Leaving Beyond – Grounded In Scripture

The Danger of Universalism in Times of Grief

When we imagine men in heaven who lived their lives in rebellion toward God, who gave no evidence of regeneration, who treated God’s Word as a mere object to appreciate rather than as the authoritative Word of God, and who reduced God to a mere higher power—call Him what you will—what does that say to those still living when we tell them that the Gospel commands them to repent and be saved?

What mockery do we make of the Person and work of Christ when we paint in men’s minds images of those in heaven whose lives demonstrated that they were enemies of God? When we change the Gospel for those who die in rebellion to God, we betray in practice what we profess with our lips; we become Universalists. When men die, the world observes the consistency of our message. What do they hear? What do they see?

The Peril of Comforting Words Without Truth

When someone famous dies, or a loved one, or a friend, or someone who did many good deeds, or even someone who would have given you the shirt off their back—but never gave any evidence of being born again—many Christians unconsciously embrace Universalism.

It has long troubled me how the truth is so perverted in the death of those who give no evidence of saving faith. I think of the living, though dead in sin, hearing professing Christians console themselves and others with a perversion of the Gospel. At such times of immense grief, it would be far better to be silent than to mislead many into a false sense of security.

As J. C. Ryle observed:

“It is better to speak the truth in sorrow than to comfort men with lies. False comfort is cruelty cloaked as love.”

Grieving with Truth

How grievous! How damning is such a message! May we be mute if speaking would comfort ourselves at the cost of misleading others. May God grant us grace and courage to weep with those who weep, yet stand upon the truth.

The truth is the greatest comfort in grief, though not all desire it. The truth changes our hearts, our wills, and our emotions, and it does not bend to our desires. It is only a comfort to those who have been born again.

Romans 3:23-24 reminds us:

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

The Test of True Faith in Times of Death

Many will declare the truth of the exclusivity of Christ in words, but in practice—when someone we love dies who gave no evidence of being truly born again—do we still hold to it, or do we become Universalists?

Burk Parsons captures this danger vividly:

“I find it fascinating how many Christians are puzzled by the question of who’s a Christian. And sadly, it often comes when a loved one has died. You might have a loved one who never went to church, never worshiped God, never talked about their love for Christ, never spoke of the Gospel, and when they die their loved ones say, ‘Well, you know… I can only hope that he’s in heaven.’ What evidence did they give you? What fruit did they give you that they knew the Lord Jesus Christ? It’s like we turn into Universalists when friends die. And we love them, but let’s not forsake the Gospel because we love someone—even though it might be our own child.”

R. C. Sproul adds:

“We must not bend the truth of God’s Word to soothe our hearts. The Gospel is not negotiable, and the consistency of its message is our witness to the world.”

Standing on Truth in Grief

In grief, let us weep with those who weep, but let us never compromise the truth of the Gospel. Let us remember the eternal weight of glory and the reality of God’s justice alongside His mercy. Only the Word of God, not sentiment or emotion, gives clarity and hope in the face of death.

Grace and peace, y’all.

Soli Deo Gloria

April J. Buchanan