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

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

On Monday, I began a 3-part series with Scot McKnight author of both the book and blog Jesus Creed, about something Scot calls the “biggest challenge facing evangelicals.” I think it’s fair to say evangelicals are facing many challenges, but the rising popularity of Christian universalism is a big one.

As I’ve listened to Scot and picked his brain on this issue and wrestled with friends over the idea of Christian universalism, I’m still trying to put my finger on what–at a real heart level–bugs me so much about it.

I agree with Scot that Christian universalism erodes any sense of urgency when it comes to sharing one’s faith. I also think it raises the “why bother” issue on many things Christ called us to do as we follow Him. Why bother getting involved? Why bother laying down one’s life? Why bother sacrificing? If God is going to save everyone in the end, then why not just live more for one’s self and perform a few good works on the side when it’s convenient, easy, or doesn’t cost us anything?

I also think Christian universalism feels a lot like pluralism with a rubber Jesus stamp. The argument being that as long as Christ is the one that redeems than it doesn’t really matter what you believe.

Christian universalism seems to require a lot of back flips, double twists, and sideway turns to get around a laundry list of scriptures–especially the teachings of Jesus that say things like, “But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:14), Matthew 22:1-14, Luke 13:22-28.

Yet there’s still something more that’s bugging me that I’m struggling to put into words. What’s your response to the popularity of Christian universalism? How do you respond?

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

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

 

 

66 Comments

  1. Dan
    Dan on May 26, 2010 at 11:17 am

    Margaret,

    I guess the first question is what is really meant by “Christian Universalism”? I ask because Barth’s ideas are different from Pannenberg’s, which are different than Vatican II (which is very similar to C.S. Lewis’ understanding) which are all dramatically different from John Hick’s or Mark Heim view, yet all could be classified as universalism. Yet in this list, only Heim and Hick are truly pluralistic, and Hick’s is in an ironically “I’m pluralistic, but you have to agree with me otherwise you’re wrong” sort of way.

    Keep in mind there seems to be two distinct strands within scripture, some which you have quoted point to the exclusivity of the Gospel. But others (e.g. 1 Cor 15:22, Rom 5:18) have a more universal thrust. Now if you believe that the end goal of Christianity is heaven, then Christian Universalism might be demotivating to you. But, what if there’s more? What if we are supposed to be bring the kingdom of God to life in this world in some pale, but nonetheless authentic way? Than we are still motivated to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and invite others to join in our journey. The question is, can this be understood in such a way where our actions have real eternal effects?

  2. Teri VL
    Teri VL on May 26, 2010 at 12:08 pm

    I do what I do because I love:
    For me, I do what I do because I love Jesus. Not because it’s going to earn me a special place in heaven. Not because I’m going to avoid Hell. I do what I do because I have love for Him. And that’s what we do when we love. I’ve written on this topic before. And I’m wrestling with it too. For me, exclusivity bothers me on a heart level. This idea that you have to believe a narrow interpretation of scripture to be ‘right’ and therefore saved bothers me at a viceral level.

    I am sure God will judge all of us. And our eternal fate is in His hands. I have no doubt about that. But my EXPERIENCE of Christ through personal relationship, prayer, study, and witnessing his relationship with others is that He is way more loving and accepting than we are.

    Our egos get in the way. Human beings want to be right. We want to count ourselves as ‘chosen’ or ‘elect’. It’s gratifying to think you’re ‘in’ and others are ‘out’. But that’s not the way I see Christ work, past and present. I think he continually turns the Law on its head, especially when we try to justify our own salvation by it.

    When in doubt, I say, err on the side of compassion. I think Christ used some scripture to ‘trump’ other scripture, particularly when Pharisees were trying to be persnickety. And I see this fear of universalism and/or pluralism as that same kind of persnickety trapping.

    That’s just my opinion. I say this knowing I could be fully wrong. But in my heart and gut, this is what I feel lead witness.

    Blessings,
    Teri

  3. Dan
    Dan on May 26, 2010 at 11:24 pm

    You are on to a very, very important issue here. From working with young adults for many years this is one of the two key theological issues that is constant in the culture and conversations. I believe we are unintentionally teaching a subtle form of universalism by not focusing on what you and Scot are raising here. Especially as we don’t address this in our churches…. it is big issue and thank you for raising it up here.

  4. Teri VL
    Teri VL on May 29, 2010 at 9:12 am

    Our Church did the Living the Questions Series. Yvette Flunder was included in different parts of the series. This is a clip from the series that moved me:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXtE7zmN5MM

    It’s not that we can’t hold strong to our call & witness. And if that is to see the judgement of God, that’s OK. I guess I hear that our seeing God as having the final judgment doesn’t equal us being judgemental. However, as I see it used in the church-at-large, that vision of God’s juegment (in my opinion) tends to be used to make lines in the sand of who’s in and out. That bothers me at a heart level.

    Here’s anohter way of looking at it, from Yvette. I respect her viewpoint that we don’t have to KNOW all the answers–and there is peace in that, too. Sometimes just taking a step back and loving people, God’s lambs, is more valuable than deciding what their sin is. Just my opinion. There are no easy answers.

  5. Nathanael
    Nathanael on November 27, 2010 at 5:53 am

    My response to the popularity of Christian universalism is to rejoice. I am a convinced Christian universalist, and it has brought me more joy than I can put into words. But I know how hard it is for an evangelical to even consider it as a possibility; all my life I thought that the traditional doctrine of endless damnation was a clear teaching of scripture, and if I questioned it I was in danger of being led astray by false doctrine (and possibly ending up in hell myself!)

    But when I began to seriously consider the message of Christian universalism–that the sacrifice of Christ on the cross actually saved the entire human race–I found that the scriptural evidence for it was actually quite strong, while the evidence for endless punishment was much weaker than I had previously thought. The more I thought and prayed about it, the more sense it made. If love is the essence of God’s nature, as the scriptures declare, then all of his judgments must be redemptive in nature–including the judgment that comes after death.

    Christian universalism, properly understood, does not erode morality or evangelism. Quite the opposite; it provides the greatest motivation for both–love. If you love someone, you don’t want them to suffer; and living in bondage to sin, being separated from the life of God in Christ, is a terrible suffering, whether in this life or the next. The positive motivation of being filled with the love of God is more powerful than the negative motivation of fear. I think the traditional doctrine actually discourages evangelism, because many Christians instinctively feel the contradiction in preaching a God of love who is either unable or unwilling to save the majority of his creatures. And many unbelievers reject Christianity for exactly this reason.

    I don’t know what it is about Christian universalism that bugs you, Margaret, but I would encourage you to keep thinking and praying and searching the scriptures. You might be surprised at what you find.

  6. Ken
    Ken on April 24, 2011 at 1:50 am

    CU is an extremely appealing concept, but any wise Christian knows that appeal does not indicate what is right. I’m a CU, not from misguided sentimentalist appeal, but because of the multitude of convincing philosophical and scriptural arguments in support of that belief.
    I’m not trying to convert you to CU, that’s uneeded as you’re already a Sibling in Christ, but I would urge you to research the defenses of CU from common, and I feel often misguided and misunderstanding, accusations from those who hold mainstream soteriological positions (such as the “lack of urgency” or scriptural incompatibility); I admit, I’m getting rather fed up with them, especially after the incredible outpour or hateful, book-burning rhetoric from Calvinists in response to Rob Bell’s recent CU-curious book.

  7. James May
    James May on October 3, 2024 at 3:06 pm

    Thank you for this thread – I am moving towards universalism, and as some have said I find scriptural support and find it motivating to bring the love of Christ to the world. Jonah seems to be an object lesson in how God’s mercy is far wider than we like to believe. Themes of humans being enslaved to powers which the gospel frees us from fits my experience, and explains obvious injustices about where and when you were born, who your parents were, your race and social class all of which may affect the possibility to either hear or respond to the gospel. Historical contingencies, including horrors suggest that God has a large and patient view for all of humanity, and is working to a final goal, which carries us along, but may or may not individually mean we experience any chance to respond to the gospel or experience blessings common to much of humanity. Christ is working to destroy powers that run through time and affect humans over the ages.

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