MYTHS ABOUT CHRISTIAN 7

by Robin Parry

Editor’s Note: Dr. Robin Parry is a speaker, the through Christ. Christian universalists believe author of numerous books and an editor at Wipf that the destiny of humanity is “written” in the and Stock Publishers. In this article, Robin body of the risen Jesus and, as such, the story of addresses persistent misconceptions about what humanity will not end with a tomb. Christian universalists (not to be confused with Christian universalists are (mostly) orthodox, Unitarians) actually believe. Trinitarian, Christ-centered, gospel-focused, -affirming, missional Christians. What hen discussing makes them universalists is that they believe that loves all people; God wants to save all “eschatology”—the people; God sent Christ to redeem all people; doctrine of future and God will achieve that goal. W But seven myths cloud this definition. things—feelings often run high and a lot of strong Myth 1: “Universalists don’t believe in .” language gets used. If the is to This is too simplistic. Historically all Christian have a fruitful discussion rather than universalists have had a doctrine of hell and that bad-tempered battles, it is essential that remains the case for most Christian universalists Wwe have a clear understanding of what today. The Christian debate does not concern “Christian universalists” actually whether hell will be a reality (all agree that it believe. A lot of myths inform the will) but, rather, what the nature of that reality current debate and I want to briefly will be. explore seven of them. Will it be eternal conscious torment? Will it be annihilation? Or will it be a state from “Christian Universalism”—A Definition which people can be redeemed? Most In a nutshell, Christian universalism is the view universalists believe that hell is not simply that, in the end, God will redeem all people retributive punishment but a painful yet 8 Dare to Hope CWRm corrective/educative state ...feelings often run high and a lot from which people will of strong language gets eventually exit (some, used. If the church myself included, think it has a retributive is to have a dimension, while others do fruitful not). discussion So it is not hell that rather than universalists deny so much bad-tempered as certain views about hell. battles, it is essential Myth 2: “Universalists that we have a clear don’t believe the Bible.” understanding of what One does not have to read “Christian universalists” the detractors for long actually believe. before coming across the following sentiments: Universalists are theological “liberals” that universalist texts in the light of them? That is reject the “clear teaching of the Bible.” the traditional route. Surely all good Bible-believing Christians Or, do we start with universalist passages and will believe that some/many/most people reinterpret the hell texts in the light of them? are damned forever, right? Concerned That is what many universalists do. Or, do we about universalist claims, David Cloud try to hold both sets of biblical teachings in writes, “It is evil to entertain questions some kind of tension? that deny Bible truth.” There is also the question of wider biblical- So, are Christian universalists really theological themes. For instance, how might Bible-deniers? No. reflection on the Bible’s teaching about God’s Historically, Christian universalists have love, justice, punishment, the cross-resurrection, been Bible-affirming believers and that remains etc. influence our theology of hell? the case for many, perhaps the This is not just majority, today. The question is about finding “proof not “Which group believes the texts” with which to Historically, Christian whip your opponent (both sides are universalists have been capable of that),