Part 2 - Universal Salvation

Judgment/Universal Salvation/ Reincarnation - The Trifecta in need of Rehabilitation

Dec 19, 2023

When I am out and about, I may have occasion to strike up a conversation with someone. If that person asks me what I do for a living and I tell them I’m an Episcopal Priest, a common response is, “I can never go to church because I’m so bad; God will surely strike me down if I cross the threshold!” It makes me sad that people outside the church assume Christians and God believe they are evil, and God is angry enough to kill them.

Sadly, there are Christians who agree. The eternal torment crowd looks to passages like this:

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life but must endure God’s wrath.” – John 3:36

Although many in Western Christianity today have a belief that after death we are judged by God and sent either to eternal bliss in heaven or eternal torment in hell, there actually are other classic Christian theologies which have nothing to do with roasting on an open fire. In fact, for the first 600 years of Christianity the idea that only some people would be saved was just one view of many. Many other Christians believed in what is known as Universal Salvation, that all people, all creation, would participate in restoration with God. Some scholars even suspect this was the majority view. Now, while this Universal Salvation still likely meant there was some period of correction, God’s big picture plan ultimately includes everyone.

A couple of weeks ago [Part 1 - Judgment] we looked at how the “Life Reviews” found in Near-Death Experiences might help us understand end-of-life judgment in scripture. That a God of love could not possibly mean for Her children to suffer eternal torment. Today I want us to consider that not only might serious sinners not go to hell for all eternity, but that in fact they (we) might all be destined for eternal bliss.

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all.” – Titus 2:11

“All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before him.” – Psalm 22:27

While it was a part of the mix in the early centuries of Christianity, eternal punishment was not an official church statement until the pseudo-Athanasian Creed in the late 5th or early 6th century. Before that, Universal Salvation was an accepted strand of establishment Christian theology. However, since you can’t support both eternal punishment and Universal salvation, and a time came for the church to make a choice, eternal punishment won the day. But before the Creed was established, the possibility of Universal Salvation was always on the table, and was embraced by many Christian leaders. Even after the establishment of the Creed, over the centuries, other Christian leaders and theologians continued to promote it.

As an example, here is a smattering of some theologians and Christian mystics who over the years believed in Universal Salvation:

Early Centuries

Clement, Origin, Didymus, St. Anthony, St. Pamphilus Martyr, Methodius, St. Macrina, St. Gregory of Nyssa (and probably the two other Cappadocians), St. Evagrius Ponticus, Diodore of Tarsus, Theodore of Mopsuestia, St. John of Jerusalem, Rufinus, St. Jerome and St. Augustine (at least initially), Cassian, St. Issac of Nineveh, St. John of Dalyatha, Ps. Dionysius the Areopagite, Julian of Norwich, Solomon of Akhlat, John Murray, Elhanan Winchester, Friedrich Schleiermacher, and many others.

“Scholars generally agree on two points regarding Gregory of Nyssa’s (c. 335 – c. 395) eschatology: That he believed in universal reconciliation, and that he believed the salvation of all rational beings eventually will include Satan himself. Such beliefs, far from making Gregory a notorious figure, have largely gone unnoticed outside of academia.”1

The most famous early Christian theologian was Origen (c. 185 – c. 253). He writes:

"The end of the world and the consummation will come when every soul shall be visited with the penalties due for its sins. This time, when everyone shall pay what he owes, is known to God alone. We believe, however, that the goodness of God through Christ will restore his entire creation to one end, even his enemies being conquered and subdued."2

Some 20^th & 21^st centuries supporters of Universal Salvation

Karl Barth (hints at it), Hans Urs von Balthasar, Madeleine L'Engle, J.A.T. Robinson, John Hick, Jürgen Moltmann, Carlton Pearson, Robin Parry, Hilarion Alfeyev of Volokolamsk, Ilaria L.E. Ramelli, and David Bentley Hart.

What Does Scripture Say?

Scripture makes many references to a life after this one, and it isn't just heaven or hell. What the afterlife includes exactly is unclear from scripture, but Universalists believe it indicates that there is correction and learning in the afterlife. That those who are evil in this life will have a time of "purification" where they will slowly grow and evolve, until "God will be all in all" (1 Cor 15:28). This does not mean eternal torment or even necessarily temporary torment, but it does mean correction of some form.

The world (and Christians!) would do well to know that eternal damnation is not the only game in town. For two thousand years there have been Christian leaders advocating for a loving God who does not throw non-Christians into the eternal flames. A merciful God who does not condemn sinful people to endless torment. But rather a God of unity and light who desires the healing and wholeness of all creation. Humanity and the entire cosmos is part of this restoration.

“As a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.” – Ephesians 1:10

“Jesus, who must remain in heaven until the time of universal restoration that God announced long ago through his holy prophets.” – Acts 3:21

“For in [the Cosmic Christ] all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself to all things, whether on earth or in heaven.” – Colossians 1:19

And Christ is part of this restoration. It involves a waking up to the unity of all things and embracing the transcendent as part of our birthright.

As I wrote in the article Christ is Not Jesus’ Last Name, I elaborated on the meaning of “Christ.” “This is sometimes referred to as the Universal Christ or the Cosmic Christ. ‘Christ is a cosmic life principle in which all beings participate.’ One does not need to be a follower of Jesus to be created, loved, and part of the Christ.” Christ seeks the healing of all, regardless of your religion, or lack of religion. If you are a part of the creation, you are automatically precious to God.

In considering Universal Salvation, it may be odd to think that even the most horrible sinner, the most depraved human beings, might actually be redeemed. I don’t think it is a quick and easy process, but we know from those who’ve had NDEs that the Great Light of Love they experience is larger than any human failing. We all are souls. We all are emanations of the Divine. (See more on this at The Octopus Analogy of Reality). No one is worthless. Again, we must look at people not from a human perspective but from a soul perspective. You can see more on this here: (Sin and the Challenges of Not Recognizing our Unity.)

“Perhaps all the dragons in our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us act, just once, with beauty and courage. Perhaps everything that frightens us is, in its deepest essence, something helpless that wants our love.” ― Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet

No one is beyond the love of the Almighty. Universal Salvation, healing, and wholeness is the deepest desire of a God who loves all that is.

Blessings to you all, dear Readers, during all the holidays of the season!

Looking Ahead

In “Part I - Judgment” a few weeks ago, we reconsidered the notion of eternal punishment in hell by looking more deeply at Life Reviews.

Today in “Part 2 - Universal Salvation” we reconsidered the assumption that only some people will be saved by Christ, and instead reviewed the 2,000 year old Christian theology of Universal Salvation.

“Part 3 - Reincarnation” will be offered in the new year.

Announcements

I will be taking a few weeks off from writing, both for the holidays, some traveling, and some other commitments. I expect to return to Jesus and the Enchanted Cosmos in late January 2024.

I’m very excited to have been invited to speak on some Podcasts in the near future and will let you know where you can hear me as they become available.

Suggested Movie

If you are looking for a fabulous movie on the topic of Universal Salvation, check out “Come Sunday,” 2018 American drama film based on the excommunication of Rev. Carlton Pearson. It’s better than it sounds. It stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Martin Sheen, and Danny Glover. You can find it here: Come Sunday.

Great Near-Death Experience Quote

“God does not punish, He only loves. He has given us free will to grow in knowledge and find happiness. Every thought or action causes a reaction by which we must live with the consequences. As an example, if I choose evil over good I suffer the natural consequences which I may perceive as God punishing me.” – (Sandra Rogers, from her book “Lessons from the Light” about her Near-Death Experience)

https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1010&context=conversations

G.A. Butterworth, trans., On First Principles (Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge: 1973), 52.

Jesus and the Enchanted Cosmos