[Setting: Church meeting room. Jeff has been asked by the church’s elders to come in to be quizzed on whether he’s qualified to be a new elder himself or not. The meeting is drawing to a close.] Elder Bob: And just to confirm one last time, you do believe that anyone who does not become… Continue reading Getting what’s deserved
Category: Dialogue
Who sends people to hell?
The line seemed to have stopped moving for quite some time, now, and people were starting to talk amongst themselves. “Any idea why we’re not moving?” Dave asked Tom, the person in front of him. “Apparently the judgement had to stop because someone refused to go to hell,” Tom replied, pointing to the valley of… Continue reading Who sends people to hell?
Justice for evil
Christian: If Universalism is true, there is no justice for evil. I do not want that. Believer: Hypothetically speaking, if only one person got saved in the end, but he was a very evil man prior to believing the Gospel, would there be justice for evil? Christian: Yes, because his evil was dealt with by… Continue reading Justice for evil
Who won the greater victory?
For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, saying, “This man began to build, and was… Continue reading Who won the greater victory?
Paying the penalty in your place
“And so, Jesus died on the cross in your place, taking the penalty for your sins so you don’t have to,” the street preacher cried out. ”Just accept the free gift of salvation and you won’t have to pay the penalty yourself!” “What’s the penalty for my sins?” I interrupted before he could continue. “Why,… Continue reading Paying the penalty in your place
Did Paul mean the opposite of what he wrote?
[All passages are quoted from the Concordant Literal Version of the Bible.] Me: I’d like to quote some passages the apostle Paul wrote that I’ve memorized. Would you be willing to listen to them and let me know if I’m remembering them correctly? Him (a street preacher): Sure. Go for it. Me: Okay, cool. Thanks.… Continue reading Did Paul mean the opposite of what he wrote?
There’s only one way we can be saved, right?
“There’s only one way to heaven,” the street preacher proclaimed adamantly. “If you don’t accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, you can’t be saved! Repent and believe the Gospel before it’s too late, or else you’ll end up in hell for all eternity!” ”Are you absolutely certain about that?” I asked. “If I… Continue reading There’s only one way we can be saved, right?
That’s just too easy
“So you’re saying I can be saved without having to do anything myself?” the bystander asked the street preacher. “There isn’t anything we have to contribute to our salvation? We don’t even have to choose to be baptized in water and we can still be saved?” “That’s right,” the street preacher replied. “As He died… Continue reading That’s just too easy
Is God a gentleman?
“But God won’t force people to go to heaven to live with Him against their will,” he said when he found out I believed in Universal Reconciliation. “Forcing someone to do something against their will is called rape, and God wouldn’t do that.” “I should probably point out that I’m not saying He’ll let them… Continue reading Is God a gentleman?
Dialogue with an evangelical
The following is an amalgamation of actual discussions I’ve had with real people, both in person and online: I didn’t intend to stop, but the street preacher’s words caught my ear and I couldn’t help myself. “As Jesus died on the cross, He cried out, ‘It is finished.’ He died for all of our sins,… Continue reading Dialogue with an evangelical