A Mending Shift

a bird sings, not because if has an answer to give, but because it has a song to sing … this is my song

Here I Stand—On God’s Love for All

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We all make choices. We all make interpretations. We all are led individually by the Holy Spirit. We all do the best we can with our three-pound brains and our built in, God-given human limitations. We all stake claims on our current understanding of God’s truth as revealed to us by his Holy Spirit through the bible, his creation, and ultimately through his son Jesus. And so tonight, I do so as well and stake my claim on my current understanding of God’s truth.

[In doing so, please realize that this is my human profession. By making it, I am not judging or condemning others who believe or understand God differently—we all see dimly and in part. This is simply a short, non-comprehensive statement of where I have been led and am choosing to stick my flag based on my limited, non-comprehensive human understanding. It is by no means all worked out without any issues with a tidy bow (whose belief/theology ever is?), nor do I believe it ever will be. I believe that when contemplating God, there will always be a substantial element of mystery and faith involved—if not, he would cease to be God, and I human. It is partly because of my human limitations and the mystery of God that my belief will continue to be shaped throughout my life. Currently, this is what I believe. If you don't agree with it, cool . . . that is not an expectation of mine. After all, I really believe that we will all show up with our three-pound brains before God and realize we all fell short, were in error, and misinterpreted his revelations to us to one degree or another, and even then he will show grace.]

If it helps, to understand biblically a bit more where I am coming from, I would highly encourage you to read this Word document referencing scripture before continuing: reconcilation-scriptures.doc

I believe and stand on the mountain of God’s abundant grace and love for all of humanity. That through the blood and sacrifice of Jesus, God’s justice was met and the punishment for all sin was paid in full—canceled. That because of God’s love for his kids and the reconciliation that was made through Jesus, God has forgiven all. That forgiveness is his decision alone to make and it is not dependent on our response. That a person’s belief does not trigger God’s forgiveness, but rather their belief allows them to experience and walk in God’s love and the reality of their God-declared forgiven state. That God is able to extend his love and grace even after a person’s death. That death indeed lost its victory and sting, and God is not hindered one bit by our death in extending his mercy. If God was hindered by our death, then our death would ultimately be more powerful than God. That one day, every knee shall bow (repentance) and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (worship), and on that day God will not say, “That’s great and all, but there’s nothing I can do, my hands are tied. Sorry, you died—you’re too late.” That even then man can still reject him, but I find it awfully hard to imagine them doing so given the God-reality they are now experiencing. That if rejected, God will honor their decision and what happens after that I will let God worry about. That God, in his infinite love, is just wild enough to redeem, reconcile, and restore all things to himself. That in the end, God’s love for his kids wins and we will get to join in and celebrate his victory over death and sin, and embrace our dad. That in the end, mercy indeed triumphs over judgment.

I believe that on this earth, sin still has its deadly and destructive consequences, and that God, out of his love and for the purpose of restoration, disciplines his kids. That those who ‘believe’ on earth get to begin enjoying God’s love and kingdom-life here and now, and have the honor of being God’s kingdom-vessels in both word and deed here on earth . That the good news perhaps is not, “You can be forgiven in Jesus if you believe” (which is good news to be sure), but, “You are forgiven through and by Jesus, do you believe?” That the burden of humanity’s souls is God’s burden. Our job is the declaration of forgiveness, to love God (who first loves us), to love ourselves (because he loves us), and out of God’s love we are to love our fellow brothers and sisters who happen to share the same tiny globe as us, who happen to be created by the same one and only God as us, and who happen to be loved by God as we are. That it is our joy and privilege, as pre-death embracers of God’s love and forgiveness, to love and spread the good news that man is forgiven and loved by a God—their Daddy—who is love. That through love, their image of God, themselves, and others will begin to be restored. That we can join arms and follow Jesus’ example and the Holy Spirit’s leading in bringing God’s Kingdom to earth as it is in heaven. That our highest call is love. It is on the mountain of God’s incomprehensible love and Jesus’ all-encompassing blood that I stand, come what may.

I echo the words of John Bunyan, the author of Pilgrim’s Progress, who said, “I will stay in Jail ’till the end of my days before I make a butchery of my conscience.” And the spirit of Martin Luther when he said, “Here I stand; I cannot do otherwise, so help me God.”

And if I error, I will error on the side of God’s grace and love—for all.

“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.” Col 1:19-22

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This entry was posted by on Wednesday, April 13th, 2011 at 6:00 am and is filed under Bible, grace, Jesus, love, theology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

About The Author

Jeromy Johnson
I live in Folsom, CA, with my wife, Jennifer, and three kids. I am surrounded by and cared for deeply by some great friends. Their love for me is truly a moonlit reflection of Papa's love, and for that, I am deeply blessed and grateful.

Comments

  • http://thebestparts.blogspot.com/ Tracy Simmons

    Jeromy, I think it is a precious thing that you are able to take a stand like this in such a graceful manner while “planting your flag.” My hope is that any who may disagree with your stand will be able to respond with an equal measure of grace.

    As you know, I plant my flag in the same place as you do.

  • http://parispoint.wordpress.com Kay

    As you know, I plant my flag in the same place as you do.

    Me too. :)

  • Matt S.

    Hey Jer,

    Good for you. I know it can be hard to make a stand on such “controversial” issues. I know you hate labels (as do I), but just out of my own curiosity, would you describe your stated beliefs as being in the camp of universalism, or something else?

    It’s funny…I got out my NIV study Bible and looked up a few of the Scripture verses that you linked to. It made me chuckle to see that so many of the editor’s notes felt the need to clarify that the stated verses were NOT teaching “universalism”…hahaha

    Although I personally cannot jump in with both feet at this point, at the very least, you make a very good case for your beliefs and you continue to make me feel uncomfortable with all of this…which I believe is exactly what I need to feel.

  • http://mendingshift.wordpress.com Jeromy

    Hey Matt,

    If I’m not mistaken, Christian Universalism says that all people will be reconciled despite their free will (in a nut shell). I personally believe that man can still reject God (however unlikely) and that he will honor their decision. They also hold that Satan and demons will be reconciled—I’ll let God worry about this one.

    On an interesting note, Wikipedia has this to say about Christian Universalism: “Universalism was a fairly commonly held view among theologians in early Christianity: In the first five or six centuries of Christianity there were six known theological schools, of which four (Alexandria, Antioch, Cesarea, and Edessa or Nisibis) were Universalist, one (Ephesus) accepted conditional immortality, and one (Carthage or Rome) taught the endless punishment of the lost. The two major theologians opposing it were Tertullian and Augustine. In later centuries, Universalism has become very much a minority position in the major branches of Christianity, though it has a long history of prominent adherents.” see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universalism and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_reconciliation

    So in our century, a more universal view of Jesus’ atonement and God’s grace is not in vogue. But a universal view of Adam’s sin is very much in vogue. In this sense, we are all universalists: some are universalists in regards to Adam’s sin applying to all humanity; some are universalists in regards to God’s grace applying to all humanity. Both apply something universally across all of humanity. I tend to think it’s both.

    By the way, an interesting read with these lenses on is 1 Corinthians 15, namely Paul’s opening comments and verses 21-28

    For me, it boils down to these two questions:
    Does our belief (or repentance) trigger God’s forgiveness of us?
    Does our death prevent God from extending mercy to us?

    Though I see labels as a distraction and causing more harm than good, one label I will gladly bear is this: Daddy’s Little Boy ;-)

  • http://mendingshift.wordpress.com Jeromy

    ~Matt~

    Out of curiosity, what did you mean when you said, “you continue to make me feel uncomfortable with all of this…which I believe is exactly what I need to feel.”?

  • Matt S.

    Jer,

    It’s just that I’m really afraid for your eternal soul and it makes me uncomfortable…:) just kidding!

    Seriously, to answer your question, what I meant is that for so long I haven’t given these kinds of issues very serious thought, assuming that I had done the majority of my wrestling with these “basic” theological issues in college (remember “BASIC Christian Theology? Boy, how can anyone consider any of this “basic?”)

    A few of your posts have caused me to revisit my thinking on the subject. Like I said, I’m not ready to completely jump on board with you on your position (not that you ever expected me to :) ), but the thought of having to revisit these questions makes me uncomfortable. Spending years feeling that I didn’t need to wrestle with these thoughts have made me comfortable in my theology…and I don’t think one should ever be comfortable in their theology…I think there should always be a healthy tension that drives one to go deeper.

    So basically, I just meant to say that you challenged me and I’m at a point in my life where I need to be challenged theologically…maybe I just should have said that in the first place ;)

  • http://mendingshift.wordpress.com Jeromy

    No worries, bro. You’re correct that you ‘jumping on board’ is not an expectation of mine. You need to jump where God is leading you to jump. I just wanted to understand you and your heart more. I sensed you had more to say regarding your discomfort. We judge discomfort as being bad. Yet God seems to use it often as a tool for shaping (I wish he’d choose another one . . . on second thought, maybe not, the next one he grabs might be ‘worse’). Your words really resonate with me and I understand a bit more. Thanks.

    Basic Christian Theology with Jim Crain, baby! Then there was Homiletics with Crain as well. Remember meek old Jon’s sermon and the baby-playing-ping-pong-with-your-gallbladder illustration? And him pounding the podium while spitting and screaming at the top of his lungs, “GOD LOVES YOU!”? Boy those were some memories.

  • Matt S.

    Hahahaha! John Hill! Wow…that name just shot me back to 1995! I totally remember him giving that sermon. I also totally remember the uncomfortable silence from everyone else in the room! Great times!

  • http://thebestparts.blogspot.com/ Tracy Simmons

    Matt S., you wrote: “Spending years feeling that I didn’t need to wrestle with these thoughts have made me comfortable in my theology…and I don’t think one should ever be comfortable in their theology…I think there should always be a healthy tension that drives one to go deeper.” Do you think we could put that into liquid form and inject it into every Christian (I’ll go first as the guinea pig!)? Think of the peace that would abound if we all embraced that mindset…fantastic!

  • http://thebestparts.blogspot.com/ Tracy Simmons

    Jeromy and Matt, this one’s for you: http://tinyurl.com/2wnf7w

  • http://mendingshift.wordpress.com Jeromy

    Tracy~ You quoted Mike Yaconelli in the above link, “It is the nature of human beings, the nature of modern life, to silence those who interrupt our routine activities and understandings.” I am very thankful (thought not always while it was happening) for those people in my life who interrupted my routine activities and understandings. It has driven me to my knees, the bible and ultimately to a place of dependence in God’s arms of love. For that, I am glad they spoke and did not remain silent.

  • http://thebestparts.blogspot.com/ Tracy Simmons

    Jeromy, I could not agree with you more. I was recently telling someone that this certain person who I once considered to be the worst thing to have ever happened to me has become the greatest gift in my life. Without his actions against me, I would not have come to the place of brokenness that lets humility and joy spring forth! Isn’t it great how in Father’s hands ALL things will be used of Him for glory–either His or, at times, ours!

  • http://www.bonniegrove.com Bonnie Grove

    I see you’re shooting for eloquence here, but I’m a “bottom-line” sort of person, so allow me to bottom line your thoughts in the form of clarifying questions.

    1. You think Jesus’ death on the cross paid for all sin for all time.
    2. You think there are people who accept Jesus’ act of sacrifice while living and they have the job of telling other people about what Jesus did.
    3. Everyone, regardless of what they believed while alive, goes to heaven because there is an opportunity to accept the total forgiveness of God after we die.
    Qui?
    Non?
    Short answers work best for me. Seriously. I’m not clever enough for long responses.

  • http://mendingshift.wordpress.com Jeromy

    Hi Bonnie,

    1. Yes, I believe so.
    2. I believe there are people who will believe while on earth that they are loved by God and forgiven through Jesus’ sacrifice. It is their joy to share that message (in both deed and word) of God’s (Father, Son, Spirit) love and forgiveness.
    3. I believe that after our death we will see God for who he is, his love for us, and our forgiveness through Jesus. I believe we can still reject God at that point and that he will honor our desires. So there is a chance that all might go to “heaven”.

    I believe God has forgiven us before we believe/receive it.
    I believe God is not limited in extending mercy to us after death.

  • http://www.bonniegrove.com Bonnie Grove

    Okay, glad I understood what it was you were saying.

    Under point three there, are you basing this idea on the two judgement thrones, or, something Paul said along the way, or a personal revelation from God, or something else?

    I’m not rejecting the notion, and I understand that all talk of what happens after this life is, at best, speculation – No one has a clue what happens after this, but I’m scratching my head thinking, “Wherefore art thou getting this?”

  • http://mendingshift.wordpress.com Jeromy

    I really appreciate your inquiry into what I believe, but as I was thinking about your question, I realized there were multiple ideas under point three. Which idea was your question addressing? That we’ll all see God? See Him for who he is? That he loves everyone? That he’s forgiven everyone though Jesus? That we can reject/accept him even after death? That he’ll honor our desires? That there is a chance that all might go to heaven?

  • http://www.bonniegrove.com Bonnie Grove

    The accept/reject Him after death part.

  • http://mendingshift.wordpress.com Jeromy

    I get it from God’s character as I understand it through scripture, Jesus and personal experience with the HS. I believe that God is not hindered in any way by humanity. He is God. If he wants to extend mercy and love after we die, then he can. His hands are not tied simply because our heart stopped beating. I also cannot see him looking at 2/3 of his creation, while they are on their knees in worship and praising Jesus, and going, “Too bad, off you go.” I see him much like the father of the prodigal son who ran to his son at the mere sight of him, not to beat him, but to welcome him home. Could the son have spit in his face again? Sure, but that doesn’t change the father’s heart to love his kids.

    So I feel the “current popular assumption” is that there is no “2nd” chance after death. Once your heart stops beating and you stand before God on your knees in praise, you are too late. For me, the burden of proof lies on that assumption. That is not how I see God or his character. But again, that is just how I see it. I will side on a God of 2nd chances.

    You may or may not agree. Cool.

  • http://www.bonniegrove.com Bonnie Grove

    Yeah. That’s where I figured you got the idea.

    Thanks for explaining.

  • http://mendingshift.wordpress.com Jeromy

    You’re welcome.

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  • http://soundandsilence.wordpress.com nic paton

    Jeromy
    I loved this thread, (though it might have come to its end), as it shows your willingness to host a conversation.

    Have you read Thomas Talbott’s “The Inescapable Love of God”? Its one of the best looks at UR I have read.

    I reviewed it on http://soundandsilence.wordpress.com/2008/12/15/the-inescapable-love-of-god-by-thomas-talbott/

    PS I spoke to your compadre Jonathan las night and we talked about you. It was all good…

  • http://jeromyj.com/mendingshift/ Jeromy Johnson

    Hey Nic, I have not read Thomas’ book, but I will peruse your review when I get a chance. Jonathan is a good friend and person to know. Glad you two were able to talk.

  • Coni

    Hi Jeromy
    Good to get on your chat site and read your thoughts. Helps to understand where you are coming from as FB is a hard place to write all your ideas.
    Great things to chew on and think about. As you said i would probably not agree and you are correct, but it doesnt mean i wont think about what you have been pondering over the years.
    I guess the thing that kept coming to my mind was then why does Jesus ask us to Confess our sins to Him and each other, repent of our sins, and that Faith is all we need. That sounds like a right now doing thing to me. Not something you save for later after death perhaps.
    Maybe you can believe when your dead only God knows, but i dont want to take the chance and teach people that they can just wait and see and possible believe in God forgiveness after they die. Its a gift. Dont you have to take a gift? Except as your own?
    Your ideas fit nicely for USA but they would be a scary place for people here in TZ.
    Have you had a chance to filter all of this thru religions from around the world? I personally believe that any belief should be able to stand the test anywhere. In other words for people here to believe this way it would match witchcraft, Sorcery, etc. Not true in USA but would be true here. So then how can that be THE TRUTH?
    Yes, HE did the work on the cross which we both agree on, but then HE gives us a choice which is where our paths separate , but not our friendship.
    Love you Jeromy enjoying chatting xoxo

  • http://jeromyj.com/mendingshift/ Jeromy Johnson

    Hey Connie, I too believe in our choice and the power of our belief, I just don’t think that our beliefs trigger god’s approval, grace or forgiveness. I believe the message to those who do not believe the Good News is “you are loved, forgiven, and graced by god—right now!—believe it!” not “you can be forgiven and graced by god if you believe.” That our belief does not cause god to suddenly extend forgiveness to us (thus “saving” us), but that our belief is simply a response to the knowledge of god’s already extended forgiveness towards us through the cross. And thus, our belief does in a sense save us, but not from God or “hell”, but from our mindset that says god doesn’t love me, he is still angry at me, he is still my enemy and out to get me. Our mindst creates the reality we live in and makes all the difference for us. When I finally believe that god loves and forgives me, that I am no longer his enemy and he’s not angry at me, that changes everything! So really the only thing that changes is the “if you believe this then god does this” to “believe this becuase this is what god has done”. If that is witchcraft, then perhaps there is still some misunderstanding. And in the end, if some still reject god, that is between god and them. I do believe though that god’s judgement ultimately serves a restorative purpose, not just a punitive one, and that when it is all said and done, however it ends up working out, that all will be reconciled and restored by and through love. And it will be of their choosing. God’s love can melt even the hardest and most inhumane heart, which typically are the most hurting ones.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1453448664 Anonymous

    Here’s a great quote from a great man that speaks to this day well.
    “I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

  • Anonymous

    What a blessing to find others who have come to this same conclusion. So glad to connect with you!

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