{"id":60566,"date":"2010-04-29T21:11:00","date_gmt":"2010-04-30T02:11:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/?p=60566"},"modified":"2023-04-29T21:14:24","modified_gmt":"2023-04-30T02:14:24","slug":"unitarian-universalists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/unitarian-universalists\/","title":{"rendered":"Unitarian \/ Universalists"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\tby Bob Lovelace\n

First, understand that Universalism as a religion is a belief that all people will be reconciled to God. The New Testament does not teach, nor does the Old Testament, that eventually all people will be reconciled to God. Paul said when Jesus is revealed with His mighty angels it will be “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day<\/em>” (II Thessalonians 1:7-10). John speaks of those who will be in hell: “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death<\/em>” (Revelation 21:7-8).<\/p>\n

Universalists Said There Was No Hell<\/h2>\n

From the Unitarian Universalists website, I found the following. In giving a definition they said that “Universalists said there was no hell. And all individuals are capable of learning what is good.” Going on it said “Unitarians believed, and still believe, that everyone has the capacity to learn the right and do what is right. Our tradition encourages us to understand and weigh the religious voices and visions of every place and time in light of our own experience.” I found that definition under their “Affirmation of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender People” section. They are very active in supporting legally recognized marriage between members of the same sex. The last paragraph in Mr. Knapp’s article criticizing us gives a practical definition of what they are about:<\/p>\n

“As a Unitarian\/Universalist, I rejoice that I am part of a religious tradition that does not deny the validity of the sexual orientation of gays and lesbians, nor dispute their need for loving relationships, but welcomes them into every aspect of religious life, including membership, leadership and the ministry.”
\nREV. RONALD KNAPP Visiting Minister
\nUnitarian\/Universalist Fellowship of Yuma”<\/blockquote>\n

Fellowshipping Pagans, Atheists, Humanists, Etc.<\/h2>\n

Actually what Mr. Knapp said isn’t the half of it folks! When you are welcomed to this caring and open-minded religion that encourages each to seek their own spiritual path it includes fellowship with Pagans, Atheists, Agnostics, Humanists, Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, and even some they call Christians. I found that in their “Beliefs Within Our Faith” section. They claim a free faith not bound by a statement of belief. Obviously, any Christian can see that includes the doctrine of Christ which a Christian must not go beyond (II John 9). No friends – no true Christian is a part of this faith!<\/p>\n

Do you get it? You don’t have to believe in God to be one of them! You can be an Atheist! To fellowship Atheists is to fellowship fools (Psalms 14:1).<\/p>\n

One Should Not Live Unto Himself<\/h2>\n

“And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again<\/em>” (II Corinthians 5:15).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Their appeal is you can believe whatever “you” desire to believe. They aren’t intent on following what the Apostles gave by inspiration. They have a faith “made for the people” rather than the people changing to fit God’s pattern and thus please God, not themselves!<\/p>\n

“But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts<\/em>” (I Thessalonians 2:4).<\/p>\n

“If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord<\/em>” (I Corinthains 14:37).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Everywhere in the Bible, their philosophy is condemned. The Prophets taught along the same lines and said:<\/p>\n

“I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts<\/em>” (Isaiah 65:2).<\/p>\n

“O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps<\/em>” (Jeremiah 10:23).<\/p>\n

“I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word<\/em>” (Psalms 119:101).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Their people are not united on God’s Word but more so it appears on social things and politics. Compare the following:<\/p>\n

“Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel<\/em>” (Philippians 1:27).<\/p>\n

“Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus<\/em>” (II Timothy 1:13).<\/p>\n

“I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth<\/em>” (John 17:14-17).<\/p>\n

“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me<\/em>” (John 17:20-21).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

There is no real spiritual benefit in their kind of “faith” – it allows members to fulfill their own carnal desires!<\/p>\n

“Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, … Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. … Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them<\/em>” (Romans 1:22, 25-27, 32).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Bob Lovelace First, understand that Universalism as a religion is a belief that all people will be reconciled to God. The New Testament does not teach, nor does the Old Testament, that eventually all people will be reconciled to God. Paul said when Jesus is revealed with His mighty angels it will be “In…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[630,1310],"class_list":["post-60566","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-unitarians","tag-universalists"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":85369,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/reconciled\/","url_meta":{"origin":60566,"position":0},"title":"Reconciled","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 6, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Doy Moyer When we are outside of Christ, we can be described in various ways, like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36), lost (Luke 19:10), or without God (Ephesians 2:13). Descriptors like these help us see our condition apart from Jesus. Understanding where we are without Him is vital\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":68186,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/jesus-our-mediator-and-intercessor\/","url_meta":{"origin":60566,"position":1},"title":"Jesus, Our Mediator and Intercessor","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 23, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"by Doy Moyer When we consider what Jesus does for us as His people, two terms are used to help us understand why it is so important to trust Him. Scripture teaches that Jesus is both our Mediator and our Intercessor. Let's consider these terms. 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