Let's all play: BASH THE BISHOP!!!

Three guys who are cock-sure that they're HOLIER THAN YOU.

Bishop Carlton Pearson "excommunicated"

Following is an article from Self-Proclaimed "Saint" William Kingsnorth--

Carlton Pearson, the Pastor of Higher Dimensions Family Church has recently found himself under attack. He has strayed from the orthodox theology that he learned as a student of Oral Roberts University. This has cost him much, as ORU will no longer allow him to use the Maybee Center, and also will not let him pick up students for services at his church. He has recently resigned from the Oral Roberts University Board of Regents.

 Several associate pastors have left his congregation as well as many of the congregation over the new doctrines he is teaching. Even his dry cleaner does not want anything to do with him. He also feels that his new teachings cost him a primary mayoral election.

 His new theology is a form of Universalism, which is the belief that everyone will eventually be saved, including Muslims, Hindus, Buddhist etc… This is far from the orthodox of mainline denominations view. Mainline orthodox theology states that Jesus’ death and resurrection made salvation available to everyone, however everyone must make their own decision to accept Jesus as their savior. He calls this new revelation of his the "Gospel of Inclusion".

He said in a recent interview “ I believe that most people on planet earth will go to heaven, because of Calvary, because of the unconditional love of God, and the redemptive work of the cross, which is already accomplished.”  He also stated "is it more important that you accept Christ, or that Christ accepts you?" Which is the Gospel? “My posture is that all will be saved, with the exception of a few.”

His view of salvation and hell are far from the evangelical orthodox view. He says he does not believe in matching eternities, endless torment for billions of souls. I don't interpret hell that way anymore. He states "that this would put hell on the same level as our heavenly eternity." He believes that "this is inconsistent with the nature of God."

He states that "God determined the exact habitation of all people. He knew there would be billions of Muslims, and billions of Chinese. Why would He give them life and then only give salvation to those few who were born in the right place, and at the right time, to hear the message of Christ?" He further states " The message that the world needs to hear is not that they need to accept Christ to be saved, but that God loves them and has already reconciled them to Himself." This is the most disturbing statement he has made on this subject.

He has not received a very positive response to his new teaching. John Hagee and Marilyn Hickey have confronted him over his teaching, Oral Roberts denounced him in a 12 page letter, and Richard Roberts criticized him openly on his television show. Bishop T.D. Jakes told Charisma Magazine that "Pearson's theology is wrong, false, misleading and an incorrect interpretation of the Bible." Gilbert Patterson the president of Pearson's denomination issued a statement that formerly distanced the denomination from his teachings.

Pearson says that he will not back down from his teaching or theology. He has stated that he is "open to counsel and correction, but believes his theology is right." He is considering writing a book on the subject possibly called, "God is not a Christian." He says that he is going to make an issue of it, and that the Church has presented an inaccurate gospel. He states "I will vociferously oppose this religious, arrogant, ignorant, spirit of self-righteousness, bigotry and intolerance, that is rampant among us who call ourselves evangelicals."

Conclusion

One thing that you need to do if you are a Christian is PRAY for Carlton. He is deceived and he needs our prayers. I am not attacking Carlton personally with this article, but rather exposing his heretical teachings. Like I said, pray for him! Pray for the people in his congregation that are also deceived. Prayer does change things.

Y'know, normally I'd withhold comment reacting to individual opinions on religion and polotics. But this individual not only points an accusatory finger, he does it at someone who's an old friend, THEN he PUBLISHES it on the internet. Although there are no laws governing internet antics, this is tantamount to libel in printed form to say nothing of pride and judgement issues that it conflicts with in the Bible so as Carlton's friend and an opponent to the tyrannical positioning of organized religion I shall break this down point-to-point.

He has strayed from the orthodox theology that he learned as a student of Oral Roberts University.

Innaccurate: Carlton was raised with "orthodox" beliefs. If ORU taught us anything, it was hypocrisy and social climbing. By this initial statement, Kingsnorth (if that is his real name) shows that he's never talked to Carlton, confronted him in person as scripture asks nor knows anything else about him.

Even his dry cleaner does not want anything to do with him.

Here's your typical high-school stab at piety aside from the fact of what little impact this has in the grand scheme of salvation-- "...And they did submit their raiment for dry-cleaning in worship of Him" GIVE ME A BREAK!

Mainline orthodox theology states that Jesus’ death and resurrection made salvation available to everyone, however everyone must make their own decision to accept Jesus as their savior.

In this SAME article Kingsnorth torpedoes his own argument by quoting Carlton e.g.: “My posture is that all will be saved, with the exception of a few.” which says the SAME THING.

Bishop T.D. Jakes told Charisma Magazine that "Pearson's theology is wrong, false, misleading and an incorrect interpretation of the Bible." Gilbert Patterson the president of Pearson's denomination issued a statement that formerly distanced the denomination from his teachings.

Gee, look at all these other "Holy Men" jumpin' on this bandwagon! Why does Carlton even have a right to LIVE? Oh, you can throw in John Hagee, Marilyn Hickey and Oral Roberts too.

He (Carlton) states "I will vociferously oppose this religious, arrogant, ignorant, spirit of self-righteousness, bigotry and intolerance, that is rampant among us who call ourselves evangelicals."

RIGHT ON! I'll join that fight for as long as I can draw breath.

One thing that you need to do if you are a Christian is PRAY for Carlton. He is deceived and he needs our prayers. I am not attacking Carlton personally with this article, but rather exposing his heretical teachings. Like I said, pray for him! Pray for the people in his congregation that are also deceived.

That's HIS conclusion--Here's MINE.

So, this is not a personal attack, eh ?? His beliefs, his upbringing, his education and his convictions. At the essence, that's pretty much all a man is. If you got any MORE personal, you'd pick out his underwear for him. You call him "Deceived" and a "Heretic". Somehow, I don't remember a Chorus of Angels descending from Heaven and proclaiming "Saint Kingsnorth". He's also been "distanced from his denomination". Sorry to give you a wake-up call but I kinda' think that's what he's after. As for Jakes, Hagee and Hickey, they appear to me to be among the TBN throng who claim enlightenment then beg for money in God's name. They'll never top Oral, though. 7 Million dollars or "God will call me home". In retrospect, the trip "home" would've been cheaper. This doesn't begin to cover their other accomplishments i.e. proclaiming AIDS a "judgement from God" and starting a national prejudice or helping The President foster a law against gay marriage, to name but a few. Religious ignorance, arrogance, bigotry, self righteousness and intolerance; you either don't have enough schooling to understand these terms, or if you do understand you don't own a MIRROR. Do us all a favor Willie, shut your mouth, crack a Bible and get a life.

Our next blow-hard is Gary A. Hand:

ondoctrine.com subheading: Heresy

Carlton Pearson is a high profile religious leader, recording artist and political aspirant who is now entangled in a doctrinal controversy of his own creation. Previously deeply allied and involved in the Word of Faith Charismatic throng, he has alienated himself from many in that system, not by his rejection of the charismatic, but by his championing of a different gospel. This gospel is his own version of the "Wider Mercy Doctrine" or, as he terms it, the "Gospel of Inclusion."

Carlton Pearson seemed to take his associates by surprise, when he announced that he held to those views. Since his fellow charismatics do not normally teach such a deviant doctrine, at least not in such a blatant manner, either they would have to change their teaching in order to conform to his, or they would have to ignore his doctrine and accept him on the basis of being a charismatic, or they would have to disavow what he teaches. Many have preferred the latter course, including his friend, T.D. Jakes, who is no paragon of theological clarity himself. No stranger to deviant doctrines and outrageous claims by its own leadership, even Oral Roberts University, Carlton Pearson's alma mater, was forced to take action and removed him from its board of directors. Precipitating a large exodus from his church and a drop in attendance to his Azusa Conferences, Carlton Pearson brought to the forefront the deep roots of error that were the core of his theology which he inherited from his earliest memories. His core beliefs came out of the Church of God in Christ, and the charismatic nature of his faith along with the adoption of a belief in continuing revelation from God provided his foundation of sand, in which a true theology was non-existent and would eventually lead to error of the highest type of heresy.

A talented and gifted individual in communications, music and leadership, Carlton Pearson desires to be at the pinnacle and in the forefront of his endeavors. His personality is such that he aspires to leadership, control and autonomy in his actions. His gifts are not wrong in themselves and the use of them is a benefit to ministry, but when his gifts are connected with his self-centered desire for preeminence and his radically flawed theology, doctrinal tragedy can be the only result.

MAJOR DOCTRINAL ISSUES

THE "GOSPEL OF INCLUSION"
What is so controversial about his new gospel? It isn't new at all, since it is basic to the core belief of all Universalist believers. It is the adoption of a Universalist belief that is the difficulty and the core of the heresy. His beliefs are as follows:

A. The death of Jesus Christ on the cross and His resurrection paid the price for all of humanity to have eternal life in heaven, without any requirement to repent of sins and receive salvation.

B. Belief in Jesus Christ, is not necessary for a person to go to heaven. Salvation is unconditional, granted by the grace of God to every human being.

C. It is presumed that all of humanity will have its destiny in heaven, whether they realize it or not.

D. All of humanity will go to heaven regardless of their religious affiliation, including those who believe in false religions or adopt any other form of religious persuasion, or who have no religious persuasion.

E. Only those who have "tasted of the fruits" of real intimacy with Christ and have "intentionally and consciously rejected" the grace of God will spend eternity separated from God.

F. There are persons in some type of hell, but the emphasis is "to get away from the picture of an angry, intolerant God. I don't see God that bitter."

In a brief article, designed to give an overview of his theory, titled, Jesus: The Savior of the World, Carlton Pearson begins with three quotes, designed to bolster his authority to present his theory and at the same time intimidate those who would reject it outright or not even consider its content. He quotes John Milton, indicating that those who do not accept or consider his theory are lacking in knowledge, but those who are good men, like himself, present opinions, which are "knowledge in the making." He quotes Thomas Watson, indicating that people who refuse to discuss the issue have a personal opinion that they value more than truth, insinuating that his view is the truth. He quotes J. Drummond, implying that those who are not willing to reason with him about his theory are bigots. Finally, he quotes Oswald Chambers, implying that his detractors try to limit God by their reason, and since he is on a higher level, his belief transcends reason, just as does God. So, he begins the presentation of his doctrine with a fusillade of affronts to those who might disagree with him, hoping that a good offense is the best defense.

However, Carlton Pearson did not choose the sources of his quotations well, because John Milton, Thomas Watson and Oswald Chambers would have vehemently opposed his new doctrine, and his designation of J. Drummond as living in the era of the Civil War would mean that the author rose from the dead, because it was Sir William Drummond (1770-1828) who gave the quote in his Academical Questions. If Carlton Pearson has approached his new doctrine with the same imprecise and faulted study that he used in assigning his quotes, then it is no wonder that he is adrift in a sea of error.

THE NATURE OF GOD
Carlton Pearson's difficulty begins with a flawed concept of God in relation to man. In presenting aberrant doctrines, the attempt is always made to define the nature and character of God as less than who He is, and to raise the level of the nature and character of man to a position which he is not entitled. A wrong view of God leads to a wrong view of Jesus Christ, a wrong view of the Holy Spirit and eventually to a wrong view of the elements of salvation.

Through his claim that the God, traditionally believed by orthodox Christians, is a bitter God, Carlton Pearson sets up a "straw man" argument or a false premise, against which he argues and makes his claims. He does the same by defining the reason for God's anger being bitterness on His part, which is a human characteristic but not one of God. He wishes to disassociate himself from those who he claims believe in this "bitter God" that he created, for sake of argument, "to get away from the picture of an angry, intolerant God. I don't see God that bitter." Choosing his words poorly, he intimates that he actually does believe in a "bitter" God, because to state that God is not "that bitter" is to assume that He is bitter to a lesser degree. Orthodox belief would deny that God is bitter and would state that a bitter God has never been a tenant of true Christian doctrine. In setting up his false argument, he makes a claim against orthodox belief that is not true, and at the same time places himself in a position where he affirms, by his own words, that he accepts a belief in a bitter god who is just not "that bitter."

He seems to believe that God's intolerance of sin and consequent anger expressed against it, as taught in the Bible and found in orthodox belief, is equated with bitterness. By his acceptance of a bitter God himself, he assigns to God a deviant human characteristic which is the result of a fallen nature, and at the same time denigrates the character and integrity of God by assuming that He acts on the same level as human beings.

Carlton Pearson, by an ever-so-subtle method, begins to teach about a different God than is found in the Bible. He teaches about a God who is less than is His Holy nature, and by just a slight degree, is closer to the nature of humanity than the Bible reveals. So the character and nature of God is lessened by that small step which will lead to a greater lessening of the character and nature of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, and a consequent vast change in the nature of salvation.

JESUS CHRIST
The question that is presented in Carlton Pearson's doctrine, which has been discussed and answered many times, is, "For whom did Christ die?" Carlton Pearson would answer that He died for every person in the world that ever lived and will ever live. At the same time he would claim that the death of Christ was also efficacious (effective) for every person in the world that ever lived and will ever live. By that claim, he then states that all men are saved and going to heaven as a result of the death and resurrection of Christ, regardless of their religious view, even if they do not know or believe in Jesus Christ.

However, in his theology, the majority of human beings, who are saved and going to heaven, are second class persons in the heavenly scheme of things, because those who are a "Born-Again Believer" and are the "sanctified" individuals through a specific belief in Jesus Christ, are also "set apart to and for special service, ranking and relationship both with and to The Lord Jesus Christ...," which he claims is taught in 1 Corinthians 1:2. (This is strikingly similar to the The Trip To Heaven dream that Jesse Duplantis claimed to have, in which there are two categories of Christians, where the weaker ones must smell the leaves of the Tree of Life in order to get strength.) So, his theology becomes apparent: salvation is given to every human being, unconditionally through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, because, a personal relationship or faith in Jesus Christ is not necessary to obtain salvation. However, sanctification, or the setting apart to a higher ranking, is accomplished by a specific belief and relationship with Jesus Christ. This is the absolute reverse of orthodox belief. Since Carlton Pearson claims to have this belief and relationship with Jesus Christ, he presumes to be set apart, ranked higher and anointed to a higher level than the normal, every day person who is simply going to heaven on a scholarship.

SALVATION
The difficulty in Carlton Pearson's theology is that it turns salvation on its head. He claims that salvation is granted to every human being, unconditionally. This salvation is granted at birth, because the ultimate destination of every human being is presumed to be heaven. Even those who believe in another religion or another god are saved; they just don't know it.

The death of Christ made it possible for God to accept sinful man, and that he has, in fact, done so. Consequently, whatever separation there is between man and the benefits of God's grace is subjective in nature and exists only in man's mind and unregenerate spirit. The message man needs to hear then, is not that he simply has a suggested opportunity for salvation, but that through Christ he has, in fact, already been redeemed to God and that he may enjoy the blessing that are already his through Christ.
---Carlton Pearson, Jesus: The Savior of the World

Even though the Bible states that man is estranged from God and requires redemption through belief in Jesus Christ, John 3:18, Carlton Pearson claims that this estrangement is only in the mind of man and that all man needs to do is realize that he is already saved, rather than needing to be saved. As a result of this view, Carlton Pearson states that Romans 5:12-21 supports his belief, claiming that the apostle Paul taught the gospel of Universal Reconciliation. He then claims that faith in Jesus Christ does not accomplish salvation, but brings about sanctification, or the setting apart of a person from the rest of the crowd who are going to heaven. So, the object of faith is still Jesus Christ, but the purpose is not to secure salvation but to obtain sanctification. He teaches that belief in Jesus Christ, or being "Born again," gives a person special status and an exalted position over other persons. This is a major difference between his belief and orthodox belief. It is at the point of salvation that Carlton Pearson departs from the faith and proceeds to define, on his own terms, the means by which salvation can be obtained. He says that salvation is granted by God through means of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ to all human beings, even though they may not know or even care about the events. Salvation, in his theological system, is unknown to the majority of human beings, but they are saved just the same. He claims that those human beings who do learn about Jesus Christ and are consequently "Born again," receive sanctification and not salvation, because they have already been saved through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The salvation claimed by Carlton Pearson is simply a given entity. It is possessed by every human being without their knowledge. However, this is not what the Bible teaches. Salvation is not possessed by default, but is obtained in a specific manner, by a process which may be slow or quick, but it is a process of obtaining knowledge about Jesus Christ:

"You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus."
2 Timothy 3:14-15
Apostle Paul

"But what does it say? 'The word is near you, in your moth (SIC) and in your heart' --that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that god raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation."
Romans 10:8-10
Apostle Paul

The apostle Paul teaches a different message regarding salvation than does Carlton Pearson. Paul did not preach a gospel of universal reconciliation applied to all, but a specific gospel to be universally preached to all. The difference is quite profound. The gospel of Universal Reconciliation is not the gospel taught by the apostle Paul. Salvation, according to the apostle Paul, is not automatically granted and is not possessed by people from birth. Salvation must be found and it is obtained through faith in Jesus Christ. It is at the point of faith that it is granted, not by default or by inheritance.

Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)- remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 2:11-13
Apostle Paul

The apostle Paul was teaching a radically different gospel than that claimed by Carlton Pearson. The apostle Paul was teaching that those Christians, who were Gentiles, had formerly been separate from Christ, without hope and without God while in the world. They did not have salvation until they were brought near through the blood of Christ. The same view is taught by the apostle Paul in Ephesians 4:18. The gospel of Universal Reconciliation is not taught by the apostle Paul and the claim that he does teach such a doctrine is false.

What Carlton Pearson teaches is a different means of salvation, provided in a different manner, than is found in traditional orthodox belief or in the Bible. The grace of God in salvation is redefined to be the granting of it to all human beings. Faith is redefined as applying to sanctification and not to salvation. Faith is not necessary to obtain salvation in his theological system because it is automatically provided by God to every human being. Everything changes in the gospel of Carlton Pearson. God is less than He is, grace is devalued, faith is not directed to the saving work of Jesus Christ on the cross and as such, the Jesus Christ of his theology is not the Jesus Christ of the Bible.

In Carlton Pearson's theology, if Christ died for every person in the world that ever lived or that will ever live, then His death and resurrection must have been efficacious for all of those individuals. In other words, they were all saved at the point of His death and resurrection, when the penalty for their sins was paid. Since this must be the case, if Christ died for every person in the world, then what accounts for his claim that some who were saved when Christ died and rose from the dead for them, lose that salvation at a future date? He presumes that those who have "tasted of the fruits" of a real relationship and intimacy with Jesus Christ and have "intentionally and consciously rejected" that relationship and grace, will spend eternity separated from God. The reality is, that in Carlton Pearson's doctrine, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ was not sufficient to secure salvation for every person in the world, and, in fact, He died and rose again for people who have salvation for a time in their life, but reject it and will not be saved when all is said and done. So, by definition, they were not granted a universal salvation by God and were not saved, since they are separated from God at their death. Salvation is no salvation if it does not actually save. Carlton Pearson redefines and devalues salvation to mean simply going to heaven. In that context, it is easy to lose salvation, since it is just the act of going to heaven. However, in orthodox belief, going to heaven is a fringe benefit of the act salvation, which is a reconciliation of man to God. Salvation is much more than just going to heaven, and, as such, salvation is truly what the term signifies; being kept secure by God Himself. It is a difficult concept to claim that Jesus Christ died for those who deliberately reject His placement of salvation on their lives. However, this goes very well with most charismatic belief, because it is a common thread in those doctrinal systems that salvation can be lost at any point. Just how a person is supposed to know at what specific point that occurs, is not specified.

In his theological system, human beings have no say or control over being granted a universal salvation by God. It is given without their knowledge or consent. However, human beings obtain control over the possession of their salvation if they are told the gospel message (as Carlton Pearson defines it) and reject it after having "tasted of the fruits" of a relationship with Jesus Christ, whatever that is defined to be. For the majority of people in Carlton Pearson's theological system, God is sovereign in their salvation, in that they are going to heaven whether they know it or not, even if they might reject that destination if they were told. For the others, who have been told the gospel and "tasted of the fruits" of a relationship with Jesus Christ and rejected that message, they are able to break God's sovereignty over their eternal destination and take for themselves the ability to determine their own destiny. The question must be asked, "Is God sovereign or is man sovereign?" In Carlton Pearson's theology, man is sovereign, because what God gives to man can be rejected by man. Man becomes the master and God becomes the victim. At one point, God grants salvation, but at another point that salvation has no effect and the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is pointless, and is powerless to maintain the salvation given.

Even in his own theological system, it would be better if Carlton Pearson would stop preaching his gospel, because the person who does not hear his gospel will not have the opportunity to reject the message and be separated from God as the result. If they do not hear the gospel and reject it, they will go to heaven. Preaching Carlton Pearson's gospel to a person, is, in reality, doing that person a disfavor by presenting to them the option of choosing to be separated from God. Truly, in his theological system, ignorance is bliss, because to be without a knowledge of Jesus Christ will assure a person of a place in heaven. Again, what Carlton Pearson claims is the opposite of orthodox belief and what the Bible actually says. Salvation, according to the Bible, is obtained by hearing the gospel and placing faith in Jesus Christ, while damnation is not to hear the gospel or reject the gospel.

In Carlton Pearson's theology, God grants salvation to every human being on an unconditional basis. The granting of sanctification is conditional, based on the choice of the individual. So, the major aspect, which is salvation is unconditional, while the minor aspect, sanctification, is conditional. In higher education, one spends the majority of time on their major, or the chief area of their study, and the minority of their time on their minor, or the secondary area of their study. In this theology, the major becomes the minor, the minor becomes the major and the individual majors on the minor element, which is sanctification. God and Jesus Christ have gone to the limit in order to provide salvation for humanity, but in this system it is simply granted, even to those who are ignorant of its provisions. But at the minor point of the issue, that of sanctification, the choice is given to continue in the belief or choose separation from God. The great work of Jesus Christ in His death and resurrection is relegated to an insignificant part of the life of a person, while the work of the Holy Spirit in bringing about sanctification is elevated to the major portion of a person's life to such a degree that a person's decision on that more minor element determines whether a person will be separated from God or will go to heaven. This is a theological system turned upside down in which a person is forced to major on the minors and minor on the majors.

The glaring fault in Carlton Pearson's teaching is that he creates two classes of people who are going to heaven. There are the ordinary people, who have never heard of Jesus Christ or have another religious belief, and there are the "sanctified" persons who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and are set apart to a higher level. The difficulty is apparent, in that the first class of people are going to heaven in the same spiritual condition in which they live on this earth. Nothing has changed, because they are ignorant of Jesus Christ, believe in other false religious systems or have no religious belief at all. The Holy Spirit has never worked in their lives and they have never been spiritually changed in order to conform to the image of Jesus Christ.

Carlton Pearson has a gross misconception regarding the elements of salvation. Salvation is not about just going to heaven. If a person could obtain salvation without sanctification, then heaven would be filled with the same sinful, reprobate people in their same sinful reprobate condition, that inhabit this world, which is what his new theology allows. In Carlton Pearson's theology, not only is the method by which salvation is obtained redefined, the nature and composition of salvation itself is redefined and the elements of that salvation are detached from each other. Carlton Pearson assumes that salvation is going to heaven, but there is much more to it than just going to a pleasant place when one dies. Even if there was no such place such as heaven, salvation would still be a necessity because the issue of salvation is about the reconciliation of human beings to God, from whom they are separated. Reconciliation is not accomplished by going to heaven, but by means of the elements of salvation in which God demands accountability by man to the provision made by Jesus Christ by His death and resurrection, through faith, repentance, regeneration, justification, adoption and sanctification, those elements being accomplished through the work of the Holy Spirit. These elements constitute the totality of salvation and cannot be separated. It is not possible to obtain salvation without accomplishing sanctification, just as it is not possible to enter heaven without all of the elements being accomplished in the life of the believer.

Salvation, in the Scriptures, is granted as a result of faith; that faith being exercised toward the person and work of Jesus Christ on the cross and His subsequent resurrection. Faith has always been the means by which salvation was granted, even in the Old Testament, as Hebrews chapter 11 shows. To accept Carlton Pearson's view of salvation is to conclude that one possesses salvation by virtue of simply being human. Presumably if one is born, one has salvation. That is the disaster in his theology. To presume that one has salvation, when one does not, is be lost and damned to an eternity in hell, without the presence of God. Heresy leads to damnation, because to preach a wrong gospel about salvation is to preach a damning message to those who would believe it.

According to Carlton Pearson, the orthodox Christian church has gotten the salvation message all wrong for 1900 years and he has finally been the one to discover the truth and set everyone and everything straight. In a sense, he is maintaining the old apostasy theory that claims the early church believed one thing, but at some point that belief was changed and the church became apostate. He has now come along to end that system of apostasy and restore the truth of the real gospel as he has discovered it. "The Apostle Paul, whose teachings were the first to be referred to as heresies in Acts 24:14, was the first to teach the message of Universal Reconciliation, as he tried to convince Jews and Jewish Christians that the Gospel was inclusive of all of Humankind and not confined to a so-called 'faithful few.'" Subtly trying to compare his situation with the apostle Paul, he intimates that the claims of heresy brought against his teachings are similar to those in Acts. However, he misrepresents the charges of heresy brought against Paul, because they were not charges from within the Christian community, but from the old Judaistic religious system that was abolished on the death of Jesus Christ.

"A careful study of early church history will show that the doctrine of universal reconcilliation was the prevailing doctrine of the Primitive Christian Church." It is clear from the Scripture that this was not the prevailing doctrine of the early church. To claim otherwise is simply a perversion of the Scriptural record and the historical record as well. Carlton Pearson's approach is mirrored by the claims of Joseph Smith in Mormonism, who is considered to be "The prophet of the restoration," John Thomas of the Christadelphians and Charles Taze Russell of the Jehovah's Witnesses, who all claim that the Christian church has been wrong all along, but they and they only, by their own brilliance or by a revelation uniquely given to them, have discovered the truth. The absurdity of Carlton Pearson's claim, according to his own system of theology, is, it does not matter what a person believes; they are going to heaven anyway. So, even if the orthodox church got the message wrong, everyone is still going to heaven. In point of fact, it is not even necessary for there to be preachers to give a message, a church to attend or a religious belief to hold, since all men are going to heaven regardless of what they may or may not believe. If Carlton Pearson were true to his theology, he would have to admit that his job as a pastor or evangelist is completely unnecessary.

Carlton Pearson wishes to preach about a kinder, gentler God than is actually revealed in the Scripture. He wishes to redefine God in a manner that suits the message that he wishes to preach, rather than reveal the true character and nature of God. He wishes to do the same with Jesus Christ, so he states, "It is my objective to simply re-present Jesus in a softer and more loving way, being less excluding and more 'inclusive' in His love, tolerance, acceptance, and glorious promise to all."

Redefining God in the image of Carlton Pearson is his goal, in order to present a gospel that people want to hear. It is a gospel in which they can go to heaven just like they are. It is a gospel in which people are presumed to be worthy of heaven in the condition that they find themselves. It is a gospel in which they can excel to higher levels through the message of sanctification by faith, never dealing with the sin and depravity in their soul.

Carlton Pearson is adopting a gospel that is strangely reminiscent of Robert Schuller and his positive thinking theology. Robert Schuller took a survey and asked people what message they wanted to hear. They told him what it was, and he now preaches the comforting homilies of a positive self-image and high self-esteem. Salvation, according to Robert Schuller, is the adoption of a gospel of self-love, a positive self-image and high self-esteem that is sufficient to approach God. This is a gospel of arrogance, presuming that a person has the right to stand before God based on their own definition of adequacy. Claiming that the apostle Paul taught a negative message, Robert Schuller states that he does not preach the message of the apostle Paul. He takes upon himself the authority to determine what is important to preach from the Bible, and, as such, he places himself in a greater position of authority than God, who is the author of all Scripture.

Carlton Pearson has adopted Robert Schuller's popular approach, wishing to eliminate from his theology what he considers to be a negative message. My posture and position is that far fewer persons would be inclined to reject Jesus were He presented closer to how He presented Himself as He walked among men on the planet earth. He was a magnet for sinners, as they were drawn to Him by His Love, as seen in Luke 15:1-7... But it was those same sinners, the ones who had all their diseases healed, and their bellies filled with food through the miracles of Jesus Christ, who demanded that He be hung on a cross and the thief, Barabbas, released to them instead. At the point that Jesus Christ confronted their sin and the condition of their soul, demanding a spiritual response to His presence, His popularity ended and their hatred of what Jesus Christ taught began.

Though I strongly believe in the scriptural basis of the message of judgment and some kind of expression of hell, of late, in an attempt to inspire my own congregation to a greater sense of evangelism, I've been encouraging them to begin to emphasize more of the James 2:13 admonition that "mercy will triumph over judgment." Ultimately, God's answer to hell is Calvary-that's the Good News. Not too sure about hell and the message of judgment associated with it, Carlton Pearson takes a verse out of context, attempting to apply it to the ultimate mercy of God in granting salvation. James 2:13 has nothing to do with the mercy of God or the teaching that it will ultimately triumph. It is the person whose life is characterized by one of mercy who will be ready on the day of judgment by God. Why Carlton Pearson would claim that the message, "that mercy will triumph over judgment," is a greater inspiration to evangelism than the true gospel message, that repentance of sins and the acceptance of Jesus Christ as Savior will deliver a person from the judgment of God, is hard to understand. However, when salvation is given to every human being at birth, there is not much of any other message that can be preached.

Placing himself in the position of authority over the message of the gospel established by God, he assumes that he has the power to redefine God, Jesus Christ and salvation in the manner that best suits his true ultimate goal of extending the boundaries of his ministry. His "new" doctrine came about, not as a result of a desire to present doctrinal purity, but in order to extend the appeal of his ministry to a vast group of people who do not wish to hear or know about a gospel in which sin must be realized and confessed in their lives. As such, he teaches a gospel that says, "I'm ok. You're ok. We're all ok." To that end, Carlton Pearson has created his own gospel, just as Robert Schuller has created his. He is taking a calculated risk, willing to lose some followers now in order to appeal to a greater number as time goes on.

Carlton Pearson wishes to see himself as the leader of a new theological approach, redefining God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, salvation and sanctification. He looks to himself as the head of the movement and to others in order to provide a foundation for his beliefs, pointing toward those who call themselves "Universal Reconciliationists," with similar views. He uses the trendy terminology, that is so overused in charismatic circles today, that is supposed to assign a high level of importance and intellectual credence to what is being stated, indicating that a "paradigm shift" in thinking identifies his theological system, hoping to convince other people that he is doing great and mighty things.

Paradigm shifts, no matter how they are defined by their proponents, must adhere to the teachings in the Scripture, otherwise, like Carlton Person's "new" theology, they are simply the old heresies wrapped in another package.

No false prophet can be successful unless he has a following, and followers are culpable when they make no attempt to verify the truthfulness of their leader against the truth of the Scripture and, as a consequence, they deceive themselves.

END OF ARTICLE
by Gary A. Hand
On Doctrine.com

Our last contestant, Mike Oppenheimer, is posted on a web page jokingly called "Let Us Reason":

Carlton Pearson and Universalism
Mike Oppenheimer-- letusreason.org

When I watch Pearson on Politically Correct hosted by Bill Mahr last year, he had next to nothing to say to people who were flaunting their sin and making evil statements. I thought, how can this representative of the gospel be silent in the face of this? Since then a number of things have come to my attention and I now understand why. Pearson is a well-known pastor and evangelist, for over 20 years Carlton Pearson has been pastor of the Higher Dimensions Family Church in Tulsa. It would not be necessary to even write of Pearson since there are others who hold the same view, except that he is the presiding bishop of the Azusa Interdenominational Fellowship of Christian Churches and Ministries, Inc., which includes over 500 churches and ministries. He has authored a variety of books and was even nominated for a Dove Award and a Stellar Award Winner. Carlton Pearson's Alma Mater is Oral Roberts University and was a Member of the Board of Regents. Pearson has recently come out with a book and statements that has endorsed universalism. Oral Roberts University took action and removed him from its board of directors due to his theological differences. According to “The Tulsa Beacon,” Pearson has been confronted over his teaching by televangelists John Hagee, Marilyn Hickey and his mentor, Oral Roberts. Roberts sent Pearson a 12-page response after he sent him details on the teaching. While I certainly do not agree with what these people mostly teach, what I do appreciate is even his own friends did not bend their views because of friendship and stood for Biblical truth on this matter. This is a rarity in these times.

“He corrected everything he thought was wrong and told me to change my vernacular,” said Pearson, who relocated to Tulsa from San Diego 30 years ago to attend Oral Roberts University, the “Beacon” reported.

From what I understand, Roberts, Hagee and Hickey, as well as other ministers who know Pearson and several Tulsa pastors refused to talk to Charisma News about the subject. However, Pearson noted that fellow black preachers, including Charles Blake, G.E. Patterson and T.D. Jakes, are familiar to some extent with inclusivism.

When asked about Bible verses that could undermine his argument, Pearson questions the validity of their transmission and translation. He says the Bible is “paper and ink” and “shouldn't be an idol” (The Associated Press).

What a thing to say about the Word of God that Paul stated to Timothy “that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 3:15). No Bible - no wisdom.

Pearson teaches that sincere people who do not directly acknowledge Christ -- such as Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and Unitarians -- will go to heaven. The finished work of Christ at Calvary redeemed all of humanity, not just Christians, back to God,” Pearson says. “The whole world is already saved -- they just don't know it.” This is a nice thought but hardly a biblical position.

Pearson explains “The death of Christ made it possible for God to accept sinful man, and that he has, in fact, done so. Consequently, whatever separation there is between man and the benefits of God's grace is subjective in nature and exists only in man's mind and unregenerate spirit. The message man needs to hear then, is not that he simply has a suggested opportunity for salvation, but that through Christ he has, in fact, already been redeemed to God and that he may enjoy the blessing that are already his through Christ ” (Carlton Pearson, Jesus: The Savior of the World).

We can see that Pearsons view like other “Christian universalists” faith is not required for Jesus Christ's death on the cross; the saving work is applied automatically without the recipient knowing. This is not the teaching of Jesus Christ, therefore whatever Jesus or gospel this is we can be assured it is not about the Jesus Christ of the Bible. Pearson was “Born Again” in 1959, at age 5. and has traveled on a journey to get to where he is today.

Pearson is not the first to come to this conclusion Hannah Hurnard wrote in Eagles’ Wings to the Higher Places of her fictional character “‘He is the Saviour of all men!’ (1 Tim. 4:10). The words burst forth in passionate triumph from the lips of Aletheia. ‘Oh, how blind I have been! He is lifted up and nailed to the cross with us. As Jesus revealed when He hung between the two thieves and murderers, He will “draw all men unto Him.” “As in Adam (poor fallen Mankind) all die, so in Christ, the Second Adam, shall all men be made alive” (1 Cor. 15:22). Oh, what a victory! The only victory truly worthy of the Great God and Creator Who “did not make anything in vain but in the end restores all things unto Himself” (Acts 3:21). Oh, it is the Best News possible, the only possible News, if we are truly to love and trust Him fully’” (Eagles’ Wings to the Higher Places, pp. 35-36-Quoted from PFO article from High places to Heresy).

The misunderstood passage in Adam, all will be made alive is the crux of the universalists proof from the Bible. We will look at their scriptural support later.

If Carlton Pearson's theology (along with the other universalists) are correct, if Christ died for every person in the world that ever lived, that His death and resurrection is efficacious for all without believing, then we no longer need to preach Christ and mankind is sinful. Since salvation is automatically given without their knowing or consent. In fact, according to Pearson, the only way one is kept from heaven is when they hear the gospel and refuse it. Therefore from this view we can conclude that we should not give them any opportunity to hear and reject the message to incur judgment, this way they will not be separated from God as the result.

But this held belief is defective, common sense tells us if Jesus reconciled all by his death then certainly rejecting it cannot undo what is unanimously given to all. Since there is not need for faith to be saved, ones conscious unbelief could not remove them from being recipients of these same universal benefits. Ignorance is not bliss in the case of salvation, the Bible insists we are to believe and repent. Faith has always been the means by which salvation is given but now we have those who state a spiritual conversion is unnecessary. Strangely enough Pearson holds “I believe and preach with all my heart, the power and appropriateness of being Born Again, which I experienced personally over 40 years ago as a five-year-old child (Words from the bishop . . . Jesus: The Savior of the World (The Gospel of Inclusion.) I certainly can't understand how two opposing views can be held at the same time. Both cannot be true, it's either one or the other.

Paul writes in Ephesians 2:11-13 “remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.”

This is said only after Paul writes, “For by grace you have been saved through faith.” Notice what the conduit to receiving God's grace is, Faith. Paul makes it absolutely clear what the Bible states by his asking in Romans 10:8-10 “But what does it say? 'The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart' --that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.”

So what are we to conclude from those who hold the universalist position? Paul also addresses it by stating “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!” (Galatians 1:6-8) The Apostle Paul: “God forbid that I should glory in anything except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Gal. 6:14). One must have faith in what Christ did for the work He already accomplished to have any reciprocal effect on the individual. Believing (exercising faith) to receive is an absolute necessity.

Pearson states that a God who eternally condemns non-Christians would be worse than Hitler. “Hitler killed six million [people], mostly Jews. He is the most despised man in the twentieth century. Is God worse than Hitler, who's going to burn eternally, endlessly, billions of people?”

Let me put this into perspective another way for us to understand -- you have a fatal disease that will deteriorate all the flesh off your body, the doctor offers you the true cure, but you deny your sick or that you need it. If you do not take the true cure and you die, is it the doctor’s fault or yours?

And what of Hitler? according to the universalists view he or other despots of lesser evil may enjoy being in the kingdom with others who did right because God is SO merciful. Would that be fair? Something to consider as one adopts this unsupported view in the Bible.

Pearson had a three-day conference at his church entitled “Contending for the Faith Once Delivered Summit,” at which the “gospel of inclusion” was to be the main focus. Speakers at the three-day conference included Pearson himself as well as several others who are proponents of universalism. Pearson said. “A careful study of what I have taught will reveal that it is entirely scriptural, logical and theologically sound”, “So-called false teaching does not necessarily make a person a heretic, but an evil heart and attitude can make any doctrine heretical. That's why the World Trade Center isn't standing today and 3,000 people are dead.”

To compare those who are supposed to know with those who follow another religion and killed 3,000 is hardly rational. This is not how the Bible describes heretics! Whosoever ... abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, HATH NOT GOD” (2 John 1:9) 1 Tim. 4:16 “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.”

2 Tim. 4:3-4 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” Universalism is a fable if there ever was one.

The “gospel of inclusion,” is Universalism. In short, universalist teach that all will be saved regardless of their acceptance of Christ by faith. All of humanity will have its destiny in heaven, whether they realize it or not. Wonderful, tickles the ears doesn't it.

To hold the position that everyone even if they are an idolater, ungodly are all going to have eternal life in heaven, without any requirement to repent of their sins and receive salvation is absurd from the Biblical point of view. The universalist view is the spirit of our age. It is inconsistent with the faith that is in the Bible it is the Devils trump card to annihilate the gospel message. By doing this he can bring the church to participate in interfaith.

This is not a trivial matter but is a core doctrine that is connected to salvation, and what makes one saved and in the grace of God. Lest we forget Jesus who said “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (Luke 5:32). The view of universalism is that they are considered righteous not needing repentance. This is not just the liberal Jesus Seminar that is attacking the Bibles clear teachings, but those inside the church that we would consider evangelical.

Pearson says he is, “…trying to get away from the picture of an angry, intolerant God. I don’t see God that bitter” (“Carlton Pearson’s ‘Gospel of Inclusion’ Cost Mayoral Bid” by Eric Tiansay. Charisma News Service, March 19, 2001).

God is not bitter, nor intolerant, however God is still angry at sin; he has not changed his mind, Psalm 7:11-12 “God is a just judge, And God is angry with the wicked every day. If he does not turn back, He will sharpen His sword; He bends His bow and makes it ready.” Psalm 5:5 “The boastful shall not stand before Thine eyes; Thou dost hate all who do iniquity” Psalm 2:12 “Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.” Prov. 6:16-19, “There are six things which the Lord hates, yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, A false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers.” Christ is still the only cure. Nothing has changed since.

There was judgment in the beginning of the earth in the garden, judgment on the earth with Noah, judgment on cities with Sodom and Gomorrah and there will be the judgment of nations and people when Christ comes back. Gen. 6:5-7 “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the LORD said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth.”

God is still going to deal with sinners as he did in the past. Isa. 13:9 “Behold, the day of the LORD comes, cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate; and He will destroy its sinners from it.” 2 Pet. 3:6-7 “by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.”

Yet in all this God is not willing to punish, Psalm 145:20 “The LORD preserves all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy.” Ps. 78:37-39 “For their heart was not steadfast with Him, nor were they faithful in His covenant. But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and did not destroy them. Yes, many a time He turned His anger away, and did not stir up all His wrath; For He remembered that they were but flesh, a breath that passes away and does not come again.”

Some beleive that we should say that God only hates the sin but loves the sinner as if we accept anyone despite what they do. The Scriptures indeed tell us that He loves us, (1 John 4:8) but we are commanded to repent. It is better to accept the love of God found in Jesus than to reject it and suffer His wrath. The fact of the matter is that God is holy and righteous and He hates those who sin and He punishes the sinner who does not repent of his sin. He does not punish sin apart from punishing the sinner. While we hear that we are to love the sinner and hate the sin, this part is true -- however Sin cannot be separated from the person, for it takes a sinner to do sin. Sin is rebellion in the person’s heart. Therefore, God must punish the sinner. Why? Because He is both Holy and just, the person who sins offends God. God's holiness and justice cannot allow Him to ignore the offense no matter how much he loves the person. Nor would He be just to give to the sinner the same end as those who repent to follow His ways.

The Law is a reflection of God's character. These commandments are not without punishments. A law without consequences is only good advice. To sin is to break God's Law it is an offence to his nature. To sin means to challenge His authority over mankind. God does not lie, neither is He mocked. His will keep his word He has said He will punish the law breaker and sinner. Isa. 1:28 “The destruction of transgressors and of sinners shall be together, and those who forsake the LORD shall be consumed.”

Pearson states: “A careful study of early church history will show that the doctrine of universal restoration was the prevailing doctrine of the Primitive Christian Church.” History does not show that the doctrine of universalism was a held by the Primitive Christian Church as he and others claim. It was Origen in the 3rd century who began to espouse this view as he held to a more allegorical interpretation of Scripture, but it was never held as an orthodox church view.

If we look at some of the more known names and theologians of the early church they certainly counter this view.

Some refer to Justin Martyr (1st century) in his Apology “an apocalyptic destruction of the whole cosmos, in order that evil angels, demons and men may no longer exist.”

Justin Martyr said: “We have been taught that only they may aim at immortality who have lived a holy and virtuous life near to God. We believe that they who live wickedly and do not repent will be punished in everlasting fire” “Hell is a place where those are to be punished who have lived wickedly and who do not believe that those things which God has taught us by Christ will come to pass” (First Apology, 21, 150 AD).

The Martyrdom of Polycarp “Fixing their minds on the grace of Christ, [the martyrs] despised worldly tortures and purchased eternal life with but a single hour. To them, the fire of their cruel torturers was cold. They kept before their eyes their escape from the eternal and unquenchable fire” (Martyrdom of Polycarp 2:3).

Second Clement “If we do the will of Christ, we shall obtain rest; but if not, if we neglect his commandments, nothing will rescue us from eternal punishment” (Second Clement 5:5 150 AD).

Second Clement (150 AD) “But when they see how those who have sinned and who have denied Jesus by their words or by their deeds are punished with terrible torture in unquenchable fire.”

160 AD Mathetes “When you know what is the true life, that of heaven; when you despise the merely apparent death, which is temporal; when you fear the death which is real, and which is reserved for those who will be condemned to the everlasting fire, the fire which will punish even to the end those who are delivered to it, then you will condemn the deceit and error of the world” (Letter to Diognetus 10:7).

177 AD Athenagoras speaking on the hope of Christians then says . . . or if we fall with the rest [of mankind], a worse one and in fire” (Plea for the Christians 31).

189 AD Irenaeus of Lyons “The penalty increases for those who do not believe the Word of God and despise his coming ... [I]t is not merely temporal, but eternal. To whomsoever the Lord shall say, 'Depart from me, accursed ones, into the everlasting fire,' they will be damned forever” (Against Heresies, 4:28:2).

Hippolytus “Standing before [Christ's] judgment, all of them, men, angels, and demons, crying out in one voice, shall say: 'Just if your judgment!' And the righteousness of that cry will be apparent in the recompense made to each. To those who have done well, everlasting enjoyment shall be given; while to the lovers of evil shall be given eternal punishment. The unquenchable and unending fire awaits these latter, and a certain fiery worm which does not die and which does not waste the body but continually bursts forth from the body with unceasing pain. No sleep will give them rest; no night will soothe them; no death will deliver them from punishment; no appeal of interceding friends will profit them” (Against the Greeks 3).

Doesn’t sound like inclusivism from some of the more well-known theologians of the church. And the reason is because neither does the Bible say this. The point is that one can find some obscure statements to try and prove their view but universalism was neither the majority view nor a widely held view in the early church, especially by those who stood on the Bibles revelation. It was held by but a few who had no real influence on the church. Many other quotes could be cited. Our basis for truth is not men but the Bible; interpreted in its whole revelation not part and piecemeal.

Pearson also states: The mainstream church believes there is only one salvation--that from sin. That is where the error is. It is true that salvation is primarily from sin, which is the offence of Adam, but there is also a need for salvation from works of the flesh, which are bad or unGod-like habits and hobbies, because of that original sin.”

This is the same thing, as the sin nature works its ways through our physical life. The fact is an unrepentant sinner not trusting in Christ’s atonement will end up going to hell. He may even appear to live a more pure life then some Christians in some respects but because he has neglected to accept the way, he will not enter.

Pearson also states, Hell was prepared for the devil (or slanderer) and his angels (or messengers) (Mt. 25:41). Don't be so quick to send your fellow man to Hell, especially if God is not desiring to do so Himself (2 Pet. 3:9). Hell is a bad place, so why is mainstream Christianity OK or comfortable with “the lost” going there?

I don’t think anyone is comfortable with it and making an argument from what is not a held belief doesn’t help this position. We are to be uncomfortable enough to tell people so they can avoid going there. In fact if you look at the Scripture cited it is people that are being consigned there, not the devil and his angels. The point is the Bible says it was made at first for the Devil and the angels who were the first sinners in the universe. Jesus warned of men going to the same place “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt 25:41) God’s mercy is narrow, not wide, the deception is wide. Every time Jesus uses the word wide it’s a bad thing. Matt 7:13-15 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.” Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. He goes on to teach about false prophets in sheep’s clothing who are really wolves, and likening people to trees he states, “every tree that does not bear fruit is cut down and thrown in the fire.” The eternal torment view of mankind who rejects Christ has been held as the majority view since the beginning of the church. The main Scriptures are: Matthew 25:31-46; Mark 9:38-48; Luke 16:19-31; Matthew 12:24-36; John 3:35-36; Revelation 19:19-21; Revelation 20:7-10; Revelation 20:11-15. selah

Salvation is not limited to mean only going to heaven, for one must be forgiven of their offence to God in the first place. This is a misunderstanding of how serious our sin is and the effect it has on us. That’s not my opinion that’s God’s absolute word on this. (Jn.3:)
Pearson believes the granting of sanctification is conditional, based on the choice of the individual. But yet one cannot be sanctified without first being justified, and this according to God’s word which he tells us he is using.

This theology creates a two class system of people who are going to heaven. Those who have never heard of Jesus Christ that have other religious beliefs that are false according to Jesus. The “sanctified” persons who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ seem to attain a higher level. What’s the difference of those who actually knew Him and followed Him on earth if they both receive the same outcome? The answer is simple, it doesn’t substantially matter.

Pearson sates --The Apostle Paul, whose teachings were the first to be referred to as heresies in Acts 24:14, was the first to teach the message of universal reconciliation, as he tried to convince Jews and Jewish Christians that the Gospel was inclusive of all of Humankind and not confined to a so-called “faithful few.”

It is Romans 5 that universalists love to use apart from Paul's other writings. Let's read his almost 2000-year-old words: Romans 5:12 -21: “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned-for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come. “But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

His mistake is a common one. Though Adam means mankind, there was an individual named Adam who was the one who bought sin into the world that affected all mankind. Gen 3:17 “And unto Adam” the noun is used for the first time as a proper name without the article. The scripture is talking about a particular person Adam as it is Moses.

The last Adam, Jesus Christ, corrected that mistake--all are forgiven for the offence which came through the first Adam (1 Cor. 15:45) if they put their trust in Jesus sacrifice, there is a qualification that universalists seem to ignore.

Rom 5:8-11 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.” The blood has to be applied just as it was in the first Passover in Egypt.

Here is the same Paul qualifying what he meant in Romans by stating in 1 Tim 1:15-16 “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.” Paul is giving himself as an example for the worst kind of person having God's mercy given if they believe on him. Paul certainly believed on Christ Jesus and taught others to do the same.

It is true as those who are in Christ live but to come into Christ one must choose to do so. It does not happen only by what he did, we must exercise faith after the good news is heard.

Romans 5 “But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! “In Adam all are condemned, in Christ all live Through His sacrificial death, the gift of eternal life is offered to the many.”

The trespass entered to all indescrimanently, it is inherited. This becomes an issue of what is called the sin nature in all people.

Romans 5:12-19 the “Alls” in Adam and Christ

We are not punished because of Adams transgression but for our own sin which we have inherited from him, we are all in the same boat-- all have sinned. We are all sinners because we have inherited the fallen nature of Adam. Our being born with this sin is a proof of our guilt in Adam the fallen man. As the Book of Romans teaches “THERFORE, just as by one man's disobedience, many were made sinners, Through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.” (Rom 5:12) We die because we are already spiritually dead, which God calls sinners.

Rom.5:15 “But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.” The many is meaning the whole race; both Jews and Gentiles. The many to whom grace abounds, who receive the gift of righteousness, (the many means the same for both Adam and the gift offered results in justification. Paul has already told us how to be justified in Rom 5:1-2 “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Notice By faith we are justified and have access into his grace. Paul is not confused on this issue, the universalists are. When Paul states THERFORE, it is a summation of what he previously wrote.

Barnes' commentary states Rom 5:15 “In order that the Universalist may draw an argument from this, he must show that it was the design of Christ to destroy ALL the effects of the sin of Adam. But this has not been in fact. Though the favors of that work have abounded, yet people have suffered and died. And though it may still abound to the many, yet some may suffer here, and suffer on the same principle forever.” (from Barnes' commentary)

V.16 “And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification.

The two groups in this verse do not refer to everyone the same way. The first many includes all who became subject to death as a result of Adam’s trespass. By the one offense of Adam brought sin and judgment to all, and all are now condemned. The free gift of Christ, on the other hand, removes the many offenses, not just one that came from Adam. However, there is a qualification to have this free gift.

Paul makes a parallel, a comparison between the offence of Adam and its consequence; and the free gift of God and its distribution to its recipients. Adam's offence, is not more powerful than the Gospel grace. Paul says where sin abounds grace abounds much more. There is a resemblance in the manner of the two things compared. Guilt and condemnation came by Adam, but justification and righteousness come by Christ. Not that we all are recipients automatically, we must do something to be transferred from Adam into Christ. From the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. The many means all who become members of the new creation, through Christ the new Federal Head, the last Adam. It includes only those to whom God’s grace has been applied by faith-that is, true believers. They will know their life has changed because they are following the life-giver (Romans 6 takes us through this).

All the whosoever will passages become meaningless if everyone makes it. The Gospel of Jesus Christ insists upon obedience to His Word, all these commands become options not necessary for salvation when one adopts a Universalist viewpoint.

Christ Jesus died for every man; salvation is free for all; Rom. 5:17 “For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. It is received in the gospel by Christ. In other words everyone inherited the sin of Adam with no choice in the matter. But the gift is not the same in that one must choose to receive it, it is found in Christ.

The gift is not in its nature and effect like the offence. It is absurd to take the position, that “the all” in the latter extends with “the all” in the former. The plain sense of the scripture is, that all found in Christ should be made alive in Him. Even as all mankind, or all represented by Adam, had died in him when he sinned.

To whom “grace abounded” in v.20 are obviously the same with those in Rom 5:17, for Paul clearly affirms “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23)

All mankind are in some sense benefited on account of the atonement of Christ: yet fall short of “saving benefit.” We are in the age of Grace and God is withholding judgment but Paul says he will judge one day, and if you are still in the first Adam you will receive the penalty.

Universalists are unable to interpret the apostle's reasoning, supposing that Adam and Christ represent exactly the same company; Adam was representative of the whole human species, because they are his posterity; Christ, is representing the chosen remnant, which has become one with him by faith in his sacrifice.

1 Cor. 15:21-22 “For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.” You will remain in Adam unless you exercise faith, yet you will experience the resurrection. But some will be resurrected to eternal life others to eternal condemnation. This purpose is to show them the things they did in their body.

Paul qualifies what he states in Rom.5 elsewhere so there is no cloudiness to what he means unless one isolates his writing with everything else he wrote. Rom. 8:14 “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” One is not a son unless they are adopted, no one is born automatically into Christ's family, only in Adam's. John 1:9-13 “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” Paul says to test yourself to see if you are in the faith. You can’t receive the benefits of being in Christ unless you are in Christ by faith. This includes salvation and heaven. Gal. 3:26 “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” Not everyone is a son in the family of God with a relationship to God.

Rom. 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.” But to have the Spirit Jesus says one must be born again spiritually. 2 Cor. 1:21-22 “Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” Paul said prior to this in 1 Cor.1:18 “the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing and then makes the application “but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” There is saved and unsaved and the believing in the crucifixion makes all the difference. Instead of the death of Christ making universalism possible this make universalism a complete impossibility.

The two strongest passages from Paul that are used for universalism are 1 Cor. 15:21-28 and Eph. 1:10, yet one must twist all his other statements to prove Paul held the doctrine of universal salvation. An unbiased study of the passages clearly shows this is not the apostle's intent. Cor. 15: 21-28, we have first the statement--”For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (ver. 22). Paul affirms that in Christ all shall be made alive not all shall be made alive outside Christ as a general promise. The point is how does on get in Christ?

The Bible tells us in1 Corinthians 15:22 “as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive” All who are descended from Adam die. So in Christ all shall be made alive. This verse has been taken to teach universal salvation. It is argued that the same ones who die in Adam will be made alive in Christ, and that all will eventually be saved. But that is not what the verse says. The key phrases are in Adam and in Christ. All who are in Adam die-- these are those who are born once in a physical body. All who are in Christ shall be made alive, these are those who were born spiritually. Only believers are in the Lord Jesus Christ, they only will be raised from the dead to dwell eternally with Him.

2 Cor. 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

Col. 1:28 “Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” What's the sense of warning if everyone is ok. No sense preaching Jesus, which is exactly what the destroyer of your soul wants.

Gal. 2:16 “knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” Doing good to others will not get you to heaven at all, only Jesus will.

Rom. 3:21-24 “But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets. even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

2 Tim 1:9 “who has saved us (through faith-not by osmosis) and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.” You find your purpose from being in Christ.

Eph 2:10 “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” One must have the faith to do these good works so that they are in Christ as the previous verses state.

So any other scripture that has promises in Christ Jesus has to be defined by this As you have given Him [Jesus] authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as you have given Him” (John 17:2). Jesus said “as many,” not “all” He gives eternal life to. The Gospel of Inclusion makes this a voided statement as it does other statements Jesus preached on the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:31-46); the gate is narrow not wide (Matthew 7:13-14), it's not an 8 lane highway.

Daniel writes that some will be resurrected to eternal life and others to judgment. Dan. 12:2 “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt.” So even the Old Testament disproves the universal belief that people will be accepted; some will and others rejected.

Contrary to Pearson and other Universalist's opinions, Paul did not teach universalism. Phil. 3:8-9 “Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.” You cannot be IN Christ by another religion. Christianity teaches the opposite of trying to be accepted by God by your own works. Paul taught against this even though he practiced Judaism more zealously than anyone of his time.

Again one must believe in the gospel to receive anything from Christ. Mark 16:15-16 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” There would be no sense to write such a thing if it were not true but the qualifying statement, “he who does not believe will be condemned” goes along with Jn.3 that we are already condemned. So they remain in their condemnation not being removed from it because of UNbelief.

Acts 16:31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Over 240 times the Scripture command to believe and exercise faith on Christ for salvation.

Nothing could be clearer to refute universalism. There are too many qualifying scriptures that abolish a universal view. For it was Jesus who said, “ except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

I Jn. 5:12-13 “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”

Well, you gotta love these guys. Each one making unwarranted assumptions about someone they've NEVER met, each one so all-fired positive that his interpretation of scripture is ABSOLUTE, each one aghast that someone would dare to preach their own views to a congregation. I'd sure like to know what you boys are doing that is any different. I haven't found two individuals in 55 years that understand scripture exactly the same way. Why do you suppose there are so many bible-based religions?? And I've never noticed Carlton naming your names and condemming you for your views. I also notice that neither of you appears to have an ordination in your title if such thing holds any bearing at all. Someone thought enough of Carlton to grant him a Bishop's recognition. Could there be some bruised egos involved at the core of your rhetoric??

I love Gary Hand going after Robert Schuller. I'm not that crazy about him, myself even after working for a very short time at GGCC but I'm not enough of a divine presence to actually denegrate ANYONE for their own perceptions.

And then we have Mike Oppenheimer:

"...And what of Hitler? according to the universalists view he or other despots of lesser evil may enjoy being in the kingdom with others who did right because God is SO merciful. Would that be fair? Something to consider as one adopts this unsupported view in the Bible."

Fair? Fair?? that you should even have to lower yourself to live on a planet full of "Sin" must be so trying for you. You really must get with a better class of people, huh buddy?? Can't help but notice that Jesus never minded it. When questioned about his social activities, always hangin' out with people that everyone considered low-lifes, I seem to remember him saying "Where should I be?" Must've really galled you when he absolved the one thief hanging next to him on Skull Rock. Gosh these heaven folk will just let in ANYBODY won't they??

I remember once having a discussion with a similar extremeist who asked me if I thought someone who is Mormon or Catholic or Buddhist or any other Spiritual sect you might name, was correct in their practice. I told him that whatever way you can come to the Cross is a good one. Also, try as I might, I found no scripture where Jesus gets on a public soapbox like a street vendor and points out all these fallible sinful individuals although even if he HAD, he is the ONLY LIVING PRESENCE in Earth's History who is justified in that context. There is no fact, verse or extrapolation of fact giving any man or woman the right to set any judgement on his or her Brother or Sister in any WAY, SHAPE or FORM especially in matters of the Spirit.

Do you fellas REALLY want to be remembered in your faith as back-biting, "holier-than-thou" pseudo-moralists?? I see nothing edifying, uplifting or evangelical about such behavior in any sense of the genre, and the fact that you're doing all this in a public medium smacks strongly of the ludicrous. You would've really enjoyed working for Pope Innocent III or The Spanish Inquisition or the Salem Witch Trials. You could've spent blissful days torturing or murdering anyone you suspected of being an infidel in the name of the Law and your Church with complete impunity. In fact, why not erect a great statue or statues to others of the same ilk like Stalin, Hitler, Frederick Wortham or Joe McCarthy. While you're at it, throw in a GOLDEN CALF just for old times sake.

The one up-side to these rantings is that they are out in the open. Trouble really comes from the David Koreshes and Jim Joneses who operate behind closed doors until it becomes fateful to any followers.

Here's a novel approach, an article from someone who actually KNOWS Carlton:

Gary Amirault provides much needed light in this dismal tunnel

What is Carlton Pearson’s “Doctrine of Inclusion?”
By Gary Amirault

I was asked by Carlton Pearson to write an editorial for the Tulsa Beacon, a Christian newspaper in Tulsa Oklahoma on behalf of himself as to what Carlton's "Doctrine of Inclusion" consisted of. I assumed since he asked me to write it that he (Carlton) believed like I do, that is, the universalism expressed in the Scriptures by all of the prophets, Jesus Himself and His apostles. Here is what I first wrote. I had to condense it considerably for the newspaper version:

In a nutshell, this doctrine is nothing but Jesus Christ’s mission on the earth. “He came not to judge the world but to save the world,” not just a part of it. (John 12:47) Throughout church history, there have always been those who had faith great enough to take the bold declarations of Christ’s triumph seriously and literally. Oftentimes, this great faith, especially during these end times, has been ridiculed as ridiculous when in fact it’s more ridiculous not to believe plainly stated scriptures. Most Christians today do not take seriously hundreds of Scriptures which plainly state that when Jesus is finished with His work on earth, He will “reconcile all things unto Himself…whether in heaven or earth.” (Col. 1:20) While some Christians have great faith for big cars, homes and health, they berate those who believe in great scriptural promises like: “This is a faithful saying and worthy of ALL acceptance. For to this end, we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of ALL men, especially those who believe. These things command and teach.” (1 Tim. 4:9-11) That, in a nutshell, is Carlton Pearson’s “Doctrine of Inclusion,” that Christ is in deed and in fact, the Savior of both the whole world AND the “especially” ones, that is, the church. (John 4:42; 1 John 4:14) It’s the only gospel that can give hope to the deepest of sinners because it knows NO limit. The traditional gospel fails most of mankind leaving those in deepest condemnation hopeless.

In 1 Timothy chapter 2, Paul exhorted us to “pray for all men.” If we pray in faith according to God’s will, will we not receive what we ask? (Mark 11:24) Well, according to most of the “little faith” church, Jesus will only save a handful of all those He died for. But according to scores of Scriptures, Jesus did fulfill God’s will and desire: “God will have all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim. 2:4, KJV) Why does most of the church not believe these and scores of other plain scriptures? Well, Paul warned that most of the church would fall away from this glorious truth. He warned there would be those inside the church who would draw disciples after themselves. Today there are over 30,000 denominations dividing the body of Christ from each other. We can plainly read Paul’s warnings NOT to divide, yet we do it anyway, proving that most Christians “honor Christ with their lips, but their hearts are far from Him.” (Isa. 29:13; Matt. 15:8)

Some of the main scriptures supporting the teaching that all mankind will be eventually restored back to God are: 1 Tim. 2:4-6; 4:9-11; John 4:42; 12:32; 12:47; 1 Jn 4:14; Col. 1:16-20; 1 Cor. 15:22; Phil. 2:9-11; Acts 3:20, 21; Rev. 5:13; Gen. 12:3 and many more. (For more, see http://www.tentmaker.org/books/ScripturalProofs.html)

By the fifth century AD, the church had pretty much abandoned the Scriptures. The Scriptures were translated into Latin by Jerome who introduced many mistakes in the translation. Later, the people were forbidden to read the Scriptures in any language including Latin. During this period, the church incorporated thousands of pagan doctrines, rituals and traditions that, according to Jesus “made the word of God of no effect.” (Matt. 15:6-9) While the Protestant church has discarded many of those traditions that nullify the plain word of God, it still has much Dark Age baggage on its back. Some of that baggage got into some our English Bible translations. The “lying pen of the scribes” (Jer. 8:8, NIV) added some of that Dark Age theology to our Bible versions. They put mythological characters like unicorns and satyrs into translations like the KJV even though we know today such creatures never existed. But the King James translators believed in them in seventeenth century England and so we have in some translations many things NOT found in the Hebrew or Greek.

The biggest tradition of fallen men that translators added to some Bible translations was the pagan teaching of a Hell of everlasting punishment. The word “Hell” comes from Teutonic mythology, NOT from the sacred Hebrew and Greek Scriptures. Most Christians do not even know there are major differences between English Bible translations. Most do not know there are many translations that do NOT contain the concept of a hell of eternal punishment. Here are a few of them: Young’s Literal, Rotherham’s Emphasized, Weymouth’s N.T. in Modern Speech, Concordant Literal N.T., 20th Century N.T. as well as many more. While not popular in Hell-teaching circles, these Bibles can be ordered through most Christian book stores.

Clearly, the early believers of Christ and the church leaders taught universal salvation. St. Basil the Great, writing in the fourth century wrote, “The mass of men (Christians) say that there is to be an end of punishment to those who are punished.” (De Asceticis) St. Jerome wrote in the same century, “I know that most persons understand by the story of Nineveh and its king, the ultimate forgiveness of the devil and all rational creatures.” St. Augustine, while himself teaching eternal torment wrote, “There are very many (imo quam plurimi, which can be translated majority) who though not denying the Holy Scriptures, do not believe in endless torments.” (Enchira, ad Laurent)

An honest look at history shows that the majority of the early church believed that all would eventually be saved. The Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge by Schaff-Herzog says in volume 12, page 96, “In the first five or six centuries of Christianity there were six theological schools, of which four (Alexandria, Antioch, Caesarea, and Edessa, or Nisibis) were Universalist; one (Ephesus) accepted conditional mortality; one (Carthage or Rome) taught endless punishment of the wicked.” A most crucial and important in point in church history: when Emperor Constantine militarized and politicalized the church, the teaching of Hell became a more powerful weapon of control than a loving God who loved all mankind. At that point the teaching of universal salvation began to be stamped out through severe persecution. The result? The church created what we now call “The Dark Ages.”

Before the Dark Ages, the church was vibrant with the teaching of God’s love for all mankind. The second major church council composed of hundreds of bishops from the entire church met in Constantinople in 381 AD and elected Gregory of Nazianzus, an avowed Universalist, as president proving clearly that the great majority of the church leadership at the end of the fourth century believed in universal salvation. Yet today universal salvation is considered a heresy in most denominations. The early church better versed in the original languages of the Scriptures and closer to the apostles’ teachings thought otherwise. Who do you think is more likely to have the truth? The early Church or the thousands of divisions of Christianity formed by men “drawing disciples after themselves” centuries later? (Acts 20:30)

Well-known and great men and women have embraced the “larger Hope” (as some coined the teaching of the salvation of all mankind.) Abraham Lincoln believed it. Perhaps his belief in the salvation of all mankind was Lincoln’ s driving force to end slavery in this country. Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence believed it. Famous theologians like Karl Barth, B.F. Westcott, and William Barclay embraced it.

Those who embrace this scriptural doctrine today are usually born from above, morally conservative, serious students on the Bible and are usually more versed in church history and the original languages of the Bible than the average Christian. They believe that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life and they are very Scripture-centered. The main difference between those who believe in the “Doctrine of Inclusion” is that they have greater faith in God’s love, mercy, and power to save than those who think God’s going to trash most of mankind. And this belief, that Jesus will do what He promised to do…save the world…is the source of great persecution by the hands of our own brothers and sisters in the Lord. In Carlton’s case, it may have cost him the election. Another trait of these believers in the Glorious Gospel is that they believed denominationalism spoils the witness of one Lord and Savior and one body in the earth.

Tulsa, Oklahoma is known for its great “faith” preachers. One would think that with all the Word/faith preaching going on in this city that Carlton’s doctrine would be easy to believe; yet that apparently isn’t the case. Apparently, the faith in this city is what Jesus called “little faith.” They believe for their own health and prosperity, but not for saving God’s children gone astray. This doctrine will not fit into narrow minds or small hearts that dare to limit God from achieving His plan to restore all things back to Himself through the work of Jesus Christ.

There are those who believe that Love NEVER fails -- there are some who believe it fails for most of mankind. (1 Cor. 13:8) There are those who believe nothing is impossible with God, while some believe that man’s will is greater than God’s will to save all mankind. (Luke 1:37) There are those who have great faith in God’s promises that all the families and nations of the earth shall be blessed and there are those who don’t. (Gen. 12:3; 12:18) Carlton prefers to believe Jesus over the Dark Age traditions perpetuated by those with little faith. Carlton takes Jesus at His word when He said, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw (drag in the Greek) all mankind unto Myself.” (John 12:32) There are some Christians like Carlton who rejoice when they read Scriptures like the following one and there are those who want to twist it and diminish Christ’s glory, honor and power, “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus EVERY knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:8-11) (We know that no one can say this except with the Holy Spirit.) Unless one has the faith of a little child, one cannot see the kingdom of God and all its glory. Some have faith to see the finished work of the cross for all mankind, some don’t…yet…but eventually everyone will…and that includes you, dear reader. That’s what Carlton Pearson’s “Doctrine of Inclusion” is all about – it’s inclusiveness – it includes everyone! “Oh, you of little faith. Why do you doubt” the power and love of the Savior of the world and His Awesome Father!?

Gary Amirault, editor, Tentmaker Publications

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