Against Christian Universalism - Conclusion
In this final post of this series on Christian universalism, I will briefly address some theological/philosophical issues.
Advocates of universal salvation argue that since God is love, he would never allow any of his creatures to perish. God does love the world and He does not desire for any to perish. However, in contradiction to the reasoning of the universalists, God’s love nature demands that he not force His love on anyone (cf. Matthew 23:37). Wayne Grudem argues that…
… the same difficulty in reconciling God’s love with eternal punishment would seem to be present in reconciling God’s love with the idea of divine punishment at all.
Indeed, if this objection succeeds, it would seem God’s love would also be irreconcilable with Noah’s flood and God’s judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah.
The argument from God’s omnipotence in support of universalism also fails. The omnipotence of God does not entail that he can do something against his own nature (e.g., God cannot lie). His attributes do not operate in contradiction to each other. It certainly is reasonable to believe that God could not lovingly force another to love him. Perhaps, free will and universal salvation are not logically compatible. Free will may be thought to be of such high moral worth that God allows some to reject Him and suffer eternal torment.
Some question how eternal torment for temporal sins can be reconciled with the justice of God. However, Scripture is clear that God’s justice demands that a penalty be paid for sin. (Lev 17:11; Ezek 18:20) Eternal punishment is not deemed excessive when one realizes that the offense is against That which is infinitely and eternally good and loving.
In conclusion, the doctrine of the universal salvation of all human beings cannot be adequately supported philosophically, theologically, scripturally, or historically. God has created human beings with free will, and in His love, He will not coerce others to believe. Those who choose not to believe cannot be forced to do so. They will, by their choosing, spend eternity separated from God. In the words of C. S. Lewis:
I willingly believe that the damned are, in one sense, successful rebels to the end; that the doors of hell are locked on the inside. I do not mean that the ghosts may not wish to come out of hell… but they certainly do not will even the first preliminary stages of that self-abandonment through which alone the soul can reach any good. They enjoy forever the horrible freedom they have demanded, and are therefore self-enslaved.