I read this book in 2006, long before Bell's "Love Wins" was penned.
Reading two of Mr. Gulley’s other books did not prepare me for the reading of this one. The writer who, with a fellow pastor in this work, so eloquently speaks of the trials of a pastor in a small town has depth and the courage to call others to like places. When one reads this book one is confronted with God’s Grace as extravagant, unbiased, unearned and universal. Having become a disciple of God in an Evangelical tradition, I am very comfortable with three of these attributes, the fourth takes some pondering.
The authors’ are pastors, disciples of God, and did not stop their Spiritual development or education when they received their Seminary degrees. They took seriously the Love of God and the relationship with creation God has. Their search lead them to the conclusion: God WILL save everyone.
The book is divided into chapters that take each of the words in that phrase and speaks to the concerns raised by the statement. This is not an easy undertaking, as they have wrestled with the arguments against this statement, many of which were raised within this student, and present the reason’s behind such a bold statement. The book is well written but not an easy read for most of us, as the content is so antithetical to what is held by most Evangelicals. Written in a first person singular voice for clarity, the authors make every effort to be clear, precise and inviting in their arguments. Read this book only if you are willing to be confronted with a view of God’s Grace that is expansive and beyond comprehension.
As a therapist, I was impressed by the power of learning displayed in this work. The authors are not content with remaining unchallenged and living life without questions. The results of such an undertaking are risking what one has always “known,” finding a place full of strange, scary and exciting ideas, and a perpetual youthfulness in the way one view’s life. This work bristles with energy and vision. The reader may not agree with what is written, but they will notice that the work was penned with a large amount of enthusiasm.
As a theologian, this book spoke to me. I have grown up in an Evangelical faith system (Christ is Savior and the Only way to the Father), therefore, to read “like minded” believers speak of the validity of Universalism is a shock. What was more shocking was my agreement with most of what is said in this work. The argument set forth in this book is that the Grace of God is greater than anything that may seek to resist it: “sin,” refusal to accept the love of God, assertion of Self will, Predestination, ANYTHING! Nothing will withstand the irresistible Grace of God forever. The longer I walk in the Grace of God, the more convinced I am of its irresistible nature. Standing in the presence of perfect Love, absolute Acceptance and perfect Knowledge will be the only Judgement needed for repentance.
The authors do seem double minded in their consideration of Jesus. They speak of Jesus as “not needing to be Divine” yet affirm Christ’s resurrection “on faith.” This was (is) confusing to this reader, both assertions (Jesus’ Divinity and the Resurrection) require leaps of faith. What is asserted within this book is that even this faith is not required for the Grace of God to “save” all people.
This book needs to be read and discussed among this present Body of Christ. In a pluralistic society that is slowly killing itself with its Self absorption the Grace of God is needed more now than ever. As the author’s profess in this work, the reason we tell (the Story of God) is to stop the suffering God’s creature’s bring upon ourselves. Maranatha!