Alright.
Actually I had hoped for a testimony how you came to Christ and about the process to become an Universalist, surely that was not an overnight change. So here is mine.
You asked me to state my view on the character of God.
I can gladly testify to how I came to Christ and how I came to accept Universalism. See below.
It was Saturday, September 28, 1974, between 18:00 - 18:30, Starterstraat 24, The Hague, I (by His undeserved Grace) was baptized (by the lack of a better description, since all words fail) in God's overwhelming love twice within a half hour and never after. Two life changing experiences. And in retrospect, the good Lord knew that one love-blessing (by the lack of a better description) was not enough because He knew me, that I during time would scrutinize the supernatural experience to death and would end as an agnostic at best. All praise for the Lord for His wisdom and Grace.
And I learned 3 things at once, God exist, He is Love, and He is Holy. And while I was walking home at night my conscience became awake and I saw the city with different eyes, as sinful and I remember saying to God, "why me and not the whole city?", and the answer never came. And I did not know what to do but the Lord led to the Bible in His own special way and I learned about Christ and wanted to know everything about God, still do.
At eight years of age I was attending a Summer Bible camp in Wisconsin. In a morning chapel service the man speaking did as they always did, he gave an invitation to receive Christ. He asked that all heads be bowed and all eyes closed. But I found myself peeking to see if any of these "lost sinners" would raise a hand. At that moment God spoke to me. Though it was a supernatural event, it seemed as natural to me as anything. I knew who it was and wasn't frightened, or disturbed by it. What I heard was mind-blowing. It came like a tap on my shoulder. The message was clear and direct. "If you think it is so important, why haven't you done it?" I was speechless. I answered with my feet. I knew the drill. I rose to my feet and pushed my way to the aisle to go forward before we were even asked to do so. When I was a young adult I made a connection about this event that had not been apparent to me at the time. The man who led me to Christ was the son of the man that led my father to the Lord. A Christian Alliance missionary that went from farm to farm inviting people to Sunday School and sharing the gospel in the area where my father grew up. Basically in the middle of nowhere. Such a wonderful mystery, the workings of our great God.
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We had a family situation. My sister-in-law informed my mother-in-law
that she couldn't believe in a God that would put people in hell.
Mom was pretty upset. She was afraid of losing a child to unbelief.
The church had taught her that those who succumb to unbelief will be lost for all eternity.
Mom was devastated. Understandably.
The family had been raised evangelical, as had I. Which left me with nothing to offer but the standard apologetics about hell.
This left me with a hollow feeling inside. My "biblical" defense did nothing to help the situation. Mom was still sobbing.
There was really nothing we could say to my sister-in-law to help the situation. I thought she was at least half right.
The hell doctrine bothered me too. Although the church was backing away from the hellfire and brimstone message...
It was still there. Now softened to "Eternal separation from God." (whatever that means)
I did some research to see if I could bolster my hell belief enough to hang onto it. Again, the empty rhetoric prevailed.
What was hell and why did God create it that way the church described it? Such pointless and sadistic horror.
What kind of a...? (sigh)
Then a forum friend whose biblical knowledge I trusted said that he didn't believe in a forever burning hell. Say what?
I responded by saying, "Tell me more." He directed me to a forum topic where Universalism was being discussed.
So, I did some research in that direction. My eyes were opened to something I had never seen before when I read this verse.
I had seen the verse before but never noticed the words, "not only for ours". Say what? That's where it began.
1 John 2:2 NIV
He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
So, regarding Universalism, based on the love I received, felt in every cell of my body, God is Love, who knows it is true, with God everything is possible, but the Scriptures say NO.
The Scriptures say "NO"?
Certainly not ALL of them.
Is that all you have to say about the character of God? "God is Love"
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