heart of this belief is a dangerous notion that truth is not exclusive, but inclusive. In other words, if you have been taught that two plus two equals four, universalism will challenge the narrow path of this conclusion by suggesting that two plus two should also equal five, six, or why not, seven? Inclusive math will get you a failing score. Hence, when Jesus said that no one comes to the Father but through me (referring to his death and atonement), universalism takes his words and expands them to infinite possibilities or interpretations. Fortunately, truth, by its very nature is narrow. Truth is always exclusive. When I turn on my GPS, I'm expecting it to navigate me to a narrow coordinate (within a few meters) of my destination. The GPS is useless if it directs me to all locations. And yet, some people have a challenging time believing in a God who not only speaks truth, but is the Truth, and points humanity in an exclusive direction. Certainly, universalism has a deep attractiveness about it. But so does sin. At the end of the day, God will have the final word.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Recently a stir has started over a pastor's view on salvation, that strongly suggest a universal belief for heaven
Universalism, although more complexed than my description, is the essential belief that, ultimately, everyone will be saved. The posture of this position opens the door to the notion that no matter one's focus or object of worship, in the end, all humanity will end up in the same place. At the heart of this belief is a dangerous notion that truth is not exclusive, but inclusive. In other words, if you have been taught that two plus two equals four, universalism will challenge the narrow path of this conclusion by suggesting that two plus two should also equal five, six, or why not, seven? Inclusive math will get you a failing score. Hence, when Jesus said that no one comes to the Father but through me (referring to his death and atonement), universalism takes his words and expands them to infinite possibilities or interpretations. Fortunately, truth, by its very nature is narrow. Truth is always exclusive. When I turn on my GPS, I'm expecting it to navigate me to a narrow coordinate (within a few meters) of my destination. The GPS is useless if it directs me to all locations. And yet, some people have a challenging time believing in a God who not only speaks truth, but is the Truth, and points humanity in an exclusive direction. Certainly, universalism has a deep attractiveness about it. But so does sin. At the end of the day, God will have the final word.
