To “corpselight”
I never took the term “evangelical” as a negative, Evangelist is something else as in “Elmer Gantry”. So I guess we’re on the same wavelength there. I too have been exploring Universalism for a short time but never found God’s rules and punishments inconsistent since, well, He’s God and pretty much makes the rules. Maybe kind of childish, but that’s just the way I thought.
On being uncomfortable in sharing faith, I don’t think most are comfortable in doing so. But you just did! Grabbing people by the collar on a street corner is not, in my view the only form of evangelization. I can remember reading about the theologian Francis Schaffer on establishing his “commune” L’Abri, in Switzerland, that he opened his doors to virtually anyone to just converse about life, letting the Spirit work, as his form of evangelism and it worked mightily for many years. I, in fact, was brought into Reformed theology primarily via a youth group geared to intellectualization of salvation, I now go to a church who’s form of evangelism is an openness to gay Christians of every faith imaginable. There are Catholic, probably a third of the group, most groups generally viewed as evangelicals, and me the loan Calvinist, although most Reformed people view themselves as being evangelical. The minister is unabashedly, an evangelical, but his love and openness to our brokenness, speaks volumes to the love of Christ, and little more is needed to draw each of us closer to God.
Glad to hear that you too, find that your new view of God, makes Him easier to love. My only concern with where I’m at in the process, is that I don’t want to be guilty of creating a new god that is easier to love. Small g on purpose.
To “nimblewill”
I think the vast majority of evangelicals, Arminianism, and Calvinism alike, view the result of evangelism as salvation – being saved from eternal torment. I too held that perspective. Now, while I have lingering doubts about Universal Redemption, I still look at those I love, and long for them to know God, and yes avoid eternal torment. What form that torment would take, is yet another issue for another post.
I have never deluded myself into thinking I could be free of sin. Evangelism, would logically lead to an awareness of a perfect God (how far we are from that perfection) and unable to save ourselves. That was a primary focus of James Kennedy’s “Evangelism Explosion (evangelismexplosion.org/). Classically moving along the continuum of faith advances to our sanctification and a life that is characterized by denial of sin and becoming more Christ-like. It’s best to let others judge where one is along on that continuum. But thanks for the clarification.