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Rumors
I heard a rumor that you are a universalist. I thought I'd check out the rumor before I passed it on.Thanks for checking! The last thing we need is more rumors flying, whether about me or someone else. About universalism ...
In a few of my books, I describe three responses to the question, "Who benefits from the grace of God in Christ?" Exclusivists say that only confessing, believing, committed Christians benefit. Universalists say that everyone benefits, regardless of their current faith or lack thereof. Inclusivists say the grace of God may extend beyond those who are identified as Christians, but do not wish to define how far.
I find it hard to choose any of these options because I don't like how this question is framed, because it seems to assume that the primary focus or benefit of the gospel is saving individuals from hell after death. As I read the gospels, the focus of Jesus' message was not on getting your soul into heaven after death, but rather it focused on the kingdom of God, which is about God's will being done on earth as in heaven in history, in this life. For Jesus then, the gospel is good news not just for a few individuals beyond history, but it is good news for all creation in history, and beyond. I plan to grapple with this subject in more depth