A Slice in Time

“God’s ‘strategy’ is to show that all stand condemned, that all have sinned and need the gospel, that all deserve death, that some are hardened that others might be included so that eventually all may be saved, and that God has ‘imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all’ (Romans 11: 32).”

Universal Salvation? The Current Debate, Edited by Parry & Partridge, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2003, “A Wideness in God’s Mercy: Universalism in the Bible”, Thomas Johnson, p. 87.

Hell is the ignorance of, the misunderstanding of, or the denial of, who or what God is. In the midst of this darkness, God, the instigator, sends rays of light to awaken the momentary few so that salvation will eventually find all. If this be truth, God’s redemption plan must, in some way, extend beyond death. That is if God is love and He is whom the Bible says He is. And this is the only God that can be believed. gg

America?

Letter to the Editor

Daily Press

Victorville, Ca

Re: “It’s not envy, it’s anger”, Rick Benefield, Daily Press, May 20.

Thank you for your reasoned response to the opinion of Steve Williams (“On Ignorance”, May 12). Your assessment of the mood of our citizenry is absolutely correct, we are angry. We are angry because the America out there ahead of us is not the America that will be good for our children. Rush Limbaugh is no more the problem than is Barrack Obama. Mr. Limbaugh, one of many media stars, does not represent the filthy rich and works very hard in the entertainment niche he has created. He has earned his millions as do sport and pop culture stars who earn millions for what some would consider much less effort. Our President, as does the left, plays the class warfare card to score political points but the criticism and taxing of the rich will not solve our national problem. The defense of either the rich or the poor is all camouflage.

So what is the national problem? One opinion rarely cited is that America has a spiritual problem. Selfishness rules our land, the Almighty Dollar is our God. Self interest will be forever with us but there must be an overriding national interest with a consideration of the interest of others, at times, above our own interest. May I suggest that this has been the historical American way even though we have often struggled at this point. Today is a new day, there is no more struggle, it is culturally O. K. to demand our own way and get what we want regardless of the cost to others. Today, America has few facts that engender national pride, much less a positive future.

Why can’t we be America?

G.Goslaw

Victorville, Ca.

Context

“Writers on the biblical message of salvation often treat the relevant passages without due consideration of their historical, cultural, and human context. What the Bible says and what it teaches are not the same thing. Only the overall teaching of the Bible (on a particular issue) can be considered authoritative for Christian faith, not the apparent teaching of any specific passage. Individual passages must be placed in the context of the broader teaching of the Scripture as a whole. It may also be the case that the Bible teaches more than one thing or has more than one emphasis, and that these teachings might be in tension with each other.

Further, no one does presuppositionless exegesis of Scripture, or interpretation without some pre-understanding or theological commitments. There are always larger theological issues to be taken into account before one can pronounce that 'this is the teaching of the Bible' on a given subject. We as interpreters are changed by our readings of the Bible. Our theology is continually being revised, modified, and deepened as we submit ourselves to God’s word. It is not helpful, therefore to come to the study of “universalism” with our minds made up, as is often the case.”

Universal Salvation? The Current Debate, edited by Parry and Partridge, William Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids Michigan, 2004. “A Wideness in God’s Mercy: Universalism in the Bible”, Thomas Johnson, p.78.

The Chrtistian Church has always been guilty of exemplifying and teaching a lazy exegesis contrary to the above statement. The best example is Pastor Rick Warren's book, "Purpose Driven Life", and it's popularity with the flock. gg

Divine Schizophrenic

"People sometimes say, as if it were a weighty consideration, that God is not only loving, but also holy; he is not only merciful, but also just. What is the point of such a remark? Suppose I should say that God is not only loving , but also wise. This second remark, like the first, is no doubt true, and might even have a real point in an appropriate context. But neither remark justifies the idea that God sometimes acts in unloving ways. For if God is love, as 1 John 4 : 8 and 4 : 16 declare, and it is therefore his very nature to love, then it is logically impossible that he should fail to love someone or should act in unloving way towards anyone. It is as impossible for God to act contrary to someone’s ultimate good, in other words, as it is for him to believe a false proposition or to act unjustly."

Universal Salvation? The Current Debate, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, Michigan, edited by Parry and Partridge, 2004. “A Pauline Interpretation of Divine Judgment”, Thomas Talbott, p.32.