Universalists may be drawn to somewhat more liberal churches for
comfort. In liberal churches, you can announce your universalist
beliefs and not face rejection.
I see the desire for political correctness in churches as a clear
example of the "love of the world" spoken of in 1 John 2:
"15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves
the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the
world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful
pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 The
world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the
will of God lives forever."
As well as in James 4:
"4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is
hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the
world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the
Scripture speaks to no purpose: 'He jealously desires the Spirit which
He has made to dwell in us?"
It is naturally a strong desire for us to want the world and especially
the elites of the world to look at us as good and nice. A biblical
universalist can feel hard pressed from two directions. Conservative
churches often malign us as wishing to be friends of the world and the
world won't be our friend because they see we aren't the pluralists
they would like.
I guess such a position has a long and glorious tradition. George
MacDonald seemed to have such a problem. In many of his novels,
you'll see characters who form a very small, informal church and stay
out of the established church. I haven't gone that far and hope I don't.
The early Church may have had the same feeling: despised by the Jews
on one hand and by the Romans on the other.
If we stay in Bible believing, but minimally authoritarian churches and
follow Christ with a whole heart, being humble and patient when wronged,
while always happy to help those who have maligned us, perhaps we'll win
some over. If not, we really have only One to answer to.
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