Universalism

[Bill the Cat]

Tell me more. My church wanted to be able to marry homosexuals.

[mossrose]

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[Leonhard]

You have a herd? Of.... those green things with yellow wigs?

I can't be in a herd, I'm in a flock.

[Christian3]

maybe its time to find a new church. What denomination is it?

United Methodist.

However, perhaps this particular church needs people like me to challenge what they preach!?

[Christian3]

Our Methodist "guest pastor" sermon on the radio this past Sunday morning was the parable of the Good Samaritan, and how that was a lesson for us to be kinder and more accepting of the "LBGTQ-plus community". And that's how the guest pastor pronounced it numerous times - kinda slowing down and very clearly enunciating "L B G T Q Plus community". He explained that his 'sexual orientation' gave him greater insight into the scriptures than his colleagues.

Methodist again.

[mossrose]

United Methodist.

However, perhaps this particular church needs people like me to challenge what they preach!?

You said you've already challenged some things, and nothing has changed. There comes a time to shake the dust off your feet and move on if your efforts to show error are not accepted.

[Cow Poke]

United Methodist.

However, perhaps this particular church needs people like me to challenge what they preach!?

I wish that there was hope in that regard, but when a church goes down the path of embracing homosexuality, especially at the behest of their denomination, there is no going back.

[Christianbookworm]

What about people who don't want to be saved? One person's utopia is another person's dystopia....

[KingsGambit]

Universalists are very good at philosophy, mainly because they are very bad at scripture interpretation. There are some verses and concepts you can take out of context to make an argument for universalism, but Jesus made perfectly clear that some will not be saved. Also note Hebrews 3:11: "They will never enter my rest."

I don't think there's anything wrong with hoping everybody will be saved, because 2 Peter 3:9 says the same thing. But when you outright say that it will happen, it becomes a problem.

(This is a very hot topic right now in theology because David Bentley Hart's much anticipated book arguing for universalism is coming out this fall... so I expect to be hearing more discussion about universalism online.)

Edit: Literally two minutes after I posted, I saw that a friend of mine just posted on FB that he is going to publish a critical review of Hart's book in a theological journal. Talk about coincidences.

[Christian3]

I'm trying to find out what the founder of the Methodist church, John Wesley, said about Universalim. But my research keeps coming up talking about John Wesley Hanson.

[Bill the Cat]

United Methodist.

However, perhaps this particular church needs people like me to challenge what they preach!?

The UMC has strayed so far from the truth, and allowed post-modernism into their ranks, that only a true revival from the Holy Spirit can help them, if they are even at all receptive to Him at a leadership level...

[Sparko]

United Methodist.

However, perhaps this particular church needs people like me to challenge what they preach!?

If you feel called to do that and think it could work, go for it. But be prepared to just move on if they don't listen.

[Cow Poke]

I'm trying to find out what the founder of the Methodist church, John Wesley, said about Universalim. But my research keeps coming up talking about John Wesley Hanson.

As long as you don't end up with John Wesley Hardin, who, according to TimeLife Books, was so mean he once shot a man just for snoring! :yea:

[KingsGambit]

Wesley was not a universalist.

[Cow Poke]

Wesley was not a universalist.

Had he been, he wouldn't have been such a revivalist.