Left me confess something, the thought of Universalism/Unitarianism is a lovely idea.
During my wandering, New Age, seeking-something-greater-than-my-childhood-faith years, I favored and EMBRACED the idea that no matter which One Supreme Good All Knowing deity you followed – all paths led to one place, to one true God. I felt that more than a handful of us were honestly trying to live good lives, help others, seek peace and honor a loving creator of all things. And the slightest change of birth place and language, resulted in giving the same God a variety of images, titles and names. I secretly hoped that we were really more the same than different when it came to the ”fillings” in the god-shaped-hole of our hearts.
At the end of the day, when all is said and done, I thought (and still hope) that no one, except truly evil people and those who purposely hurt animals, belong behind the gates of hell. (fyi: I’m not a vegetarian, as I can attest to here, I do love my beef, pork and poultry – but I also love live breathing animals and can’t stand seeing them abused and intentionally hurt…those current Humane Society commercials are killing me softly).
Anyways, back to blissful Unitarianism. I wish it were true, it would ease my mind and heart. I have had LDS friends as a child and co-workers as an adult; I’ve always been fascinated by their beliefs and rituals (PS: Big Love starts soon, and I really kinda dig this show). But regardless of what I’ve been taught about our differences, I’ve always thought – they are good people – great morals – strong families – and aside from some special undergarments, pluralism, secret names, and handshakes – they are really good people who love “God”. Ditto with Hare Krishna, Gnostics, Buddhist, Hindus, followers of Judaism and the newer Church of Oprah.
I suppose our differences come down to the one thing that I know to my core; Jesus. I’ve got Jesus and I’m worried that they don’t. It hurts my heart that everyone doesn’t see and accept “Jesus”. 
It makes me sad that there are those struggling to climb the ladder to heaven; good deeds, good lives, good people. I can visualize the moment they reach the last rung and see that the ladder didn’t reach the entire length to heaven. I would hate for these next words to be used as insurance by anyone, but I still hold out some hope that there is a grace I cannot understand; that when they stand on that last rung, in despair, knowing they did not get to heaven on their own, that a hand will reach down to them through the clouds. That hand belongs only to Jesus. Again, nowhere in God’s instruction manual does it say that this could happen; it is just a secret hope I have. A very, very, last, last, last chance.
Visualize God any way you want, but you can’t change the image of Jesus. You can’t change who He is, what He was, what He did. I guess that’s why I had to give up the lovely idea of being Unitarian. Jesus got to me…
And now to really mix it up, let me leave you with a song by an American Hasidic Jewish Reggae musician, Matisyahu, the song is called: One Day. It makes me happy and hope that one day, all of us children of God, will get it right. I am loving this song… enjoy.
Copyright © 2009-2010 Sherry Meneley. All Rights Reserved.
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Very well said, Sherry. I can’t dismiss the Bible and the clear teaching on hell. But I want to think that, at the last rung (great picture, btw), when people come to the end of themselves (like I did), that they know they need and want Jesus.
You ought to work this up into a full-fledged article. Ever thought of submitting to Plain Truth Magazine? Let me know if you want to try-I might have a little pull over there.
Thanks Ron – and yes, as I’ve been reading PTM, I was thinking I’ve got to give that publication a try. By-the-way, GREAT article on Tricked-Out, some of your examples made me laugh out loud! (oh, yes, I just got to reading that whole issue, I’m a little behind on my magazines with the holidays and all). I’ll keep in touch with you on this
I can always use a little help from my friends
This is a very interesting and heartfelt note, and as a person who was always taught not to exclude anyone from my list of friends without reason, I can understand your pain.
Whenever I think of this topic, I think of Romans 2:13-16, which reads, in part, “… the doers of the law will be justified; for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these … who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them in the day when God will judge the secrets of men”.
There is much potential in this letter from Paul, and I can’t see how God, being Love, can send people to Hell on a technicality any more than you can.
I am glad you left your link on SCL. I look forward to reading more of your thoughts.
Thanks Mikki – I’m nearly shocked that you came over from SCL. Especially when I was lost somewhere in the middle of 281 comments. Jon is a good guy to offer the Shameless Saturdays from time to time. Anyways, thanks for the visit – I’m honored if you come back for more
Thank you also for the mention of that passage from Romans, especially in The Message version (which I often use as a commentary).
Romans 2:13-16 (The Message)
12-13If you sin without knowing what you’re doing, God takes that into account. But if you sin knowing full well what you’re doing, that’s a different story entirely. Merely hearing God’s law is a waste of your time if you don’t do what he commands. Doing, not hearing, is what makes the difference with God.
14-16When outsiders who have never heard of God’s law follow it more or less by instinct, they confirm its truth by their obedience. They show that God’s law is not something alien, imposed on us from without, but woven into the very fabric of our creation. There is something deep within them that echoes God’s yes and no, right and wrong. Their response to God’s yes and no will become public knowledge on the day God makes his final decision about every man and woman. The Message from God that I proclaim through Jesus Christ takes into account all these differences.