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This page is be devoted to links of what I consider worthy
Why Non Hatred Non Discrimination
Why I am excited to be part of the Christian Universalist Association (CUA)
Why I am excited to be part of the Christian Universalist Association (CUA)
A video I created for the Christian Universalist Association https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bq3_I0e-RiI
Why I am excited to be part of the Christian Universalist Association (CUA)
Why I am excited to be part of the Christian Universalist Association (CUA)
Why I am excited to be part of the Christian Universalist Association (CUA)
Link to a video I made:
My Favorite New Testament Translation
This book articulates well key faith fundamentals I failed to preach.
This book articulates well key faith fundamentals I failed to preach.
Bentley Hart, a great scholar, provides as close to an unbiased understanding of the Greek a I have read. Particularly insightful are his footnotes, prelude, and end notes, He does avoids the pitfall of many translations which have been influenced by poor translations of the Latin, and denominations/theological biases.
This book articulates well key faith fundamentals I failed to preach.
This book articulates well key faith fundamentals I failed to preach.
This book articulates well key faith fundamentals I failed to preach.
Bently Hart articulates with authority something I think mostp eople believe about God, namely God is a God of grace and will not condemn people to eternal torment..
Response to CUA
Response to Proposed CUA Statement of Faith
The CUA Board is considering revising the current Statement of Faith (seehttps://christianuniversalist.org/beliefs/
This is current vs proposed I received, section by Section:
God
We believe in God, who is Love, Light, Truth, and Spirit, the Creator of the universe, whom we are called to seek, know, and love; and whose nature was revealed to the world in the person and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. new:
God
We believe in a loving and compassionate God, who created the universe, and reaches out to us through the teachings of Jesus Christ. Through Jesus, we see God's nature of love, mercy, forgiveness, and justice. As we seek to know and love God, we can trust in the absolute truth, benevolent purpose, and meaningful existence that God provides, and be transformed by God's love.
Golden Rule
We believe that the universal commandment is to love and serve one another as we love ourselves. new:
The Golden Rule
The teachings of Jesus emphasize the importance of loving and serving one another as we love ourselves, and this principle can be found in many other religions and philosophies. By treating others the way we would wish to be treated we extend love, compassion, and forgiveness to all people, and live a life of meaning and purpose.
Divine Justice and Life After Death
We believe in the law of justice by which actions generate consequences, whether to be manifested in this life or the life to come, and that love, grace and forgiveness ultimately overcome the law of justice. new:
Divine Justice
Because God is both loving and just, we can have confidence that God will provide justice for all; and that the goal of such justice is the restoration of all people to the kingdom of God, not everlasting punishment.
Universal Salvation
We believe in the full and final triumph of the grace of God over the powers of sin and death: That the mercy and forgiveness of God are victorious, that this victory of redemption is revealed in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, and that, therefore, no human being will be condemned or allowed to suffer pain and separation forever. new:
Universal Salvation
We believe in the full and final triumph of God's mercy and forgiveness over the powers of sin and death. No human being will be condemned to eternal torment or separation from God.
Human Nature and Destiny
We believe every person is the divine offspring of God, created in the image of the Heavenly Parent of all, and that every person is destined to be raised up from imperfection to maturity according to the pattern of the archetypal Christ, the Son of God, the Perfect Human in whose image all humanity shall be transformed. new:
Human Nature and Destiny
We believe every person is created in the image of God, whose love and grace are offered to all. Every person will eventually choose to accept reconciliation with God, through faith in Jesus Christ, into whose image all humanity shall be transformed.
The Mystery of Faith
We believe in miracles, such as the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which transcend materialistic views of reality. new
The Mystery of Faith
We believe in the reality and meaningfulness of the spiritual world and reject a purely materialistic view of the cosmos. We recognize the validity of both scientific investigation and spiritual experiences as methods of discovering truth. new
Divine Revelation and the Pursuit of Truth
We believe that God’s Holy Spirit has inspired numerous prophets, saints, philosophers, and mystics throughout history, in a variety of cultures and traditions; and that by reading the Bible– the authoritative textual basis of our faith– and other great texts of spiritual and moral wisdom with a discerning mind, and by meditating to connect to the Spirit within, we may all gain a greater understanding of truth which should be applied for the betterment of ourselves and our world. n ew
Divine Revelation and the Pursuit of Truth
We believe that God's Holy Spirit has inspired many great thinkers and holy figures; and that through studying the Bible—the authoritative textual basis of our faith—and other spiritual texts, as well as through prayer and meditation, we can gain a deeper understanding of truth, and apply it to better ourselves and the world.
Response from Dr Spielman
Thank you for allowing response to proposed revision of the CUA Statement of Faith.
Over all I find it to be a refreshing improvement. When I helped the CUA update its Constitution and By-Laws, it was not the right time to refine this statement. This appears to be that time.
Over all I find the proposed revision a tremendous forward moving statement. I particularly appreciate that it appears to be more Christo Centric – Jesus is more prominent. After all we are CHRISTIAN Universalists.
I offer the following recommendations as a minister with an extremely broad and in-depth theological engagement, experiences, and training.
I would encourage word smithing and adjustment of perspective in two particular areas.
Divine Justice: The phrase “kingdom of God” is used. A better phrase might be “gracious reign of God”.
* “Kingdom” language is inherently ancient without frame of reference in non-kingdom cultures. Few if any members or interested parties in the CUA have concretely had/have experience with kingdom culture as was common in Newer Testament Kingdom is times. Kingdom language is simply is out of date and fails to express the richness of God’s reign.
* Even in Jesus’ ministry he constantly had to challenge the disciple’s ideas of what this kingdomwas. Incorrect understandings of what Jesus meant by kingdom was common and continues to be a problem.
* Let me be clear, I personally embrace “kingdom” language, however when I talk with people curious about Jesus and God’s grace, kingdom language is not relatable and is confusing.
* Unfortunately, for many, “kingdom” language evokes abusive images of dominance and control. Yes I freely want God to dominate me and to help me embody God’s grace, yet
*. others, especially those who have been dominated over and abused, such language fails to evoke good intention.
*. A better phrase would be “gracious reign of God”.
B. Human Nature and Destiny:
a. Is it even necessary for the CUA to have a statement regarding Human Nature? Some theologians would argue against such. It is enough to say God’s gracious love embraces all people.
b. The phrase “Every person will eventually choose to accept...” is extremely problematic, prejudicial and ought not be used!!!
c. I recently discovered that this terminology has been modified for obvious reasons. Please hear me out on my preliminary reasons for altering this language as my reasoning applies to the revised language: “Every person will eventually be reconciled with God, through faith in Jesus Christ, into whose image all humanity shall be transformed.” Because:
i. It is beyond anyone’s capacity to figure out how God will accomplish God’s purposes!
1. To assert we can know with certainty (i.e. in a statement of faith) is terribly arrogant and expresses excessive hubris.
2. You know this about love: “for now we see but dimly, but then (emphasis added) we shall see face to face.
ii. I would suggest the proposed cited phrases moves from a statement of faith into the mechanics of how God works gracious and salvific matters out.
1. While theologians will discuss such mechanical matters, and put forth statements,
2. it is NOT for a CUA Statement of Faith to give a blue print of God’s operating procedures.
iii. Such a mechanical statement shift the focus from God’s gracious love, to human action.
iv. I dare say, Christian Universalists are no different than other expressions of Christianity. We agree on core issues, i.e. no eternal damnation,
v. however there are differences of opinion on what will happen after death and how God will resolve stuff.
vi. The CUA cannot comprehend the wonders and mysteries of God’s justice, love and grace.
d. The following suggestions are no longer relevant: {The CUA ought not be in the business of favoring a particular theological viewpoint.
i. The concept that humans “will choose” sounds and appears very Calvinistic.
ii. While many CUA folk may lean toward this perspective, not all of us embrace such.
1. My primary theological training was at a seminary that had a strong emphasis toward such proclamation.
2. However, with further exposure to other Christian perspectives, I have rejected this perspective
3. This is a matter to discuss in forums other than in a Statement of Faith of the CUA which has a very broad umbrella beyond such a faith assertion.}
C. Again, how God will “make all things new” Is beyond our certainties. Please, please, avoid insertring mechanical thoughts in our State of Faith!
D. I personally believe that God will save all “through” Jesus Christ, yet what is even more certain and fundamental is:
a. God’s love and gracious is such that God desires all creation to be reconciled to God as seen in the work of Jesus as Christ, an/or
b. God’s love, justice, and grace is such that God’s incarnation and resurrection of Jesus proclaims the incomprehensible salvific breadth and depth of God’s love.