Quote:
Originally Posted by Viclyn
So, I'm in a new church and praying to see how God can use me. My prayer is that I want to minister to people and I want God to show me where He wants me to do this.
I wasn't singing this week, so I sat down and introduced myself to two women sitting on either side of me.
One began to cry during the worship and I made a point to try to talk to her after--not a divine appointment however, and she walked out after the service before I could strike up a conversation.
The woman sitting on the other side was much more open and God had set this appointment. In a very short amount of time I found out that she is a universalist and has been church shopping (interesting) but doesn't like how the different churches literally interpret the Bible. She decided to come to this particular church because her son likes the youth group and because she likes the music. She has read a book called "Inclusive Christianity" and said she really liked it.
I was wondering if anyone knows of other books that might counter such universalists arguments that I can recommend.
I offered to go to lunch with her next week if she wanted. I come from a background where I once searched out the question "are there many paths to God," so I know what my experience led me to believe and can use that experience, but I thought, since she is seeking info through books, that it might be helpful to have a good reading list. I know of the McDowell books and the Lee Strobel books as well. Are there any books any of you encountered that were compassionate to the soft hearts of those who want to believe that people aren't going to hell, but yet lays out the supremacy of Christ?
Thanks for the help!
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The book of John.
It is a straight, no nonsense accounting of God's plan. The road that Christians travel is narrow and some people simply cannot bear to hear the truth. Like some of Christ's disciples, they cannot handle the truth that is presented to them in the Word. In
John 6:60-68, Jesus just finishes up telling the Pharisees and his disciples that He is the Bread of Life and that all the eat of His flesh and drink of His blood will have eternal life. Many of His disciples found His words too difficult to hear and abandoned His teachings. Only the twelve that would later become His Apostles remained. The path to salvation is not one that we can simply make up things to make it all soft and cuddly.
Jesus has clearly stated that no one can get to the Father but through Him. We know that Christ died for our sins and that all we have to do to receive that gift is to believe in Him.
The universalist believes that this step is unnecessary. Every one is 'of God' so we will all meet up again in heaven and God will sort us out. If this is the case then Christ's sacrifice is also not needed and God would need another criteria to base our salvation on. What would that be? They claim to be Christian, but they cannot be because they clearly do not believe the Word of God.
I would study the book of John a chapter at a time. There is a lot of stuff in there that is awesome to take in. It is my favorite book. Please feel free to IM or post any questions you may have. I am open to an on-line Bible study
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Blessing,
Don