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The Biggest Challenge Facing Evangelicals: An Interview with Scot McKnight Part II

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The Biggest Challenge Facing Evangelicals: An Interview with Scot McKnight Part II

Yesterday, I began a three-part series talking with Scot McKnight (check out his popular blog, Jesus Creed, on Beliefnet) about what he sees as the greatest challenge facing evangelicals—Christian universalism. This is the second part of the series:

Margaret: Why do you consider this the biggest challenge facing evangelicals?

Scot: Christian universalist believe that God will save all so evangelism is no longer necessary and is often considered a form of imperialism or colonialism or at least a form of believing that Christianity is the best or only way.

Christian universalism gradually erodes all significance and urgency for evangelism—in a robust sense that there is a final destiny determined by a response to Christ. It also erodes confidence in the belief in salvation or redemption in Christ. Christianity could become for many little more than a country club gathering that ultimately doesn’t have to do with an eternal destiny. But this does not mean that “eternal destiny” is the only thing that matters; the Bible lays heavy emphasis on the here and now.

Margaret: I understand that the Christian universalism—the idea that everyone will be saved undermines evangelism, but how else does Christian universalism affect one’s faith?

Scot: It also erodes moral responsibility on the part of Christians. If you’re confident that no matter what you do everyone will be saved it doesn’t take long to think it doesn’t matter what I do. But the warning threat can lead people to a more convicted moral life.

Margaret: What are some tell tale signs Christian universalism is slipping in?

Scot: I see it in fuzzy lines between religions, soft convictions about the necessity of faith in Christ, unwillingness to draw some lines that Jesus drew, embarrassment of final judgment, and some kind of nervousness of talking about hell.

Margaret: What is the best way to respond?

Scot: The first thing is that you have gauge your relationship wherever you’re seeing it. If I see it on the Internet, I kind of expect it. If I see it  in someone I know, I may write a letter or watch what they’re doing more closely before I speak up. If I see it a sermon, small group, or Sunday school, then I may raise questions in an appropriate way. If it’s the pastor, I would schedule a meeting or write a letter or send an email.

Click here to read the first installment of Scot’s interview.

Click here to read the third installment of Scot’s interview.

77 Comments

  1. Pastor Patrick
    Pastor Patrick on May 25, 2010 at 10:35 am

    Really enjoying this talk… It is putting words to things we see happening and helping to bring clarity to the importance of knowing Christ and basing every thought and believe on the Scripture. Someone once said that ‘all Scripture is God-breathed’ 🙂

  2. Randy
    Randy on May 25, 2010 at 3:07 pm

    I disagree completely. Christian Universalism in no way undermines evangelism. Most Christian Universalists still believe in sharing Christ. The difference is we share the Good News of Christ’s grace, not a threat of eternal torture. We would teach that there is punishment for not accepting Christ, just not eternal punishment. We would teach that like a parent here on earth, when we punish our children, it is to discipline and change behavior, and it would never go on forever. Moral behavior can be changed through loving a forgiving God and our Savior, it shouldn’t have to come through the threat of eternal damnation.

  3. Margaret
    Margaret on May 25, 2010 at 3:10 pm

    Randy,

    May I just gently ask–what do you do with all the scriptures related to hell in the Bible? Why did Jesus say that the way is narrow? How do you deal with God as judge?

    Just curious.

    Blessings, Margaret

  4. Teri VL
    Teri VL on May 25, 2010 at 5:23 pm

    I am a Christian, but I am a humble Christian. I don’t think it’s my job to pass judgment. God will do that. My heart knows that God has greater compassion than we could imagine. I believe that God has greater compassion than we are capable of having. As humans, we want to be better than, one up, part of the ‘chosen’. Each faith tradition claims that. I witness my faith, I hold strong in my faith, I share my faith, but I do not declare what God will do to others. And I pray he has compassion and teaches with love. Is that Universalism?? I don’t think so. I think it’s humility and leaving God’s job to God. My job is to walk the best walk I can and to share that as openly as I can. I try to live that each day. I have trouble with the ideology that says we need to preach exclusivism and judgementalism as our own kind of evanglalism. In my mind, evanglalism is sharing God’s amazing and compassionate love, the Good News that Christ went to his death to show that love for us and love for God.

  5. Pastor Patrick
    Pastor Patrick on May 25, 2010 at 7:41 pm

    Dr. Tim Keller once said that you can only believe God is loving and gracious to the extent that you believe He is holy and just. God is an extravagantly loving God who gave everything for us to be in relationship with Him, that He alone will stand as judge over mankind, and it is my responsibility to share the great news of the work of the cross.

    But if I do not believe that God is just and holy and that there is a ‘hell’ or separation from God, then why do I need a saving God in the first place. There is nothing I need saving from. Dr. Keller calls this the ‘pendulum of praise’.

    God is so just and holy that He knew that we could never measure up to the life required of us, so He did what any loving, gracious Father would do. He did not change the rules, instead, He followed them for us. Now He invites us to live through the finished work that He did and we are able to be with Him in eternity.

    My sin separated me from Him, His resurrection bridges the gap. It is not judgement, but rather it is mercy. Thoughts?

  6. Margaret
    Margaret on May 25, 2010 at 8:17 pm

    Patrick,

    I think that makes a lot of sense. It’s been interesting both in these comments–and the simultaneous discussion on facebook–that people seem to equate recognizing that the Bible says there is a hell or that people have a choice–and some of those choices have serious consequences as being “judgmental”. Of course, we’re not the judge, but to deny that God is the judge and that ramifications exist. Well, that seems to chop out pages of the Bible. There are so many pages filled with his love and grace and forgiveness, and I cling to those, but there are also others that challenge, warn, call, command.

    That’s one reason I think Keller’s perspective is so healthy. It’s not an either/or as much as a both/and that we are meant to walk in humility and grace and patience with ourselves and others.

    If sin separates us from God and resurrection bridges the gap, then we should be compelled to share that mercy and grace with others. We should be like people who have stumbled upon a treasure that is too great to keep for themselves.

    Best, m.

  7. Pastor Patrick
    Pastor Patrick on May 26, 2010 at 7:10 am

    Agreed and very well put. Much better than I could’ve stated. Thank you for your honesty and willingness to tackle difficult issues.

  8. Randy
    Randy on May 26, 2010 at 2:39 pm

    Hi Margaret,

    Your questions are reasonable, but to long to cover here. May I suggest going to http://www.auburn.edu/~allenkc/univart.html and you should find some of your questions answered there. Also the Christianuniversalist.org can be helpful.
    God blessing for you as well.

    Randy

  9. Pastor Patrick
    Pastor Patrick on May 27, 2010 at 7:37 am

    Randy,

    Thank you for the web links to find more information. Appreciate it.

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