Am I a Liberal Universalist?
3 June 2026 Hits:285
I caught up with one of the local pastors a couple of weeks ago. We have known each other for many years but hadn’t spoken for a while, so it was good to see him again. We had a lot to catch up on, so we spent an hour and a half chatting in my office.
During the conversation, he told me he’d heard I’d embraced liberal theology. That was news to me, so I asked what he meant. He said he’d heard I’d become a universalist. His statement didn’t surprise me, as I’d heard it before, but it was good to have the chance to set the record straight. That’s why I’m writing this blog.
Definitions
Liberal theology has nothing to do with affiliation to a particular political party. I just wanted to clear that up. This theological approach was popular in the 19th and 20th centuries and sought to harmonise faith with modern knowledge and science. It also tends to approach the Bible metaphorically, viewing supernatural events through a naturalist lens.
Universalism (also known as universal reconciliation or universal salvation) is the doctrine that all people, because of divine love and mercy, will ultimately be reconciled with God. Universalists reject the notion of eternal damnation.
Am I Guilty?
I have never considered myself a liberal, though I certainly don’t see any conflict between my faith and science. So, no, I do not subscribe to liberal theology.
Since becoming a Christian as a young adult, I have been firmly grounded in the fundamentals of the Christian faith. I believe in a God who became the flesh-and-blood human being known as Jesus. I believe that Jesus lived, died, and rose again. I fully subscribe to the statements in the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds. My beliefs are generally highly orthodox.
And no, I am not a universalist. I believe God has given everyone the freedom to choose. What if someone doesn’t want to be saved, for instance?
But…
But I do believe that the gospel is universal in extent, and I have taught on this over the past few years at Bayside Church, in blogs, and on the Digging Deeper podcast.
In 2021, several episodes of Digging Deeper were produced to address questions about hell, eternal conscious torment, universalism, and the scope of salvation. At the time, the film Come Sunday was released, about internationally renowned pastor Carlton Pearson, who risks his church, family, and future when he questions church doctrine and is branded a heretic. In short, Pearson became a Universalist. I addressed Carlton Pearson in this episode of Digging Deeper.
After this episode, other questions arose, and I spent the next few podcasts addressing them. I discussed the universal nature of salvation—the fact that Jesus’ death and resurrection provided salvation and reconciliation for all people at all times. The New Testament is brimming with scriptures that speak of “all” and “everyone.” Jesus said, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
We accept that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” but struggle with the next verse, “all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” All means all on all occasions.
Personal Responsibility
I believe that God wants all people to be saved and to come to a full knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:4), but I do not believe that all people are automatically “saved.” The Bible teaches that everyone is responsible for repenting of acts that lead to death and for placing faith in God (Hebrews 6:1).
Paul wrote, ‘Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ He also stated that the living God…is the Saviour of all people, especially of those who believe.
Throughout the New Testament, writers, including Jesus, emphasise personal responsibility in responding to the good news. I did so as a young adult and have faithfully followed Jesus ever since. I am neither a universalist nor a liberal. If you hear these accusations, please refer others to this blog and remind them to avoid gossip!
A Final Word
There are an estimated 47,000+ Christian denominations globally. I imagine most of these will emphasise the core beliefs of the Christian faith as articulated in the creeds. But they differ on a whole raft of topics where the Bible isn’t clear or presents multiple voices.
In my blogs and podcasts, I have answered questions and explored topics we wouldn’t usually cover on a Sunday morning, and discovered what Christians believe on a number of subjects.
Most Christians are taught only one view on each topic—the one their church or denomination considers correct. When they hear an alternative view, they dismiss it as heresy. Yet people who love Jesus hold different views on many matters, and that’s okay. I don’t have all the answers. I’m a lifelong learner, and I encourage people to ask questions and stay curious. As Olivia Benson said in a recent episode of Law and Order SVU: “A good leader welcomes questions. A bad one demands loyalty.”
Let’s remain committed to questioning, learning, and engaging with our faith and scriptures together—that’s an important part of Bayside Church’s DNA.
Rob Buckingham
Senior Minister
