PTM WEEKLY UPDATE -- APRIL 21, 2008

Hell and universalism

Q. I disagree with in your teachings about hell (both as posted as resources, questions and answers on your website, as well as your recent cover story in The Plain Truth magazine, November 2007, "Eternal Torture -- Divine or Human Vengeance?" You disagree with the teachings of universalism -- I am a universalist and take exception to your comments.

I believe the Bible tells us that there is no place of eternal punishment. In other words it never tells us that most of the world's population will spend eternity in a place of divinely inspired torment and cruelty. Nor do I believe that anyone will be eternally separated from God (another cruel fate, in my estimation). In fact, neither do I believe that God almighty states that he will exterminate anyone for all time.

This kind of theology, in my humble opinion and that of many others like me, is a slap in the face to our Creator God. "For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach because we trust in the living God, Who is the Savior of all men, especially of those that believe" (1 Timothy 4:10). What I see in this scripture above is that God is telling us that he will Save ALL mankind.

You also speak of man's choices. Did we have a choice when we were born or when we die? Yes -- we have decisions and choices to make, but not a free will. God's will for us is to do HIS will -- not ours. So, if you say that our "will" will win out over God's will, then you are saying that our "will" is stronger. If you say that God gives every man a choice, then I say to you: Would you give your child a choice to destroy him or herself? And then stand back and watch as they did it, and say: "Oh well, I gave her a choice, it's just too bad she didn't make the right one. I will never see her again." I think not! You would drag her kicking and screaming to the right action so that she could live forever in peace with you for all time.

A. The fact that Paul says, in 1 Timothy 4:10, under God's inspiration, that God is the Savior of all men, does not mean that all men will choose to accept his offer. It seems that you infer that this status of being saved will be forced on humans who definitely choose to reject their Savior. Surely we must view history and realize that corrupt and perverted, evil men and women have rejected the very image of God, and the consequent innate ability to know the fundamentals of right and wrong (see Romans 1 -- and Paul's teaching of what some today refer to as "natural law").

God is potentially the Savior of all humankind, but in actuality he is the Savior of all those who believe and accept him as Lord. He does not force anyone to accept him -- that is the absolute testimony of Scripture. Your metaphor of parents who will not allow a child to make a wrong, harmful decision is as unrealistic as it is without any basis in fact. The very act of being a parent means that we come face to face with the reality that our children have choices, and they make them. When they are but babes in arms, and as young school children in our homes, we have the power to keep them from the consequences of many of their wrong choices. But, as with the parable of the Prodigal Son, when children grow and leave home they have the power, and they utilize it, to make decisions on their own.

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