A Freeper book review: "If Grace Is True"

As I read the book “If Grace Is True,” a well-known old bromide kept coming to mind: “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” This book may be the ultimate and most ironic example of the truth of that saying.

This book is based on a simple premise: if grace (God’s unmerited favor) is true, then literally everyone will go to heaven, no matter their religion or behavior.

Those who are familiar with orthodox Christian doctrine will immediately realize there is a problem with this premise: there is nothing in all of Christianity that supports it. As a matter of fact, this very doctrine, which the authors correctly point out originated with Origen, was considered heresy by the Second Council of Constantinople in 553. For the past 1,500 years, their has been nearly unanimous agreement amongst Christian theologians that universalism is false.

Yet despite its condemnation, the doctrine of universal salvation, also known by the technical term apocatastasis, has popped up from time to time, and in modern times has found it’s most fertile soil in the United States and Britain. It is no surprise then that both Gulley and Mulholland are Americans.

To fully understand why they champion a doctrine that has no basis in orthodox Christian theology, you must first understand all their underlying premises, which they willingly supply to the reader. Here then, is the foundation upon which they build their case:

1. Universalism is true because God “whispered in my ear.” i.e. special revelation.

2. Personal experience is the ultimate barometer of truth, especially when concerning things of God. However, this is not Cartesian philosophy that’s being advocated, but more like the statement “anything outside my realm of personal experience is false.”

2. The Bible is neither inerrant nor authoritative, except for those verses and passages that can be ripped out of their context to support universalism.

5. God’s love and mercy will not allow him to send someone to eternal punishment. It is not in his character to ever harm anyone, except for their ultimate benefit.

Given these premises then of course universalism is true, for they immediately nullify any reasonable rebuttal. Most of the book is a further explanation and defense of these premises, with supporting scriptures, quotes, and experiences provided.

However, the orthodox Christian will immediately realize that all these premises are heresy. When you remove the authority of the Word of God, deny the Trinity, and deny the need for atonement, then you are no longer talking about Christianity. Gulley and Mulholland insist that there is Jesus, a Bible, and salvation, but these are mere forms, their substance has been carefully and systematically removed or redefined.

The logical errors the authors make, and the contradictions that are abundant throughout this book make it a far more useful tool for the denial of universalism than it’s proof! For example, if every person is saved, then it is no longer God’s grace that is in operation; grace is completely nullified. Heaven no longer needs God’s grace for admittance, since it is now an entitlement, an inaliable right. Whether we get there through grace, contempt, or guilt is ultimately meaningless.

If the Bible is neither authorative nor inerrant, then it’s frivolous and inaccurate. In other words, you can’t go and cherry pick your favorite verses from an unauthoritative document then imply that they are authoritative! Yet that’s exactly what Gulley and Mulholland attempt with their examples of scriptures that allegedly support their position! This is what is normally known as hypocrisy.

But the most grievous error of all is how universalism ultimately nullifies itself. For instance, let’s assume that every Christian church and denomination; Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox, all decide that universalism is the real deal, and proclaim universal salvation to all people, whether or not they are Christian, whether or not they behave in accordance with Christian tradition. What would be the net result of such a thing?

Well, no one in his right mind would ever walk through a church door, for if there is no need of the church for salvation, then it is completely irrelevant. And since you are saved regardless of behavior or ethics, there is certainly no need to teach Christian morality and ethics anymore. Jesus, the Bible, grace, love, and all everything else becomes ultimately irrelevant, since we are all going to be in heaven anyway, whether or not we have even heard of such a place.

And since there is no need to adhere to any code of conduct to get to heaven, then there is no need to act in the fashion of a Mother Teresa. The reward for being the greatest saint is the same for the most evil sinner: eternal life and happiness. So why bother with self-denial and self-sacrifice? Goodness is no more ultimately rewarded than blatant evil and selfishness.

It is easy to see where I’m going with this: if universal salvation were fully believed and accepted, it would be the precursor to the greatest hell on earth the world has ever known! Those of you who think I exaggerate, take a look at the various godless utopian ideals that have been tried over the centuries, only to fall apart under the weight of their own corruptness.

The law of non-contradiction states that a proposition cannot be true that is it’s own nullification. Yet universalism is exactly that: a nullification of itself, or at least of the underlying forms that are used to support it.

Obviously Gulley & Mulholland’s argument is not a logical nor theological one, as it fails miserably to convince on those levels. So one is left wondering what their prime motivation is for embracing a doctrine--universal salvation--that has been deemed heresy for more than 1,500 years? There seems to be two motives: the rigidity and gracelessness of the modern evangelical/fundamentalist church and a slight misunderstanding as to what God wants to do in comparison to what he will do.

Let me state that I believe God does want every person to be saved; He certainly takes no delight what-so-ever in the condemnation and punishment of the wicked, as is demonstrated very well in the story of Jonah. However, it’s one thing to believe in what God wants to happen as opposed to what will happen. Gulley and Mulholland, not quite understanding the kindness and the severity of God, have decided that He will save everyone no-matter-what.

So why embrace a position that has no scriptural or theological support? The authors seem to think fundamentalist/evangelical Christianity places far too many restrictions on salvation. In order to compensate for the perceived stinginess of the evangelical community, Gulley and Mulholland have fallen off the other side of the narrow road, and have proclaimed that God will, absolutely, save everyone. In many places throughout their book, the authors point out many, many places where the evangelical community has taken far too narrow a view of God, the Bible, and Christianity; and as a result they have created a Christian “clique” that is more interested in removing oneself from the world rather than saving it. In a self-revealing passage, the authors state:

Certainly churches exists like those the authors were apart of. However, this type of severity is not true of all churches, not even all evangelical churches. I have found several conservative churches that spend far more time preaching on the love and mercy of God then they do on eternal condemnation and the fires of hell, if they preach on those subjects at all! So it is obvious that Gulley and Mulholland are painting a select picture of fundamentalist Christianity using a very broad brush.

The authors are correct to state that God’s love and grace must be the primary teaching of the Christian church; with that I have no problem. But God’s unconditional love doesn’t mean that we are all going to escape the fires of hell! It is explicit throughout scriptures, from Genesis to Revelation, that we must take responsibility for our own actions, and God will reward or punish those actions in a fair and balanced way. Yet God often does not punish us nearly as severely as we deserve! But still a constant theme of punishment unto death exists throughout the Bible, and especially in the parables and teachings of Jesus. Also there are times where Jesus explicitly states that punishment is eternal; but it is also made very clear that the ultimate decision concerning one’s eternal destination is made by ourselves, not God! Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God has opened the door of eternal salvation, and there are constant reminders telling us that we must walk through that door.

While I do not agree with Gulley and Mulholland’s solution to the problem of gracelessnes in some churches, I do agree with their criticisms. It is my belief that every church should extend as much love and grace as possible, and then go beyond even that! Those churches more interested in your sins than your salvation only create pride and triumphalism, along with false expectations no one can live up to.

God’s unconditional love for us does not automatically translate into our unconditional salvation. Definite conditions are placed on our salvation in both the Old and New Testaments, and those who are wise will heed these conditions. They are not difficult nor are they unreasonable, but they are conditions none-the-less. The first condition is to love God as He loves you, and this is demonstrated by us through obedience to His commandments. The second is to love everyone just as you are loved, and to show them the grace and forgiveness that God has shown you. And that’s about it. The rest of the Bible deals with particular applications of these conditions, and the punishment that awaits those who do not follow them.

But I do not blame Gulley and Mulholland for being blind to conditional salvation, as most of the evangelical church is blind to it as well! There is a subtext of “once saved, always saved” that permeates the evangelical community, especially those who are of the reformed theological tradition. Yet the Bible does not guarantee anyone’s salvation, unless the above conditions are met and lived out on a daily basis. Evangelicals often think people are “saved” if they say a prayer of repentance and are dunked in water; but this is not the biblical standard as salvation is only promised to those who walk as Jesus did. In other words, people need to LIVE the Christian life, not just pledge allegiance to it.

I really wish universal salvation were true, and most Christian I know would have no problem with that if it were Biblical. But if universal salvation is true, there could be no individual accountability for evil, and so a grave injustice would be done on a cosmic scale. The Bible often warns us that it is evil to reward the guilty and to punish those who are innocent; I don’t anticipate God is willing to ignore a standard that He expects us to live by.

They didn't quite read the whole book. Nobody will go to heaven or hell accidentally. They will have made a clear and conscious decision at some point before the final judgment, also known as the second death. This occurs at the end of the millennium Kingdom. I guess the idea of love, joy ,and peace is just too much for some people to live with. Sad but true.

Revelation 21

7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

I guess the idea of love, joy ,and peace is just too much for some people to live with. Sad but true.

It is difficult to believe isn't it? And yet one encounters it all the time, even here at Free Republic (just take a look at the Evolutionist vs. Creationist threads sometime!)

What I have discovered is that some people think that their immediate personal autonomy is more important than their ultimate eternal destination.

Thanks for writing H.K.W.A.S.D.!

I almost forgot: here is a picture of the book cover:

And here are some on-line bookstores that carry the book:

Barnes & Nobel --The second half of this review might be posted on their site within a few days...
Books-A-Million
powells.com
amazon.com --The first half of this review is published on their site.

Good review. "Easy believism" refuted.

"The command Be ye perfect is not idealistic gas. Nor is it a command to do the impossible. He is going to make us into creatures that can obey that command. He said (in the Bible) that we were 'gods' and He is going to make good His words. If we let Him--for we can prevent Him, if we choose--He will make the feeblest and filthiest of us into a god or goddess, dazzling, radiant, immortal creature, pulsating all through with such energy and joy and wisdom and love as we cannot now imagine, a bright stainless mirror which reflects back to God perfectly (though, of course, on a smaller scale) His own boundless power and delight and goodness. The process will be long and in parts very painful; but that is what we are in for. Nothing less. He meant what He said." (Mere Christianity, pp.174-75)

Good review!

It's one of those examples of how a logic course could have prevented alot of bad doctrine.

Yes, Grace is true, but it does not necessarily follow that therefore all will be saved. In fact, to claim so would be denying clear Scriptures to the contrary.

Salvation is offered the entire world, but that does not mean all will believe. In fact, Scriptures claim there are those who will not believe.

Lewis is wrong, however, if he says "The command Be ye perfect is not idealistic gas. Nor is it a command to do the impossible. He is going to make us into creatures that can obey that command."

Instead, we find that the purpose of these laws is to show us that we CANNOT keep them, and that we need a Savior. The Laws very purpose is to show us that we fail. Failing excludes us from God's holy kingdom. ONLY if He, through GRACE, redeems us, can we be saved.

He DOES "command something impossible" for us to do. We are born into sin, dead in sins and trespasses. He says "Be ye holy as I am holy," Love Him with our whole hearts, love others as ourselves, and yet we do not, because we have a sin nature.

Our ONLY hope is His grace offered in Christ. HE was holy in our place. HE fulfilled God's laws in our stead. HE met the legal requirements for us. God accepted HIS fulfilment.

If right now you're thinking, "What, I don't have to fulfil them?", you're starting to understand the Gospel for the first time! We will want to be holy and want to please Him out of gratitude, but we will still have your sin nature. Paul said "I do what I don't want to do,. It is no longer I who do it, but sin which dwells in me."

Lewis misinterpreted the passage on gods, sounding more like a Mormon. Christians do not believe we will become gods, nor can ever be gods. We are creatures. There is only ONE God, of ALL universes.

”This book is based on a simple premise: if grace (God’s unmerited favor) is true, then literally everyone will go to heaven, no matter their religion or behavior. Those who are familiar with orthodox Christian doctrine will immediately realize there is a problem with this premise: there is nothing in all of Christianity that supports it. As a matter of fact, this very doctrine, which the authors correctly point out originated with Origen, was considered heresy by the Second Council of Constantinople in 553. … For example, if every person is saved, then it is no longer God’s grace that is in operation; grace is completely nullified. … Let me state that I believe God does want every person to be saved; “

”Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short that it cannot save; nor is His ear so dull that it cannot hear.” Isa 59:1

I thought the author was heading in the right direction. Believing in universal salvation is simply a cunning way of saying everyone COULD go to Heaven. Man’s in control and does the saving by reducing our salvation experience to some sort of intellectual decision. It nullifies grace.

This is not what the scriptures tells us and, as was point out by the author, this is not what the early church believed.

BTW-Several of these universal points I have read from Christians on this site.

Lewis is wrong, however, if he says "The command Be ye perfect is not idealistic gas. Nor is it a command to do the impossible. He is going to make us into creatures that can obey that command."
Instead, we find that the purpose of these laws is to show us that we CANNOT keep them, and that we need a Savior. The Laws very purpose is to show us that we fail. Failing excludes us from God's holy kingdom. ONLY if He, through GRACE, redeems us, can we be saved.
He DOES "command something impossible" for us to do. We are born into sin, dead in sins and trespasses. He says "Be ye holy as I am holy," Love Him with our whole hearts, love others as ourselves, and yet we do not, because we have a sin nature.

I have to agree with C. S. Lewis on this one. Nothing I have read in the Bible convinces me that God gives commandments only to show us that we cannot obey them. On the contrary, it seems clear enough that God intends for us to keep his commandments.

Even the best among us keeps God's commandments imperfectly -- hence our need for the Savior. Moreover, to become perfect, we must be born again, to have our hearts changed. Or as Lewis says, God makes us into creatures that can obey his commandments.

Your comment that the God commands the impossible might be interpreted (or misinterpreted) to mean that God does not really mean it when he commands us to refrain from evil and to do good. And your comment about grace might be understood (misunderstood?) to mean that we need make no effort to be saved. Neither point of view is consistent with scripture.

"Nothing I have read in the Bible convinces me that God gives commandments only to show us that we cannot obey them. On the contrary, it seems clear enough that God intends for us to keep his commandments."

Please read Romans 1:18 thru Romans 3:20. Paul is showing us that it is impossible to keep the commandments until we are justified by Christ. Until we receive the Holy Spirit we cannot begin to keep them. Because prior to having Christ's righteousness imputed to us we only glorify ourselves and not God.

The process will be long and in parts very painful; but that is what we are in for. Nothing less.

Well, Lewis got the "painful" part right, that's for sure! Of course it's easy to take Lewis out-of-context in this passage, as it seems some have already done. He is using the terms "god" and "goddess" poetically, not literally. It's his way of saying that we will be transformed into the likeness of Christ, IF WE COOPERATE with the work of sanctification that is administered by the Holy Spirit.

Excellent quote by Lewis, thanks for posting it!

Please read Romans 1:18 thru Romans 3:20. Paul is showing us that it is impossible to keep the commandments until we are justified by Christ. Until we receive the Holy Spirit we cannot begin to keep them. Because prior to having Christ's righteousness imputed to us we only glorify ourselves and not God.

The epistle to the Romans amply supports my belief that God requires obedience to his commandments. Nowhere does Paul rescind the commandment of Jesus, "Be ye therefore perfect, even your Father which is in heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:48). Nor does Paul teach that obedience to God's other commandments is unnecessary. Quite the contrary. He warns the saints, "that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are." (Romans 6:16). Those who yield to sin, receive the wages of sin, which is death, not eternal life (Romans 6:23).

"The epistle to the Romans amply supports my belief that God requires obedience to his commandments."

Exactly correct but your standing before God is the result of Christ's perfect obedience. You can do nothing to give yourself standing before God. As long as we are "in the flesh" we do not have the ability to be perfect and have to rely on the perfection of Christ.

Paul's mission was to bring about the obedience of faith among the gentiles, for the sake of His name. There should be fruits of our obedience if we are truly justified or else we are deceiving ourselves. But you are misreading Paul if you are suggesting that we can be perfect while in the flesh.

We are in danger of doing what the Jews did (that he addresses in Romans 2) if we believe that we can be somehow perfect. We are completely dependent on Christ and have no merit before God other than Him.

I apologize if I am misreading your comments.

blake

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