“Doubt Your Doubts”

A line that is memorable from some of my listenings to Tim Keller as he challenges the skeptics in his congregation is the phrase, “you need to doubt your doubts”.  I think this challenge applies to the current debate regarding the scope of God’s redemptive purpose.  You may be a skeptic.  You perhaps doubt that the work of the cross was effectual for all.

Within this blog I am primarily addressing the need to doubt your doubts that the Bible teaches a final restoration for all mankind. Through a long history of talking and counseling with many evangelicals, and because I am one, I feel fairly confident in saying that the Christian’s “faith” in an eternal hell runs pretty low.  This is evidenced by the lack of its mention in the very contexts where it ought to be a priority: sermons, in witnessing, in Christian books.  It is for the most part glossed over, relegated to the last point of a statement of faith on websites and when it is preached it is softened to reveal very little of it’s horrific implications.  I have found this to be true even in more heady Reformed/Calvinistic circles.

It is time for the Church to “doubt their doubts” that the Bible teaches a more victorious ending to this Story we call the Gospel or Good News.

By the same measure we need to doubt our certainty that hell must be eternal and take another look at the scope and magnitude of the cross and its redemption.  Are you sure the Story of God revealed in the Bible teaches:

1. That a God who calls Himself “Our Father” would at some point give up on His offspring, which He willed into existence, and commit them to a hopeless hell of suffering separated from Him forever.

2. That the God who said, “Behold I am making all things new” means only a few select out of His crown of creation (or if you are an Arminian you doubt that God’s love can overcome the free-will of most).  This would mean all the rocks, trees, weather and animals but only a tiny fraction of His image-bearers.

3. That true justice requires an infinite punishment to bring about justice for finite sins, which in reality means that justice is in fact never reached as it is never completed.

4. That the meaning of true justice is expressed in reprobation through a non-remedial hell rather than a restoration to “right-useness” and relational reconciliation of His creation.

5. That the cross of Jesus was either ineffectual or it was only applicable to a few elect and John 3:16 ought to be reinterpreted to mean, “God so loved His elect that He gave His only begotten Son…”

6. That Jesus is not the Savior of the world but simply the potential savior of the world (or if you are a Calvinist, the savior of the elect).

7. That when God says that He conquered the grave and that “the last enemy to be destroyed is death”, He meant it is only true for a very small portion of humanity.  The rest will live in an eternal state of death keeping sin and death alive forever in a compartment of His universe.

Dear Christian, you have been given permission by God:  “Judge for yourselves what is right.” (Luke 12:57)

Romans 1 says, ” For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”  He has revealed to you His divine nature!  God has testified of His heart and nature by the things you know in your human experience.  One is His nature of true Fatherhood.

God has told us we are accountable to think through what is just and what would reflect His true nature as seen in His creation and through our life experiences.  His laws are written on our hearts and He thus appeals to our God-given consciences.

I know you have doubts about your doubt that God’s ultimate plan is to restore all of His created order.  I certainly did and our actions as a church reveal that indeed most of us do.  Please take the time to lay these doubts and what you believe are certainties before the Lord  and ask Him to show you His Father-heart for the world and how it is that, “His mercies never come to an end” and “His love never fails”.  There is nothing to fear for He has invited you to think …and to reason …with Him.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

                 ” Come let us reason together” says the Lord.  Isaiah 1:18