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| Karl Barth, family, and mistress Charlotte Kirschbaum. Barth and Kirschbaum were reds. |
One definition among many, since Enthusiasts wobble all over the map:
For example, in 1919 the "Universalist Leader", the major weekly magazine of the denomination, printed the "Essential Principles of the Universalist Faith" on the cover of each issue. After stating the beliefs in Jesus Christ, the Bible, "the certainty of just retribution for sin", and a belief that everyone goes to heaven it states: "Neither this nor any other precise form of words is required as a condition of fellowship." In other words you don't really need to believe in our dogma to join us. Even in the 19th century some Universalists felt that belief in the Winchester Profession was optional.
The religious survey printed in a book called "What Americans Believe" indicates that 8% of people who have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ agreed with the option: "When you die, you will go to Heaven because God loves all people and will not let them perish." These people are universalists (but most have no idea what the word means).
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What Is Christian Universalism: The basic principle of "Christian Universalism" was well stated by Thomas Whittmore in his book "Plain Guide to Universalism" written in 1840, where he wrote,
"The glory of God, and of His Son Jesus Christ, as manifested in the final holiness and happiness of all men, is the central sun of Universalism." He also stated that "all persons, who truly believe in the eventual salvation of all mankind by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, are Universalists."
Thomas J. Sawyer: " Universalism," in its simple and proper theological sense, is the doctrine of universal salvation; or in other words, of the final holiness and happiness of all humans, to be effected by the grace of God, through the ministry of his Son, Jesus Christ.
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Answers.com
Universalism
- Theology. The doctrine of universal salvation.
- Unitarian Universalism.
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GJ -
Karl Barth embraced "the restoration of all things" when he was not embracing Charlotte Kirschbaum. That phrase is used to justify universal salvation and perhaps a time of punishment for sins.
Barth is the best example of a team that could write voluminously without believing in much at all. As Robert Preus said, "All you have to do is read Barth's introduction." Luther said the Enthusiasts reject the Word but fill the world with their own words. The Word of God is not able or sufficient, but their words are, so we should discard God's Word for theirs. That is ridiculous.
Thus Luther described the UOJ Enthusiasts well. They cannot win with the Scriptures, Confessions, or the history of doctrine, so they hurl insults and hide the evidence.
Jack Kilcrease wants to lecture everyone on his opinion, on multiple blogs. He has his own, so he can use that as his personal sandbox.
The UOJ Stormtroopers deny their Universalism. Their dogmatism would keep them out of the UUA - which does have standards. However, the basic parallel is valid. When DP Buchholz says "everyone is saved, period, end of story," he is embracing the central tenet of Universalism.
Going through some links will show that Universalism and Unitarianism are non-dogmatic. They are free-thinkers to the max. That also describes UOJ. Once world absolution is proclaimed, sound doctrine does not matter and the Law is obliterated.
When Bob Schumann took over St. Paul, German Village (Columbus), he was famous for two passions - Church Growth and Antinominism. Some said, apologetically, "He is a Jungkuntz." Schumann denied Creation and said the Ten Commandments were obsolete. Such sentiments were the reasons why St. Paul left the American Lutheran Church under Pastor Lange. So it only took one pastorate (Roehl's) for the congregation to sink back into mainline Protestantism.
UOJ is the greatest force for ecumenism since clergy adultery. With UOJ no confession of faith needs to divide one group from another. WELS leaders can secretly rejoice in their unity with ELCA, because both believe that God has forgiven the entire world. Missouri can chime in with "Me too! Walther lived it and taught it, even though he was a divisive autocrat."
The Church of Rome teaches that every single denomination is a part of Roman Catholicism, whether they comprehend that truth or not. They are all defective parts, but they remain subordinate units of the One, True, Visible Church. Since Rome cannot provide true doctrinal unity, they only demand organizational unity. ELCA pastors and LCMS ministers are clamoring for a ride on the Whore of Babylon.
One WELS professor was near death in the hospital, which was Roman Catholic, in Milwaukee. He opened his eyes and saw nuns. He said, "The Scriptures testify that the pope is the very Antichrist."
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There is a new comment to Justification Central to Lutheran Hymnody.
Comment Link: http://steadfastlutherans.org/?p=4190&cpage=3#comment-281793
Author: John Standley
Comment:
A quick amendment to my last comment (I hope no one has responded to my first one yet):
So because we, firstly and subjectively, disobeyed God, He objectively declared all those who don't come to faith will die in the sin their first parents wrought.
He objectively sent his son to live perfectly for us so that we MIGHT be subjectively forgiven and therefore receive the status of "saint" and have salvation.
By him objectively (and I guess subjectively too, being that he is both God and man) sending his Son into the world doesn't mean that automatically it overturns his original "objective condemnation."
He clearly says in Scripture he only overturns his objective condemnation if they believe His Son died on account of their specific sins (original and willful sins).
He does not say that before faith, His Son's sacrifice he gives them forgiveness of sins and eternal life. To say that forgiveness of sins and salvation are exclusive is ridiculous. I don't have my BoC on me but I recently read Luther or another Concordist who said that if we speak of receiving the forgiveness of sins we therefore have to be receiving salvation with it. So if UOJ says we receive the forgiveness of sins, being holy and a saint, prior to faith, then we therefore are saved prior to faith (universalism).
Maybe the terms of UOJ aren't what they're cracked up to be. Maybe they're creating more confusion than what was intended. That is obvious, at least, in the Wisconsin Synod.
Again, my opinion is open to criticism from both parties.
