Universalism in the World has Permeated the Church
Universalism in the World has Permeated the Church
by Sandy Simpson, 10/12/07
The current fad of interfaith solidarity and unity is simply a thin guise of inclusivism, Universalism and pluralism.
Universalism is defined by Dictionary.com as:
The doctrine that emphasizes the universal fatherhood of God and the final salvation of all souls. (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/universalism) Universalism is a religion and theology that generally holds all persons and creatures are related to God or the divine and will be reconciled to God. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universalism)
Pluralism is defined as:
The doctrine that reality is composed of many ultimate substances. … The belief that no single explanatory system or view of reality can account for all the phenomena of life. (American Heritage Dictionary, http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pluralism)
Inclusivism is:
"Inclusivism posits that even though the work of Christ is the only means of salvation, it does not follow that explicit knowledge of Christ is necessary in order for one to be saved. In contrast to pluralism, inclusivism agrees with exclusivism in affirming the particularity of salvation in Jesus Christ. But unlike exclusivism, inclusivism holds that an implicit faith response to general revelation can be salvific. God expects from man a response proportional to the light given. Saving faith is not characterized so much by its cognitive content as it is by its reverent quality." (Ken Keathley, None Dare Call It Treason: Is an Inclusivist a Paul Revere or a Benedict Arnold? (Ken Keathley, Assistant Professor of Theology and Philosophy New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, http://baptistcenter.com/Journal%20Articles/Spr%202004/08%20Corporate%20Inclucivism.pdf)
We deal with these old heresies brought forward to modernity, these ideas that all men have have a relationship with God that will cause them to be able to avoid judgement in our book on the teachings of the World Gathering on Indigenous People movement called “Idolatry In Their Hearts”. The idea that all men who worship a “god” are worshipping the true God, YHWH, has bubbled up to the very top of our societies and religions, and even Christendoom, and should sound a warning alarm to true Biblical Christianity. Instead, as usual in our day, most Christians are asleep at the wheel while Universalists claim that you can pray to a “god” like Allah and be praying to the true Trinue God, YHWH. I also dealt with the fact that Allah is not YHWH, both in our book and in the article “Is Allah The Same As YHWH?”.
Yet just recently George Bush, a professing Christian, who has obviously been led astray by false teachers and his heretical counselors like T.D. Jakes and Ted Haggard, came out with these statements in an interview.
"I believe that all the world, whether they be Muslim, Christian, or any other religion, prays to the same God. That's what I believe. … See, I believe there is a universal God. I believe the God that the Muslim prays to is the same God that I pray to. After all, we all came from Abraham. I believe in that universality." (Interview of the President by Al Arabiya, Oval Office, White House, October 4, 2007, http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/10/20071005-5.html)
"Americans of many faiths and traditions share a common belief that God hears the prayers of His children and shows grace to those who seek Him. ... There is a power in these prayers [to various gods].... I ask the citizens of our Nation to give thanks, each according to his or her own faith, for the freedoms and blessings we have received and for God's continued guidance, comfort, and protection." (President George W. Bush, National Day of Prayer, 2007: A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America, http://www.ndptf.org/press_room/Index.cfm?Entity=4&Department=4&Dept_Order=1&This_TopicOrder=8&This_SubtopicOrder=1#3)
President Bush hosted an Islamic celebration at the White House on October 4. He welcomed his guests with these words,
"Laura and I are pleased to have you here for our seventh Iftaar dinner. Tonight we celebrate traditions of Islamic faith, which brings hope and comfort to more than a billion people. For Muslims around the world, the holy month of Ramadan is... a time to celebrate Islam's learned and vibrant culture, which has enriched civilization for centuries.... Ramadan is also a good time for Americans of all faiths to reflect on the values we hold in common -- including love of family, gratitude to the Almighty....” ("President Bush [speaks at Islamic] Dinner at the White House," 10-4-07, http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/10/print/20071004-9.html)
But Bush is not the only “Christian” making these kinds of statements. Of course we expect Universalism in the world. We know that the United Religions Initiative of the United Nations, which Bush supports, is promoting Universalism.
“We believe that the wisdom of our religious and spiritual traditions should be shared for the health and well being of all. Therefore, as communities of faith and interdependent people rooted in our faith, we now unite for the sake of peace and healing among religions, peoples and nations, and for the benefit of the earth and all living beings.” We believe that all religions derive their wisdom from that ultimate Source. Therefore, the world's faith traditions share in common wisdom, which can be obscured by differences in religious concepts and practices. ... The United Religions promotes dialogue. A theology of acceptance will help the world's people explore common ground. Our awareness of unity within religious diversity promotes ever-increasing kinship” (quoted in SCP JOURNAL 22:4-23:1 By Lee Penn.)
We also know that false religions like Bahai have been promoting Universalism for years (when they are really trying to get people to worship Bahaullah).
“Many names in many religions are used to describe the same God. … Be aware that all major religions promote the belief in one God and one mankind, and that God is the source of Truth and Guidance. … In other words, God creates all religions. … The source of all religions is one. Truth is One. God is One.” (http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:j2PHu49peN0J:www.sfu.ca/~cabs/Kerns/1-Unity.doc+mungu+attributes&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=15)
“Although we may have different concepts of God's nature, although we may pray to Him in different languages and call Him by different names--Allah or Yahweh, God or Brahma--nevertheless, we are speaking about the same unique Being” (The Bahá'í Concept of God http://info.bahai.org/article-1-4-0-2.html)
We know that the coming Maitreya will be revealed using this Universalist mantra.
According to esoteric teachings, Maitreya is the awaited Fifth Buddha. He is also known as the Christ, World Teacher, Imam Mahdi, Messiah, & Kalki Avatar. The word 'Christ' is not the name of an individual, but the title of an office or function within the Spiritual Hierarchy of Masters. The Leader of all the Masters for our planet's Spiritual Hierarchy is known to many in the west as the Christ and as the Bodhissatva in the east. The Hierarchy is known to some as the 'Great White Brotherhood'. Without infringing upon our freewill, Maitreya and his disciples, the Masters of Wisdom will guide humanity into a future which will be much lovelier than most of our better futurists currently imagine. …Preferring to be known simply as 'the Teacher', Maitreya has not come as a religious leader or to found a new religion, but as teacher and guide for people of every religion and those of no religion. He has come "like a thief in the night," (Peter 3:10) when least expected. He is returning for the good of everyone, both the religious and non-religious alike. (http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/maitreya5.html)
But let’s look at Universalist statements by other “Christians” and “Christian” organizations. When they make these statements they are denying the core doctrine of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in CHRIST alone, thereby teaching heresy.
WYCLIFFE (Bible Translation Mission): “From the outset one has to deal with identifying the name for the Supreme Being, God. This can be difficult and potentially divisive. However, each language and culture appears to have within it a ‘ “homing instinct” for God – deeply buried by the sin and corruption that affects all cultures, yet still there’ (Williams, 2004: n.p.). Each religion has a different understanding of deity that is based upon how the Supreme Being is defined (Thomas, 2001: 305). The characteristics of the local deity must be identified so that it can be determined how these will impact the understanding of God. Is it possible for any language to totally explain the meaning of God? Or is there a need to add further definition or explanation? The challenge is to identify what intrinsic capacity exists within the language that helps provide the meaning of God. (Theological and Cultural issues in Bible Translation, A lay person's guide to a basic understanding of what is important, Article by Kirk Franklin, Executive Director Wycliffe Australia, http://www.wycliffe.org.au/html/missiological_articles/missiological_article007.htm)
SOCIETY OF BIBLICAL LITERATURE (Bible Translation Society) “There is an unwarranted skepticism towards the heathens' possession, if at all, of a very limited and low knowledge of the divine from the so-called “natural/native religion.” The adoption of a local name for the universal God will facilitate mutual transformation of both Christianity and the native religion and culture.” (God's Asian Names: Rendering the Biblical God in Chinese, Archie C. C. Lee, SBL Web Site, http://www.sbl-site.org/Article.aspx?ArticleId=456)
LEON SIU (Aloha Ke Akua): “So these are clues that we felt God had left (the Hawaiian people) and evidence that He’s left as well as processes He has left in which our Hawaiian people can respond in a very natural way to God and really set things right between them and God. … A few years ago some friends and I were contemplating how we would be able to reach indigenous peoples and we thought that what was prevalent at that time was a misconception among, within the church of God's presence here in the islands. The misconceptions that, as was expressed earlier, was that God didn't arrive until the missionaries arrived. You know, and so when we started to look at this we started to look into our culture and see what things within our culture what God had originally intended for this particular group of people, Hawaiians.” (Leon Siu, Aloha Ke Akua, Word to the World with host Danny Lehmann, KLHT, 2001, show #544)
TERRY LEBLANC (World Vision Canada): “There’s a myth that we have labored under for centuries in indigenous communities and the myth is that we are a godless heathen people. … “And yet all brings glory to God in its own special way, and that’s true of human beings and cultures as well. …“God is now calling forth from among the indigenous communities of the world that good deposit which He has made in them of their cultures, their languages, their musical expressions and all that sort of thing ... as an expression of praise and worship unto Himself.” ” (Terry LeBlanc, World Vision Canada, Word to the World with host Danny Lehmann, KLHT, 2001, show #542)
RICHARD TWISS (President of Wiconi International), keynote speaker at the 2001 conference, said the land restitution is “the fruit of following traditional indigenous protocol in presenting the redemptive message of faith and hope in Jesus Christ as Healer, Great Spirit and Chief Shepherd of all tribes and nations.” (Richard Twiss, Charisma Magazine, October 2004, http://www.charismamag.com/a.php?ArticleID=9744) Richard Twiss was on the 700 Club show with Gordon Robertson (Pat Robertson’s son) and in an interview he told Gordon that the Great Spirit of the Indians is the same as the Holy Spirit. Robertson heartily agreed. The problem with this idea is that the Great Spirit has no son, and without the son there is no redemption. The Great Spirit required human sacrifices and other atrocities.( http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/lehmann2.html)
DANIEL KIKAWA (Aloha Ke Akua): So by finding the native name of God which in, in Japan we found that name Ameno mi-naka-nushi which means the God in the glorious center of heaven and he is their creator God who created everything. And so we found this name of this creator God there, and it immediately says he’s a Japanese God and he loves them.” (Word to the World interview with Daniel Kikawa, Feb. 16, 2006 #9) It is time that Christians reclaimed the many beautiful names of the One Creator God in native languages instead of falling into Satan's trap and destroying them. We should reclaim those names and wash the dung of corruption off of them instead of giving them up to Satan. We must cast off the corruption that Satan has thrown on the many beautiful names of God in native languages.” … “Instead of destroying and ridiculing the native names of the Creator God, we should help preserve them as a legacy for these peoples. It is their legacy of God's enduring interest, involvement and care for their culture and people! Christians should cease representing Jesus as the Son of the foreign God of a foreign people, especially if these foreigners had never shown concern for nor had any involvement in the lives or culture of the natives. We should instead introduce Jesus as the Son of their creator God. God lovingly created them in the beginning never left them without a witness and, in his great love for them, even sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, to die for them! (Daniel Kikawa, Perpetuated In Righteousness, pp.26-27 4th ed.)
BILLY GRAHAM (Billy Graham Evangelism Association): They (the heathen) may not even know the name of Jesus but they know in their hearts that they need something that they don't have, and they turn to the only light that they have, and I think they are saved, and that they're going to be with us in heaven" (Billy Graham, Straightway, September, 1997. The entire article may be received from the author upon request, http://www.foundations.edu/online_material/straightway/1997/vol25_no9.htm). “I used to think that pagans in far-off countries were lost--were going to hell--if they did not have the Gospel of Jesus Christ preached to them. I no longer believe that. ... I believe there are other ways of recognizing the existence of God--through nature, for instance--and plenty of other opportunities, therefore, of saying yes to God.” (Billy Graham, McCall’s Magazine, 1978)
RICK WARREN (Saddleback Church): (Talking about Catholics, Methodists, Mormons, Jews and ordained women whom he trains in his seminars) "I'm not going to get into a debate over the non-essentials. I won't try to change other denominations. Why be divisive?" he asks, citing as his model Billy Graham, "a statesman for Christ ministering across barriers." (Rick Warren in "This evangelist has a 'Purpose'", by Cathy Lynn Grossman, USA TODAY, 7/21/2003, http://www.usatoday.com/life/2003-07-21-rick-warren_x.htm) “God accepts us unconditionally.” (Rick Warren, Learn to Love Yourself, Ladies Home Journal, March 2005, 36.) Warren cites Henri Nouwen, though the quote does not present anything to be uneasy about, he is not a good source to quote. We find Nouwen is a promoter of contemplative prayer and is a universalist (Purpose Driven Life page 269). On his website “My wife, Kay, recommends this book! In it, Nouwen divides the life of ministry into five categories: teaching, preaching, pastoral care, organizing, and celebrating” (Henri Nouwen, Sabbatical Journey Creative Ministry, http://www.letusreason.org/Popteac23.htm) Rick Warren told an interfaith audience at the 2005 UN Prayer Breakfast that God didn't care what religion they were, they just needed to add Jesus to their lives, what he meant was that you can stay Hindu, or Buddhist, or Muslim, but you need Jesus. It's called the New Missiology. It promotes the following ideas: 1. You can keep your own religion - Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Mormonism - you just need to add Jesus to the equation. Then you become complete. You become a Buddhist with Jesus, a Hindu with Jesus, a Muslim with Jesus and so on. 2. You can throw out the term Christianity and still be a follower of Jesus. 3. In fact, you can throw out the term Christian too. In some countries, you could be persecuted for calling yourself a Christian, and there is no need for that. Just ask Jesus into your heart, you don't have to identify yourself as a Christian. (Rick Warren, UN Interfaith Prayer Breakfast, referenced http://simplyagape.blogspot.com/2007_06_01_archive.html)
HENRY NOUWEN (Christian/New Age author) “Today I personally believe that while Jesus came to open the door to God's house, all human beings can walk through that door, whether they know about Jesus or not. Today I see it as my call to help every person claim his or her own way to God” (Henri Nouwen's last book p.51, Sabbatical Journey Crossroad publishing Co., New York, 1998, Quoted in a Time of Departing by Ray Yungen, http://www.letusreason.org/Popteac23.htm)
TONY CAMPOLO (The Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education): On a recent edition of CNN's Crossfire, Tony Campolo refused to say Jesus is the only way to heaven. The panel was discussing events at the Southern Baptist Convention in Atlanta. Campolo would not answer the question directly but said, "The Apostle Paul says that there are people who have light that is not Christian light, and they will be judged on that basis." In an earlier appearance on PBS's Charlie Rose, Campolo muddied theological waters by stating, "I am saying that there is no salvation apart from Jesus; that's my evangelical mindset. However, I am not convinced that Jesus only lives in Christians" (National Liberty Journal, 8/99). CNV News Service, http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/campolo.html) “We want to convince the whole human race that there is a God who established the infinite value of every person, who mystically dwells in each person ...” (A Reasonable Faith: Responding to Secularism, p. 59). “I do not mean that others represent Jesus for us. I mean that Jesus actually is present in each other person” (ibid. p. 192).
YWAM (Youth With A Mission): The Charisma article noted: "Messianic Muslims, who continue to read the Koran, visit the mosque and say their daily prayers but accept Christ as their Savior, are the products of the strategy which is being tried in several countries." A YWAM staff writer wrote: "They continue a life of following the Islamic requirements, including mosque attendance, fasting and Koranic reading, besides getting together as a fellowship of Muslims who acknowledge Christ as the source of God's mercy for them... YWAM is also adopting this approach in India, where a team is working with a Hindu holy man." (YWAM in Foundation, May/June 2000, p. 39)
VICTOR KAZANIIAN JR (Episcopal priest): He wrote in Episcopal life Forum, “ We walk side by side, fellow travelers on life's pathways. I speak of being awakened to the wonder and mystery of the world, using words that reflect my window to the divine, the one whom I call my Lord and my God, Jesus, the Risen Christ. You, too, speak of being awakened to the wonder and mystery of the world, using words that reflect your window, to the divine through the teachings of the Buddha, of Baha'u'llah, of Lord Mahavir, of Muhammad, teachings from the Torah, the Guru Granth Sahib and the Vedas. As I hear you speak and as I look into your eyes, I see God. I feel God. I experience God in you, not just a partial reflection of my Christian God, but the creator, the divine spirit in wham we all live and move and have our being. How magnificent is this divine force that it should appear across the Earth like the flowers of a garden in so many different shapes and hues.” “It is not simply so-called “religious fundamentalists” who practice this exclusivism. No, there is a kind of tolerance of difference preached by liberal church folk, which still clings to a Christocentric world view and becomes apparent when we proclaim our faith using language that devalues the faith of others.” “There is no place for religious exclusivism in Christianity. It has been arguably the single greatest source of human misery during the past two millenniums. It must be replaced by an understanding of the interwovenness of all life, of all religious traditions” (Episcopal life Forum p.20, June 1998)
RODNEY R. ROMNEY (Pastor of Seattle’s First Baptist Church): “He [Jesus] meant to establish a world religion that would embrace every soul and synthesize every creed, and his work will not be consummated until he has done just that.” (Rodney R. Romney Pastor of Seattle's First Baptist Church. Romney Journey, p. 31.)
MOTHER THERESA (Deceased missionary to India): “I love all religions. ... If people become better Hindus, better Muslims, better Buddhists by our acts of love, then there is something else growing there.” She upheld that there are many ways to God': “All is God--Buddists, Hindus, Christians, etc., all have access to the same God.” (12/4/89 Time, pp. 11, 13)
PETER KREEFT (professor of philosophy at Boston College): “We can and should investigate and learn from the wisdom in other religions” (Peter Kreeft Ecumenical Jihad p.79). “Allah is not another God...we worship the same God”(Peter Kreeft Ecumenical Jihad p.30). “The same God! The very same God we worship in Christ is the God the Jews-and the Muslims-worship.” (Ibid. p. 160)
ROBERT SCHULLER (Crystal Cathedral): “We know the things the major faiths can agree on. We try to focus on those without offending those with different viewpoints, or without compromising the integrity of my own Christian commitment” (USA Today, March 23, 1989.) “It's time for Protestants to go to the shepherd [Pope]. Schuller has stated “if he came back in 100 years and found his descendants Muslims, it wouldn't bother him....” (Robert Schuller, comments on the Papal visit, LA, 1987) "The Christ Spirit dwells in every human being, whether the person knows it or not." (Robert Schuller, Possibilities Magazine, Summer 1986, pg.12)
CHUNG HYUN-KYUNG (World Council of Churches leader): She exalted pagan concepts of God (at the WCC Assembly). Of the Holy Spirit Chung said, “Don't bother the Spirit by calling her all the time. She is working hard with us.” Eighteen times Chung summoned the spirits of the dead who have suffered injustices in the past and claimed that “without hearing the cries of these spirits, we cannot hear the voice of the Holy Spirit.” After calling on the spirits of the dead, Chung said, “I hope the presence of all our ancestors' spirits here with us shall not make you uncomfortable.” She also summoned “the spirit of Earth, Air, and Water.” (WCC's Seventh General Assembly that took place in Canberra)
POPE JOHN PAUL II (Deceased pope of the RCC): “He welcomed snake worshipers, fire worshipers, spiritists, animists, Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, and shamans, was supported and attended by representatives of the World Council of Churches and even evangelicals. Represented there were the YWCA and YMCA, the Mennonite World Conference, the Baptist World Alliance (which includes the Southern Baptist Convention), the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, and the Lutheran World Federation.” (1986 Gathering For Prayer At Assisi, http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/jp2.htm)
GEORGE OTIS, JR. (The Sentinel Group – Transformations) “If we accept the premise that Jesus literally purchased, that He literally purchased our salvation with His blood... and He paid the Father... then this approach, first of all portrays God the Father as being vindictive and bloodthirsty and totally incompatible with biblical forgiveness. It also presents another grave difficulty. If Jesus literally paid for our sins with His blood, and a paid debt is no longer a debt, and He died for the sins of the whole world, then we can only come to one conclusion and the theological word for that is Universalism – which means that everybody will be saved” (George Otis Jr., Lecture to YWAM DTS, 1981:lecture 4).
BRIAN MCLAREN (Emerging Church leader): "Jesus seems to say, 'The kingdom of God doesn’t need to wait until something else happens. No, it is available and among you now.... Invite people of all nations, races, classes, and religions to participate in this network of dynamic, interactive relationships with God and all God’s creation!" ... the kingdom of God will be radically, scandalously inclusive. As we’ve seen, Jesus enjoys table fellowship with prostitutes and drunks.... He affirms and responds to the faith of Gentiles—Romans and Syrophonecians and Samaritans." (Brian McLaren, The Secret Message of Jesus: Uncovering the Truth that could change everything (Nashville: Thomas Nelson's W Publishing Group, 1006), page 74 & 94).) “Universalism is not as bankrupt of biblical support as some suggest,” (Brian McLaren, The Last Word and the Word After That, ( San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2003), pp. 103 (cf. pp. 182-183) But without question McLaren does hold to the doctrine of inclusivism which teaches that while salvation has been made possible by Jesus Christ, it is not necessary to know who Jesus is or the precise nature of what He has done. (Brian McLaren, The Last Word and the Word After That, ( San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2003), pp. 103 (cf. pp. 182-183) "It may be advisable in many (not all!) circumstances to help people become followers of Jesus and remain within their Buddhist, Hindu, or Jewish contexts,"… "Is our religion the only one that understands the true meaning of life? Or does God place his truth in others too? ... The gospel is not our gospel, but the gospel of the kingdom of God, and what belongs to the kingdom of God cannot be hijacked by Christianity" (p. 194). (Brian McLaren, An Emergent Manifesto, Baker Books, referenced http://simplyagape.blogspot.com/2007_06_01_archive.html)
BISHOP SPONG (retired Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark): He is against evangelism and missionary enterprises, the latter being "base-born, rejecting, negative, and yes, I would even say evil" (p. 178). This shocking redefinition of missions as "evil" is associated with his universalism and epistemology that "we possess neither certainty nor eternal truth" (p. 179). (John Shelby Spong, A New Christianity for a New World: Why Traditional Faith Is Dying and How a New Faith Is Being Born, San Francisco: Harper San Francisco, 2001)
REV. JAMES MORTON (former dean of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City and founder of the Interfaith Center of New York) Mr. Morton, who described himself as ``anti-boundaries,'' urged the audience to be “the best Muslim, Jew, Buddhist that you can be,'' but
to explore other religions and cultures as they might explore foreign cuisines. They won't lose their identities, he said, but “become
richer.” (http://www.apologeticsindex.org/an990301.html#26)
JOHN HICKS (former teacher of philosophy at the University of Birmingham) “I now no longer find it possible to proceed as a Christian theologian as though Christianity were the only religion in the world. Surely our thinking must be undertaken, in the “one world” of today and tomorrow, on a more open and global basis” (John Hicks, God and the Universe of Faiths, p. 102.)
WILLIAM SHANNON (Author or Silence On Fire) "[T]here is a oneness in God that unites all women and men ... The goal of all true spirituality is to achieve an awareness of our oneness with God and with all of God's creation." (A Time of Departing, p. 87)
ALAN JONES (Author of Reimagining Christianity) "The Church's fixation on the death of Jesus as the universal saving act must end, and the place of the cross must be reimagined in Christian faith. Why? Because of the cult of suffering and the vindictive God behind it" (Alan Jones, Reimaging Christianity, p. 132).
NEALE DONALD WALSCH (Christian/New Age author) “There is only one message that can change the course of human history forever, end the torture, and bring you back to God. That message is The New Gospel: WE ARE ALL ONE.” (Neale Donald Walsch, Friendship with God, an uncommon dialogue, 1999 p. 373) “There are a thousand paths to God, and every one gets you there” (Neale Donald Walsch, Friendship with God, an uncommon dialogue 1999, p. 357)
WILLIAM BARCLEY (Christian Universalist) “I am a convinced universalist. I believe that in the end all men will be gathered into the love of God.” (William Barcley, I Am A Convinced Universalist, http://www.tentmaker.org/biographies/barclay.htm)
GREGORY MACDONALD (Author of "The Evangelical Universalist?") “Can an evangelical be a universalist?” In other words, could someone be an evangelical and also believe that one day all people will be saved? If I asked that question of almost any evangelical I know the answer would be a clear and unequivocal, “No!” … So it is with some fear and trepidation that I choose to turn my little fishy nose against the stream and head off in the opposite direction from the majority of my fellow evangeli-fish. I will suggest that the answer to my opening question is actually, “Yes! It is possible to be an evangelical universalist.” Oh, “and would you like to be my friend?”
LEONARD SWEET (Author of Quantum Spirituality and Emerging Church leader) Sweet calls this the Theory of Everything. This theory not only says that all creation is connected but that it is all inhabited with Divinity (God). (Leonard Sweet, Quantum Spirituality, comment by Tim Wirth, http://simplyagape.blogspot.com/2007_06_01_archive.html)
There are many more quotes that could be added to this article and I intend to continue to update it as I discover more. Suffice it to say that Universalism is taking over the churches through movements like the World Gathering on Indigenous People and many leaders in Christianity today.
It is simple to put the notion that Jesus Christ is going to save Jews or Gentiles because they pray to some supreme being to rest according to Scripture. Those who have never known God have no way to have a relationship with Him and cannot be saved unless the Gospel is preached to them. The Bible is clear that Gentiles do not know God, are without God and without hope, are on their way to eternal destruction, and cannot know God until the Gospel is preached to them.
Ac 4:12 Salvation is found in no-one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
Joh 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me.
1Co 1:21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
Ga 4:8 But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods.
2 Thes. 1:8-9: “ He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power.”
Eph. 2:11-13: “Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)—remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.”
Rom. 10:14-15: “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
by Sandy Simpson, 10/12/07
The current fad of interfaith solidarity and unity is simply a thin guise of inclusivism, Universalism and pluralism.
Universalism is defined by Dictionary.com as:
The doctrine that emphasizes the universal fatherhood of God and the final salvation of all souls. (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/universalism) Universalism is a religion and theology that generally holds all persons and creatures are related to God or the divine and will be reconciled to God. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universalism)
Pluralism is defined as:
The doctrine that reality is composed of many ultimate substances. … The belief that no single explanatory system or view of reality can account for all the phenomena of life. (American Heritage Dictionary, http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pluralism)
Inclusivism is:
"Inclusivism posits that even though the work of Christ is the only means of salvation, it does not follow that explicit knowledge of Christ is necessary in order for one to be saved. In contrast to pluralism, inclusivism agrees with exclusivism in affirming the particularity of salvation in Jesus Christ. But unlike exclusivism, inclusivism holds that an implicit faith response to general revelation can be salvific. God expects from man a response proportional to the light given. Saving faith is not characterized so much by its cognitive content as it is by its reverent quality." (Ken Keathley, None Dare Call It Treason: Is an Inclusivist a Paul Revere or a Benedict Arnold? (Ken Keathley, Assistant Professor of Theology and Philosophy New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, http://baptistcenter.com/Journal%20Articles/Spr%202004/08%20Corporate%20Inclucivism.pdf)
We deal with these old heresies brought forward to modernity, these ideas that all men have have a relationship with God that will cause them to be able to avoid judgement in our book on the teachings of the World Gathering on Indigenous People movement called “Idolatry In Their Hearts”. The idea that all men who worship a “god” are worshipping the true God, YHWH, has bubbled up to the very top of our societies and religions, and even Christendoom, and should sound a warning alarm to true Biblical Christianity. Instead, as usual in our day, most Christians are asleep at the wheel while Universalists claim that you can pray to a “god” like Allah and be praying to the true Trinue God, YHWH. I also dealt with the fact that Allah is not YHWH, both in our book and in the article “Is Allah The Same As YHWH?”.
Yet just recently George Bush, a professing Christian, who has obviously been led astray by false teachers and his heretical counselors like T.D. Jakes and Ted Haggard, came out with these statements in an interview.
"I believe that all the world, whether they be Muslim, Christian, or any other religion, prays to the same God. That's what I believe. … See, I believe there is a universal God. I believe the God that the Muslim prays to is the same God that I pray to. After all, we all came from Abraham. I believe in that universality." (Interview of the President by Al Arabiya, Oval Office, White House, October 4, 2007, http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/10/20071005-5.html)
"Americans of many faiths and traditions share a common belief that God hears the prayers of His children and shows grace to those who seek Him. ... There is a power in these prayers [to various gods].... I ask the citizens of our Nation to give thanks, each according to his or her own faith, for the freedoms and blessings we have received and for God's continued guidance, comfort, and protection." (President George W. Bush, National Day of Prayer, 2007: A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America, http://www.ndptf.org/press_room/Index.cfm?Entity=4&Department=4&Dept_Order=1&This_TopicOrder=8&This_SubtopicOrder=1#3)
President Bush hosted an Islamic celebration at the White House on October 4. He welcomed his guests with these words,
"Laura and I are pleased to have you here for our seventh Iftaar dinner. Tonight we celebrate traditions of Islamic faith, which brings hope and comfort to more than a billion people. For Muslims around the world, the holy month of Ramadan is... a time to celebrate Islam's learned and vibrant culture, which has enriched civilization for centuries.... Ramadan is also a good time for Americans of all faiths to reflect on the values we hold in common -- including love of family, gratitude to the Almighty....” ("President Bush [speaks at Islamic] Dinner at the White House," 10-4-07, http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/10/print/20071004-9.html)
But Bush is not the only “Christian” making these kinds of statements. Of course we expect Universalism in the world. We know that the United Religions Initiative of the United Nations, which Bush supports, is promoting Universalism.
“We believe that the wisdom of our religious and spiritual traditions should be shared for the health and well being of all. Therefore, as communities of faith and interdependent people rooted in our faith, we now unite for the sake of peace and healing among religions, peoples and nations, and for the benefit of the earth and all living beings.” We believe that all religions derive their wisdom from that ultimate Source. Therefore, the world's faith traditions share in common wisdom, which can be obscured by differences in religious concepts and practices. ... The United Religions promotes dialogue. A theology of acceptance will help the world's people explore common ground. Our awareness of unity within religious diversity promotes ever-increasing kinship” (quoted in SCP JOURNAL 22:4-23:1 By Lee Penn.)
We also know that false religions like Bahai have been promoting Universalism for years (when they are really trying to get people to worship Bahaullah).
“Many names in many religions are used to describe the same God. … Be aware that all major religions promote the belief in one God and one mankind, and that God is the source of Truth and Guidance. … In other words, God creates all religions. … The source of all religions is one. Truth is One. God is One.” (http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:j2PHu49peN0J:www.sfu.ca/~cabs/Kerns/1-Unity.doc+mungu+attributes&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=15)
“Although we may have different concepts of God's nature, although we may pray to Him in different languages and call Him by different names--Allah or Yahweh, God or Brahma--nevertheless, we are speaking about the same unique Being” (The Bahá'í Concept of God http://info.bahai.org/article-1-4-0-2.html)
We know that the coming Maitreya will be revealed using this Universalist mantra.
According to esoteric teachings, Maitreya is the awaited Fifth Buddha. He is also known as the Christ, World Teacher, Imam Mahdi, Messiah, & Kalki Avatar. The word 'Christ' is not the name of an individual, but the title of an office or function within the Spiritual Hierarchy of Masters. The Leader of all the Masters for our planet's Spiritual Hierarchy is known to many in the west as the Christ and as the Bodhissatva in the east. The Hierarchy is known to some as the 'Great White Brotherhood'. Without infringing upon our freewill, Maitreya and his disciples, the Masters of Wisdom will guide humanity into a future which will be much lovelier than most of our better futurists currently imagine. …Preferring to be known simply as 'the Teacher', Maitreya has not come as a religious leader or to found a new religion, but as teacher and guide for people of every religion and those of no religion. He has come "like a thief in the night," (Peter 3:10) when least expected. He is returning for the good of everyone, both the religious and non-religious alike. (http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/maitreya5.html)
But let’s look at Universalist statements by other “Christians” and “Christian” organizations. When they make these statements they are denying the core doctrine of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in CHRIST alone, thereby teaching heresy.
WYCLIFFE (Bible Translation Mission): “From the outset one has to deal with identifying the name for the Supreme Being, God. This can be difficult and potentially divisive. However, each language and culture appears to have within it a ‘ “homing instinct” for God – deeply buried by the sin and corruption that affects all cultures, yet still there’ (Williams, 2004: n.p.). Each religion has a different understanding of deity that is based upon how the Supreme Being is defined (Thomas, 2001: 305). The characteristics of the local deity must be identified so that it can be determined how these will impact the understanding of God. Is it possible for any language to totally explain the meaning of God? Or is there a need to add further definition or explanation? The challenge is to identify what intrinsic capacity exists within the language that helps provide the meaning of God. (Theological and Cultural issues in Bible Translation, A lay person's guide to a basic understanding of what is important, Article by Kirk Franklin, Executive Director Wycliffe Australia, http://www.wycliffe.org.au/html/missiological_articles/missiological_article007.htm)
SOCIETY OF BIBLICAL LITERATURE (Bible Translation Society) “There is an unwarranted skepticism towards the heathens' possession, if at all, of a very limited and low knowledge of the divine from the so-called “natural/native religion.” The adoption of a local name for the universal God will facilitate mutual transformation of both Christianity and the native religion and culture.” (God's Asian Names: Rendering the Biblical God in Chinese, Archie C. C. Lee, SBL Web Site, http://www.sbl-site.org/Article.aspx?ArticleId=456)
LEON SIU (Aloha Ke Akua): “So these are clues that we felt God had left (the Hawaiian people) and evidence that He’s left as well as processes He has left in which our Hawaiian people can respond in a very natural way to God and really set things right between them and God. … A few years ago some friends and I were contemplating how we would be able to reach indigenous peoples and we thought that what was prevalent at that time was a misconception among, within the church of God's presence here in the islands. The misconceptions that, as was expressed earlier, was that God didn't arrive until the missionaries arrived. You know, and so when we started to look at this we started to look into our culture and see what things within our culture what God had originally intended for this particular group of people, Hawaiians.” (Leon Siu, Aloha Ke Akua, Word to the World with host Danny Lehmann, KLHT, 2001, show #544)
TERRY LEBLANC (World Vision Canada): “There’s a myth that we have labored under for centuries in indigenous communities and the myth is that we are a godless heathen people. … “And yet all brings glory to God in its own special way, and that’s true of human beings and cultures as well. …“God is now calling forth from among the indigenous communities of the world that good deposit which He has made in them of their cultures, their languages, their musical expressions and all that sort of thing ... as an expression of praise and worship unto Himself.” ” (Terry LeBlanc, World Vision Canada, Word to the World with host Danny Lehmann, KLHT, 2001, show #542)
RICHARD TWISS (President of Wiconi International), keynote speaker at the 2001 conference, said the land restitution is “the fruit of following traditional indigenous protocol in presenting the redemptive message of faith and hope in Jesus Christ as Healer, Great Spirit and Chief Shepherd of all tribes and nations.” (Richard Twiss, Charisma Magazine, October 2004, http://www.charismamag.com/a.php?ArticleID=9744) Richard Twiss was on the 700 Club show with Gordon Robertson (Pat Robertson’s son) and in an interview he told Gordon that the Great Spirit of the Indians is the same as the Holy Spirit. Robertson heartily agreed. The problem with this idea is that the Great Spirit has no son, and without the son there is no redemption. The Great Spirit required human sacrifices and other atrocities.( http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/lehmann2.html)
DANIEL KIKAWA (Aloha Ke Akua): So by finding the native name of God which in, in Japan we found that name Ameno mi-naka-nushi which means the God in the glorious center of heaven and he is their creator God who created everything. And so we found this name of this creator God there, and it immediately says he’s a Japanese God and he loves them.” (Word to the World interview with Daniel Kikawa, Feb. 16, 2006 #9) It is time that Christians reclaimed the many beautiful names of the One Creator God in native languages instead of falling into Satan's trap and destroying them. We should reclaim those names and wash the dung of corruption off of them instead of giving them up to Satan. We must cast off the corruption that Satan has thrown on the many beautiful names of God in native languages.” … “Instead of destroying and ridiculing the native names of the Creator God, we should help preserve them as a legacy for these peoples. It is their legacy of God's enduring interest, involvement and care for their culture and people! Christians should cease representing Jesus as the Son of the foreign God of a foreign people, especially if these foreigners had never shown concern for nor had any involvement in the lives or culture of the natives. We should instead introduce Jesus as the Son of their creator God. God lovingly created them in the beginning never left them without a witness and, in his great love for them, even sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, to die for them! (Daniel Kikawa, Perpetuated In Righteousness, pp.26-27 4th ed.)
BILLY GRAHAM (Billy Graham Evangelism Association): They (the heathen) may not even know the name of Jesus but they know in their hearts that they need something that they don't have, and they turn to the only light that they have, and I think they are saved, and that they're going to be with us in heaven" (Billy Graham, Straightway, September, 1997. The entire article may be received from the author upon request, http://www.foundations.edu/online_material/straightway/1997/vol25_no9.htm). “I used to think that pagans in far-off countries were lost--were going to hell--if they did not have the Gospel of Jesus Christ preached to them. I no longer believe that. ... I believe there are other ways of recognizing the existence of God--through nature, for instance--and plenty of other opportunities, therefore, of saying yes to God.” (Billy Graham, McCall’s Magazine, 1978)
RICK WARREN (Saddleback Church): (Talking about Catholics, Methodists, Mormons, Jews and ordained women whom he trains in his seminars) "I'm not going to get into a debate over the non-essentials. I won't try to change other denominations. Why be divisive?" he asks, citing as his model Billy Graham, "a statesman for Christ ministering across barriers." (Rick Warren in "This evangelist has a 'Purpose'", by Cathy Lynn Grossman, USA TODAY, 7/21/2003, http://www.usatoday.com/life/2003-07-21-rick-warren_x.htm) “God accepts us unconditionally.” (Rick Warren, Learn to Love Yourself, Ladies Home Journal, March 2005, 36.) Warren cites Henri Nouwen, though the quote does not present anything to be uneasy about, he is not a good source to quote. We find Nouwen is a promoter of contemplative prayer and is a universalist (Purpose Driven Life page 269). On his website “My wife, Kay, recommends this book! In it, Nouwen divides the life of ministry into five categories: teaching, preaching, pastoral care, organizing, and celebrating” (Henri Nouwen, Sabbatical Journey Creative Ministry, http://www.letusreason.org/Popteac23.htm) Rick Warren told an interfaith audience at the 2005 UN Prayer Breakfast that God didn't care what religion they were, they just needed to add Jesus to their lives, what he meant was that you can stay Hindu, or Buddhist, or Muslim, but you need Jesus. It's called the New Missiology. It promotes the following ideas: 1. You can keep your own religion - Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Mormonism - you just need to add Jesus to the equation. Then you become complete. You become a Buddhist with Jesus, a Hindu with Jesus, a Muslim with Jesus and so on. 2. You can throw out the term Christianity and still be a follower of Jesus. 3. In fact, you can throw out the term Christian too. In some countries, you could be persecuted for calling yourself a Christian, and there is no need for that. Just ask Jesus into your heart, you don't have to identify yourself as a Christian. (Rick Warren, UN Interfaith Prayer Breakfast, referenced http://simplyagape.blogspot.com/2007_06_01_archive.html)
HENRY NOUWEN (Christian/New Age author) “Today I personally believe that while Jesus came to open the door to God's house, all human beings can walk through that door, whether they know about Jesus or not. Today I see it as my call to help every person claim his or her own way to God” (Henri Nouwen's last book p.51, Sabbatical Journey Crossroad publishing Co., New York, 1998, Quoted in a Time of Departing by Ray Yungen, http://www.letusreason.org/Popteac23.htm)
TONY CAMPOLO (The Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education): On a recent edition of CNN's Crossfire, Tony Campolo refused to say Jesus is the only way to heaven. The panel was discussing events at the Southern Baptist Convention in Atlanta. Campolo would not answer the question directly but said, "The Apostle Paul says that there are people who have light that is not Christian light, and they will be judged on that basis." In an earlier appearance on PBS's Charlie Rose, Campolo muddied theological waters by stating, "I am saying that there is no salvation apart from Jesus; that's my evangelical mindset. However, I am not convinced that Jesus only lives in Christians" (National Liberty Journal, 8/99). CNV News Service, http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/campolo.html) “We want to convince the whole human race that there is a God who established the infinite value of every person, who mystically dwells in each person ...” (A Reasonable Faith: Responding to Secularism, p. 59). “I do not mean that others represent Jesus for us. I mean that Jesus actually is present in each other person” (ibid. p. 192).
YWAM (Youth With A Mission): The Charisma article noted: "Messianic Muslims, who continue to read the Koran, visit the mosque and say their daily prayers but accept Christ as their Savior, are the products of the strategy which is being tried in several countries." A YWAM staff writer wrote: "They continue a life of following the Islamic requirements, including mosque attendance, fasting and Koranic reading, besides getting together as a fellowship of Muslims who acknowledge Christ as the source of God's mercy for them... YWAM is also adopting this approach in India, where a team is working with a Hindu holy man." (YWAM in Foundation, May/June 2000, p. 39)
VICTOR KAZANIIAN JR (Episcopal priest): He wrote in Episcopal life Forum, “ We walk side by side, fellow travelers on life's pathways. I speak of being awakened to the wonder and mystery of the world, using words that reflect my window to the divine, the one whom I call my Lord and my God, Jesus, the Risen Christ. You, too, speak of being awakened to the wonder and mystery of the world, using words that reflect your window, to the divine through the teachings of the Buddha, of Baha'u'llah, of Lord Mahavir, of Muhammad, teachings from the Torah, the Guru Granth Sahib and the Vedas. As I hear you speak and as I look into your eyes, I see God. I feel God. I experience God in you, not just a partial reflection of my Christian God, but the creator, the divine spirit in wham we all live and move and have our being. How magnificent is this divine force that it should appear across the Earth like the flowers of a garden in so many different shapes and hues.” “It is not simply so-called “religious fundamentalists” who practice this exclusivism. No, there is a kind of tolerance of difference preached by liberal church folk, which still clings to a Christocentric world view and becomes apparent when we proclaim our faith using language that devalues the faith of others.” “There is no place for religious exclusivism in Christianity. It has been arguably the single greatest source of human misery during the past two millenniums. It must be replaced by an understanding of the interwovenness of all life, of all religious traditions” (Episcopal life Forum p.20, June 1998)
RODNEY R. ROMNEY (Pastor of Seattle’s First Baptist Church): “He [Jesus] meant to establish a world religion that would embrace every soul and synthesize every creed, and his work will not be consummated until he has done just that.” (Rodney R. Romney Pastor of Seattle's First Baptist Church. Romney Journey, p. 31.)
MOTHER THERESA (Deceased missionary to India): “I love all religions. ... If people become better Hindus, better Muslims, better Buddhists by our acts of love, then there is something else growing there.” She upheld that there are many ways to God': “All is God--Buddists, Hindus, Christians, etc., all have access to the same God.” (12/4/89 Time, pp. 11, 13)
PETER KREEFT (professor of philosophy at Boston College): “We can and should investigate and learn from the wisdom in other religions” (Peter Kreeft Ecumenical Jihad p.79). “Allah is not another God...we worship the same God”(Peter Kreeft Ecumenical Jihad p.30). “The same God! The very same God we worship in Christ is the God the Jews-and the Muslims-worship.” (Ibid. p. 160)
ROBERT SCHULLER (Crystal Cathedral): “We know the things the major faiths can agree on. We try to focus on those without offending those with different viewpoints, or without compromising the integrity of my own Christian commitment” (USA Today, March 23, 1989.) “It's time for Protestants to go to the shepherd [Pope]. Schuller has stated “if he came back in 100 years and found his descendants Muslims, it wouldn't bother him....” (Robert Schuller, comments on the Papal visit, LA, 1987) "The Christ Spirit dwells in every human being, whether the person knows it or not." (Robert Schuller, Possibilities Magazine, Summer 1986, pg.12)
CHUNG HYUN-KYUNG (World Council of Churches leader): She exalted pagan concepts of God (at the WCC Assembly). Of the Holy Spirit Chung said, “Don't bother the Spirit by calling her all the time. She is working hard with us.” Eighteen times Chung summoned the spirits of the dead who have suffered injustices in the past and claimed that “without hearing the cries of these spirits, we cannot hear the voice of the Holy Spirit.” After calling on the spirits of the dead, Chung said, “I hope the presence of all our ancestors' spirits here with us shall not make you uncomfortable.” She also summoned “the spirit of Earth, Air, and Water.” (WCC's Seventh General Assembly that took place in Canberra)
POPE JOHN PAUL II (Deceased pope of the RCC): “He welcomed snake worshipers, fire worshipers, spiritists, animists, Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, and shamans, was supported and attended by representatives of the World Council of Churches and even evangelicals. Represented there were the YWCA and YMCA, the Mennonite World Conference, the Baptist World Alliance (which includes the Southern Baptist Convention), the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, and the Lutheran World Federation.” (1986 Gathering For Prayer At Assisi, http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/jp2.htm)
GEORGE OTIS, JR. (The Sentinel Group – Transformations) “If we accept the premise that Jesus literally purchased, that He literally purchased our salvation with His blood... and He paid the Father... then this approach, first of all portrays God the Father as being vindictive and bloodthirsty and totally incompatible with biblical forgiveness. It also presents another grave difficulty. If Jesus literally paid for our sins with His blood, and a paid debt is no longer a debt, and He died for the sins of the whole world, then we can only come to one conclusion and the theological word for that is Universalism – which means that everybody will be saved” (George Otis Jr., Lecture to YWAM DTS, 1981:lecture 4).
BRIAN MCLAREN (Emerging Church leader): "Jesus seems to say, 'The kingdom of God doesn’t need to wait until something else happens. No, it is available and among you now.... Invite people of all nations, races, classes, and religions to participate in this network of dynamic, interactive relationships with God and all God’s creation!" ... the kingdom of God will be radically, scandalously inclusive. As we’ve seen, Jesus enjoys table fellowship with prostitutes and drunks.... He affirms and responds to the faith of Gentiles—Romans and Syrophonecians and Samaritans." (Brian McLaren, The Secret Message of Jesus: Uncovering the Truth that could change everything (Nashville: Thomas Nelson's W Publishing Group, 1006), page 74 & 94).) “Universalism is not as bankrupt of biblical support as some suggest,” (Brian McLaren, The Last Word and the Word After That, ( San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2003), pp. 103 (cf. pp. 182-183) But without question McLaren does hold to the doctrine of inclusivism which teaches that while salvation has been made possible by Jesus Christ, it is not necessary to know who Jesus is or the precise nature of what He has done. (Brian McLaren, The Last Word and the Word After That, ( San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2003), pp. 103 (cf. pp. 182-183) "It may be advisable in many (not all!) circumstances to help people become followers of Jesus and remain within their Buddhist, Hindu, or Jewish contexts,"… "Is our religion the only one that understands the true meaning of life? Or does God place his truth in others too? ... The gospel is not our gospel, but the gospel of the kingdom of God, and what belongs to the kingdom of God cannot be hijacked by Christianity" (p. 194). (Brian McLaren, An Emergent Manifesto, Baker Books, referenced http://simplyagape.blogspot.com/2007_06_01_archive.html)
BISHOP SPONG (retired Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark): He is against evangelism and missionary enterprises, the latter being "base-born, rejecting, negative, and yes, I would even say evil" (p. 178). This shocking redefinition of missions as "evil" is associated with his universalism and epistemology that "we possess neither certainty nor eternal truth" (p. 179). (John Shelby Spong, A New Christianity for a New World: Why Traditional Faith Is Dying and How a New Faith Is Being Born, San Francisco: Harper San Francisco, 2001)
REV. JAMES MORTON (former dean of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City and founder of the Interfaith Center of New York) Mr. Morton, who described himself as ``anti-boundaries,'' urged the audience to be “the best Muslim, Jew, Buddhist that you can be,'' but
to explore other religions and cultures as they might explore foreign cuisines. They won't lose their identities, he said, but “become
richer.” (http://www.apologeticsindex.org/an990301.html#26)
JOHN HICKS (former teacher of philosophy at the University of Birmingham) “I now no longer find it possible to proceed as a Christian theologian as though Christianity were the only religion in the world. Surely our thinking must be undertaken, in the “one world” of today and tomorrow, on a more open and global basis” (John Hicks, God and the Universe of Faiths, p. 102.)
WILLIAM SHANNON (Author or Silence On Fire) "[T]here is a oneness in God that unites all women and men ... The goal of all true spirituality is to achieve an awareness of our oneness with God and with all of God's creation." (A Time of Departing, p. 87)
ALAN JONES (Author of Reimagining Christianity) "The Church's fixation on the death of Jesus as the universal saving act must end, and the place of the cross must be reimagined in Christian faith. Why? Because of the cult of suffering and the vindictive God behind it" (Alan Jones, Reimaging Christianity, p. 132).
NEALE DONALD WALSCH (Christian/New Age author) “There is only one message that can change the course of human history forever, end the torture, and bring you back to God. That message is The New Gospel: WE ARE ALL ONE.” (Neale Donald Walsch, Friendship with God, an uncommon dialogue, 1999 p. 373) “There are a thousand paths to God, and every one gets you there” (Neale Donald Walsch, Friendship with God, an uncommon dialogue 1999, p. 357)
WILLIAM BARCLEY (Christian Universalist) “I am a convinced universalist. I believe that in the end all men will be gathered into the love of God.” (William Barcley, I Am A Convinced Universalist, http://www.tentmaker.org/biographies/barclay.htm)
GREGORY MACDONALD (Author of "The Evangelical Universalist?") “Can an evangelical be a universalist?” In other words, could someone be an evangelical and also believe that one day all people will be saved? If I asked that question of almost any evangelical I know the answer would be a clear and unequivocal, “No!” … So it is with some fear and trepidation that I choose to turn my little fishy nose against the stream and head off in the opposite direction from the majority of my fellow evangeli-fish. I will suggest that the answer to my opening question is actually, “Yes! It is possible to be an evangelical universalist.” Oh, “and would you like to be my friend?”
LEONARD SWEET (Author of Quantum Spirituality and Emerging Church leader) Sweet calls this the Theory of Everything. This theory not only says that all creation is connected but that it is all inhabited with Divinity (God). (Leonard Sweet, Quantum Spirituality, comment by Tim Wirth, http://simplyagape.blogspot.com/2007_06_01_archive.html)
There are many more quotes that could be added to this article and I intend to continue to update it as I discover more. Suffice it to say that Universalism is taking over the churches through movements like the World Gathering on Indigenous People and many leaders in Christianity today.
It is simple to put the notion that Jesus Christ is going to save Jews or Gentiles because they pray to some supreme being to rest according to Scripture. Those who have never known God have no way to have a relationship with Him and cannot be saved unless the Gospel is preached to them. The Bible is clear that Gentiles do not know God, are without God and without hope, are on their way to eternal destruction, and cannot know God until the Gospel is preached to them.
Ac 4:12 Salvation is found in no-one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
Joh 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me.
1Co 1:21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
Ga 4:8 But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods.
2 Thes. 1:8-9: “ He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power.”
Eph. 2:11-13: “Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)—remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.”
Rom. 10:14-15: “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
posted by Tim Wirth | 11:00 AM
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