More on Universalism

A friendly dialogue has opened on another thread. I cut and paste here my last response regarding Universalism after the double destiny belief had been argued for.

The only unequivocal statement found in the Bible concerning the character of God is "God is Love". Is love. The two are one. Co-eternal. Such attributes as justice can be inferred, but not in the same manner as that God IS Love.

Some would speak of the need for justice and imply the need for some eternal divine harmony of Justice/Mercy that testifies forever to the totality of God.

One thing Jesus told us was that every hair on our heads has been numbered - the pure primacy of the individual. And yet if we speak of some sort of Aesthetic Harmony surely we lose sight of the unique individual, of God's love for each?

And what of the perfection of the Christian saint? The second greatest commandment ("like the first") is to love our neighbours as ourselves. Is the final perfection of the redeemed, the saved, to be able to be in bliss when most of their "neighbours" in this life are in torment? Does God perform some sort of lobotomy to allow the redeemed to rejoice eternally?

Give thought to these things. And remember that Sola Scriptura is "a Christian theological doctrine held by most Protestant Christian denominations, in particular the Lutheran and Reformed traditions, that posits the Bible as the sole infallible source of authority for Christian faith and practice." (Wiki) If we do not subscribe to such a doctrine, such a particular theology then our mind/hearts can open to the Universal Christ witnessed to throughout our whole world's Faith Traditions.

Thank you if you have read this far.....😀

pipedreams

What is it that turns people away from Universalism? Why do those who insist upon the realities of perpetual conscious torment for others who reject their own theologies refuse to actually take a look at the many books nowadays written by biblically based Christians who support the Universalist position?

Possibly some people actually relish the suffering of any who disagree with them? Others maybe like the thought of being specially chosen - if eventually ALL are chosen it takes something away from their sense of satisfaction. Others obviously equate salvation with their own "decision" for Jesus, thus trust in effect a salvation by "works" - the causal basis of salvation becomes not Grace but their "decision". Then we have the fearful, who claim to love God but in fact - identifying their own salvation with correct belief - are too afraid to question their current beliefs in any way, having long thought how much God loves them for "believing in his true word"?

Then of course their is peer pressure. In their very own congregation to question anything believed would be to perhaps bring censure upon them. They fear such and are not prepared to pay such a price. They prize acceptance by others above the actual pursuit of truth, of God.

Who knows? Whatever. Grace is being denied.