Hell or Hope – Exploring the Least Harmful Heresy

I have decided to write about something that I have found to be quite controversial in the church circles I have been part of. That is the heretical doctrine of universal salvation or universal reconciliation. Let me begin by stating that while I am going to be exploring this idea a little, I am by no means saying that it is right. Nor am I advocating for anyone to have this view. I just want to have a look at what its about and why so many Christians automatically discount it without thought or critical consideration. Universal salvation is basically a thought that says that God is love and that due to this love, all people will come to be with Him in eternity. This is expressed in many different ways, such as some people believe in a set time for people in banishment from God, until finally being restored to God, others think that ‘every knee will bow and tongue confess’, and at this time all people will have a realisation of Christ and God and all will be in God. There is also thought that through the process of judgement, the refining fire of God will purify all people, leaving us at our most pure state. Obviously for some people who have been evil in this life, it will take them back to when they were children or younger. While for those who have journeyed in faith, the process will not be as painful or humiliating. Either way, the basic concept is clear. Nothing can separate us from the love of God.

I have many issues with this theologically, but absolutely no objections from a standpoint of hope. As a Christian I love the idea that all people can be reconciled with God. My understanding of God is that He is love, as well as justice. But this justice we cannot really comprehend and as such, I fall back to the position that God is love. While there are many struggles with the theological framework of universal salvation, it is not without theological merit. In fact there were many early Christian schools of thought that taught and believed it. Gregory of Nyssa and Origen, two of the most influential church fathers, taught universal salvation at their schools. Eventually this teaching did not win the day and was gradually stamped out and given the tag of heresy. While this is still the case today, it is interesting to consider why these great men thought this way. And why we have adopted many of their theological positions within the church today, but not this particular thought. In the last 50 or so years, there have been many pre-eminent theologians who have either agreed with or hoped for universal salvation. Among them are; Jacques Ellul, Jurgen Moltmann, Karl Rainer and Karl Barth to name a few. Not to mention the various liberal scholars such as Marcus Borg, Dominic Crossan and the like.

The most disturbing thing to me when I talk to other believers about this idea is the level of aggression and anger it provokes. Many cannot fathom their faith without it counter balanced by hell. Often the words I hear come back to me is based on an essentially selfish consideration. That is, “why should I live a Christian life, not doing anything wrong, going to church, helping people, when other people can just party and do bad things and end up in heaven anyway?” This is something that I cannot relate to. While I guess I can see the perspective they are coming from, to me it is the worst possible reason to want to believe in hell. It is basically saying, ‘I think that people who don’t do what I have done or believe what I believe, the way I believe it, should go to hell.’ It is here that we begin to play God a little. We decide who will and will not go to hell. I firmly believe that being a Christian is about living like Christ here and now. In the gospels Jesus talks extensively about the kingdom of God, and doing for others. This life isn’t about earning enough points to get into heaven. Nor is it about being a Christian to avoid hell. God did not create this world and send us here to punish us just because He can. We are made to have life, and give life to others. This is the essence of being a Christian, and this should be reason enough to be a Christian and want others to join with you. People have asked me when I discuss this idea, that it destroys the concept of evangelism. I disagree with this, primarily because, I love being a Christian so much, the connection with God, the peace I feel in his presence and in the community of believers. This is what I want other people to feel. Discipleship is basically being a social worker, community development worker and psychologist all rolled into one. We must never stop sharing the good news, essemtially because it is good news. We are not trying to scare people into coming on board, we surely want people to experience the fullness of the love of God. This needs to be our mission and priority, so that people around us can grow in God and we can begin to build a little bit of the Kingdom of God.

I will parody a conversation that is very close to many I have had with friends and fellow Christians. According to your understanding of Jesus, God and hell; “Will a person who doesn’t believe in God and lives an evil life go to hell?’ ‘Yes’. ‘Ok, will a person who doesn’t believe in God but does good go to hell?’ ‘Well, yes. You have to believe in Jesus, we are not saved by works alone.’ ‘Right, so what if a person has done many good deeds but has never heard the Good News?’ ‘Umm, I think so…maybe not. God can see their heart’. ‘Ok, so it is based on how God views them, not on believing in Jesus?’ ‘Umm, no you have to believe, but if you have never heard of Jesus, God is just and will search the persons heart.’ ‘Ok, so I guess that applies to children and babies too who die before their time?’ ‘Yes of course, God would never send a baby to hell.’ ‘Good, but where is this taught in the bible?’, ‘I’ll have to look that one up….’. ‘Ok, what about people who live a life of faith, but another faith’. ‘Well, Jesus is the only way’. ‘So if someone loves God and serves His purpose, helping others, contributing to society and bringing peace and compassion to all those around them, he will go to hell if he’s from another faith. But a person who, say, has lived an anti-social life, causing harm and pain to everyone around them, an essentially, classically evil person, sincerely asks God for forgiveness and believes in Jesus on their death bed will go to heaven?’ ‘Well its not as clear cut as that, but I guess, yes’.
Let me reiterate; I am not a universalist, and I adhere to The Salvation Army doctrines as an officer within its ranks. I am not convinced about the theology of universal salvation, and there are many real and important issues that strain biblical credibility within this concept. However it brings up important and foundational questions about our lives as Christians. The conversation above shows how quickly we assume that we know the mind of God. The question of what happens after death is ambiguous at best, considering we will all find out, but not till it is our time. Therefore, perhaps as Christians it is best to leave the concept of hell to God, go about our mission as Christians, but have the idea that all will eventually be brought back to God as our hope.