Another common objection to Universal Reconciliation is the ASSUMPTION that the message of UR will diminish one’s motivation to share the Gospel and give one’s life as an evangelist or missionary. There are several problems with this assumption.
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To start off with this objection to UR is a common Logical Fallacy; it is an “Irrelevant Appeal to Consequence”. In other words, whether UR actually does diminish one’s motivation for evangelism or not is “irrelevant” to whether or not it is true! Something being true or not is not dependant upon the consequence, whether that consequence is good or bad.
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Most Christians are not actively sharing the traditional “gospel” anyhow! In fact, according to survey’s I’ve seen and personal interviews I’ve done less than 10% of Christians have in the last year shared the “gospel” with someone whom they either know is an unbeliever or do not know if they believe. And why do many Christians not share the “gospel”?
a) Because the traditional “gospel” is not really “Good News”! And no one likes to be the bearer of Bad News! And
b) Because the traditional “gospel” is exclusive and often puts one in a position of seeming judgmental and negative towards others, us vs. them. -
From personal experience, I’ve found UR to be very empowering. It has given me greater faith in the power of the Gospel. I love sharing God’s unconditional love for people, which is truly “unconditional”. And it is certainly Good News, and I love to be the bearer of Good News! And it enables me to not be judgmental or negative towards others because I realize we’re all in the same boat, in need of God’s grace and love for us all.
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The traditional “good news” also handicaps missionary efforts because unbelievers must come to a place where they “accept” that their ancestors who died unbelievers are going to Hell. For cultures that respect their ancestors, this is a big pill to swallow. Of course in UR, people can go on respecting their ancestors and will have greater faith that they will see them when they too pass away.
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A core doctrine of UR is the Fatherhood of God and brotherhood of all humanity encouraging us to see everyone as “family” and to treat everyone with the love due “family”. This motivates me to gladly share, live, and do the good news of OUR Father’s love with everyone, especially my brothers who do not know OUR Father yet, who have not yet had the revelation of His and Our Love!
It is true that having come to believe in UR, I have “lost” motivation rooted in FEAR; but it has been replaced by motivation rooted in greater Faith and Love! And living in faith and love is much more powerful, I think! And doesn’t scripture say something like “whatever is not of faith is sin (it misses the mark)!”