Jon Webb

Trinitarian Universalism

While I haven’t posted much recently, I have been reading everything in my stream, and there’s one thing that has caught my attention: the amount of universalism I am seeing. I am going to summarize Christian Universalism, then at the end I will give my opinion. Remember, it’s just that, an opinion. I’m not trying to judge anyone or make anyone feel guilty.

Universalism began to take root in America in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. One important founder of Universalist thought in the United States was George de Benneville. He translated the first German Bible in America. What made his version unique was that all verses supporting universalist doctrines were bolded so that they would stand out!

Trinitarian or evangelical universalism is the type I will discuss. Unlike other forms of universalism, trinitarian universalism holds to Jesus Christ being the Savior of mankind. They are conservative and reformed in most of their beliefs, except in their understanding of hell. Instead of eternal punishment, trinitarian universalists believe in eventual universal reconciliation with God. According to trinitarian universalists, all mankind will be glorified and reunited with God at the end of time.

Now, I realize that there is an incredible amount of variation within the evangelical/trinitarian universalist camp. I would say that there is greater difference of opinion within trinitarian universalism than there is within conservative reformed/fundamental theology, with their five hundred year old (but still unresolved) debates concerning election, limited atonement, millennialism, and covenant versus dispensational theology. I am not intending to misrepresent universalism. I am intending to summarize some of their core beliefs, beliefs that are common to most universalists.

At the core of trinitarian universalism are beliefs that conservative Christians find familiar and fundamental.

• They believe that God is a trinity.
• They believe that God is love. They also believe that His holiness is an aspect of His love, one could call it “holylovingkindness”. This comes into play a little later.
• They believe that mankind is reconciled through Christ.

Well, that wasn’t so bad! These are all doctrines that conservative Christians affirm and rejoice in! But hang on, we aren’t through yet. Many beliefs of universalists contradict highly valued teachings of conservative Christians. Many Christians react violently when these doctrines are denied. So take a deep breath as we venture deeper into the mind of a universalist.

• Universal atonement of sins.

This statement elicits two distinct reactions from Christians at first glance. Calvinists balk, because it contradicts their belief in limited atonement, that Christ died for the sins of only the elect. Those who believe in free will smile, because they believe Christ died to give all the opportunity to be reconciled to Him.

But that’s not the universalist’s idea of universal atonement. Take the universal nature of the non-calvinist’s atonement, and splice it onto the Calvinist’s election. The result: an atonement that is, well, really universal. As in, you can’t escape from it. All mankind is atoned, all mankind is forgiven, and all mankind is saved. A truly lovingkind God cannot allow His creation to be separated from Him.

Universalists draw their understanding of universal atonement from many passages. For example, in Romans 15:15-19 Paul talks about the difference between the first and Second Adams. By the first Adam, says Paul, sin came to all men. But by the second Adam, Christ, all mankind is justified. In 2nd Corinthians 5:19, Paul speaks of Christ reconciling the world to Himself. They take this to mean the entire population of the world.

• Hell does not exist as a place of judgement, but as a process of rehabilitation.

Since all of mankind is to be eventually reconciled with God, there is no place for an eternal state of judgement in universalism. Hell is nothing but the anguish of a soul as it rebels against its maker. But this suffering does not last forever. Whether this life, or after death, everyone is saved. In fact, everyone is saved already because everyone has been forgiven by the universal atonement we just spoke of.

• Justice is comes not by punishing wrongdoers, but by forgiving them.

God is just. But the universalist claims that God’s justice is not appeased by punishing the wrongdoer. Instead, his justice is fulfilled through forgiveness and reconciliation of the sinner. God is not wrathful, but loving and kind, drawing all sinners to Himself with perfect forgiveness and patience.

• Universalists differ as to the authority of the Bible.

Some insist that the Bible is infallible and God-breathed. Others claim that the Bible is not God’s Word at all, but rather a collection of writings written under the influence of the Holy Spirit. It may contradict itself, or wrongly represent God.

That, as well and as briefly as I can explain it, is universalism.

So what’s wrong with this theology? Is salvation universal? Is Hell a real place?

No, and yes. I have to side with conservative theology and say that not all will be saved and that Hell is indeed a real place.

• Not all will be saved, and Hell is a real place of punishment.

If the Bible is at all trustworthy, I must conclude that not all people will be saved, and that Hell is in fact real and eternal.

And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. - Daniel 12:2

…and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. - Matthew 13:50

“And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” - Matthew 25:46

And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” - Revelation 14:11

And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. - Revelation 20:15

It seems to me that universalists are defining God and then drawing their own conclusions about what God will or will not do. But these conclusions do not change who God is. The Bible claims to be revelation from God. If this is true, then we must conclude that either some will not be saved and that Hell is real, or we must conclude that God is a liar, and He has told us falsehoods. In that case, God is not God but a devil.

Speaking of a devil, what about Satan? Is Satan to be reconciled with God as well, along with all of his demons? According to universalists, it would be contrary to God’s nature for Him to eternally punish Satan. And yet in Revelation he is to be cast into the lake of fire forever.

Universalism is a complicated theology. The universalist decides who God is based on an attribute he finds in the Bible. He then reads into the Bible his own view of who God is (God is love), and then cuts out all parts that he feels do not correspond to his own idea of God. He says that these parts of the Bible are unreliable. He says that the authors made an error.

But this destroys his ability to conclude that God is love in the first place. If the Bible is unreliable, how does he know that God is even love? He ascertained this knowledge from the (supposedly untrustworthy) Bible. He cuts the rope he is hanging from.

Some claim special revelation. They say that they have been told things by Christ, or that they have seen Him. They claim that this revelation confirms their view of God as love.

But didn’t Paul claim something similar? And yet according to the universalist, some of his writings are in error. If Paul claimed special revelation, but spoke lies, can the universalist to say that he is any different?

Now, I don’t want anyone to think that I am attacking or judging anyone. As I said before, there is much variation in the Church. After all, I have no doubt that some universalists are fellow believers! I have sincerely enjoyed reading the conversations and the patience especially of Tom of pressingheaven. I admire your courage and sincerity. I wish I could be as gracious as you. I can sense how earnestly you are trying to strive after Christ. Although I believe you are mistaken, I am thankful for your spirit and your willingness to discuss these things in the harsh world of conservative Christian bloggers. Sometimes we react violently when our basic beliefs are questioned. That doesn’t make harshness right, though. So I would like to send much love your way along with this little rant.

Be blessed, fellow bloggers.