What is Universalism?
What is Universalism? This word is very frequently tossed around Christian Identity circles, yet very few students of the Bible, or even pastors, actually take the time to comprehend an accurate definition of its meaning. Those few who do usually resort to a mainstream Christian commentary or theological dictionary, and some often even pick-and-choose from such dictionaries until they find a definition which suits their own purpose. How one may define universalism must even by necessity be relative to the established doctrines of any particular religious sect so there is no certain definition which can fit all sects. So what is universalism to an Identity Christian? We shall endeavor to answer that question shortly. First, to our readers, there is a closely related topic of interest which we must also discuss.
Particularly, we here at the Saxon Messenger, which is a part of the Christogenea ministry, have been labeling a certain so-called Christian Identity pastor (if we must use the term) as a universalist ever since we stopped working with him over two years ago. We parted ways and broke communion with this individual primarily for his universalist positions when interpreting Scripture. Tired of being accused of name-calling, as if somehow we had no substance to such accusations, this past March on a Saturday evening we laid out a large cross-section of the evidence in a single two-and-a-half hour program, supplying many audio clips directly from this person's own recordings and then responding to them from Scripture. We explained why this person deserved the label of universalist with all possible precision. There is a plethora of additional evidence which can be brought to light directly from the written or spoken words of this person which further supports our assertions.
However it is hard to play football with a ball of jelly. And not only this particular individual, but many other Christian Identity pastors consistently speak out of both sides of their mouths when questions arise pertaining to the non-Adamic (non-White) races in relation to Christian Identity eschatology. And when this topic is addressed they often tell those who question them whatever it is that they feel their immediate audience may want to hear. So when they are in the presence of mixed company, they tell the mexican or the negro that he can be a Christian, but in other venues they tell the Identity Christian or the White Nationalist that Christ came only for the “lost sheep of the House of Israel”, whom they then generally identify as White Anglo-Saxons. The psychology of universalism has long been at work within Christian Identity, manipulating audiences and tickling their ears.
An example of this psychology at work is found when asking one common question, which may be paraphrased: “What happens to the other races when Christ returns?” Many supposed Christian Identity pastors will frequently talk about the exclusivity of the covenants which Yahweh God made with Israel, and how Israel alone is promised salvation and redemption in those covenants. But then when this question arises, they usually have some lukewarm and ambiguous answer which misinterprets several other promises which are also exclusive to the Adamic race (i.e. Genesis 12:3), so that they can somehow include non-Adamic peoples in their vision of the future Kingdom of Heaven. But what of the exclusivity of the Scriptures to the race of Adam, and the children of Israel chosen out of that race? If either salvation or redemption, or both, are for everybody then the covenants which God made with Israel are vain and unnecessary. Also vain and unnecessary are the many warnings against idolatry and race-mixing which are found in Scripture, both New Testament and Old.
Back in April we listened to a portion of a program, a portion which lasted for one hour, where this particular person whom we once worked with was interviewed by another so-called pastor, one who uses the old Aryan Nations title, in response to our March program. In another venue more recently following this program the Aryan Nations pastor has admitted not having looked at the details of the issues before interviewing this person. But nevertheless, he spent an hour allowing this person to defend himself from the label of universalist, without making one point as to the possible substance of the charge. During that hour, the two buffoons came to the conclusion that the label was merely a pejorative.
If one were on trial for a crime, one would have to defend himself against the substance of the charges by refuting the evidence. If one were accused of murder, making the claim that the label of murderer is merely a pejorative is not an effective defense. It is incredible that anyone would entertain a defense against this accusation of universalism, but not raise one point in consideration of the actual substance of the accusation. No honest man, and no honest Christian Identity pastor, should do such a thing. It was also evident that during that hour, one buffoon took for granted the nature of the other buffoon's beliefs concerning Scripture. The labels alone serving as a representative of the substance also become an excuse to neglect any obligation to examine the substance. Imagine buying ketchup and eating sewage with your sandwiches instead. At least the buyer is protected from laws against that; the same is not true concerning religion.
Whenever we have used the term universalist here, it is not merely a pejorative. Rather, it is a statement of fact describing certain doctrines held by those to whom we apply the label. Of course, one may choose to avoid the label by redefining the word for oneself, or by picking-and-choosing from those aforementioned theological dictionaries, since various sects define the term differently. We do not own even one such dictionary: the Bible is our only theological dictionary. Therefore here is how we define the term, generally: Universalism is the belief that Yahweh, the God of the Bible and the God of Israel, blesses, favors, shows mercy, or demonstrates grace towards any people other than those who are the explicit subjects of the promises of these things in Scripture. Aside from these things, universalism is the belief that Yahweh God has provided His Word for the benefit, practice, obedience, or prosperity of anyone outside of those to whom He explicitly provided it, for those same purposes. Additionally, universalism is the belief that Yahweh God, for beneficent purposes, works through or operates upon or on behalf of any people other than those whom He has explicitly chosen for such purposes as stated in His Word.
With these definitions, if one believes that a mexican can be a Christian, then one is a universalist. If one believes that Yahweh would bless a negro, then one is a universalist. If one believes that Yahweh will judge bastards or those of other races based upon their works – implying that He would reward them for good works, then one is a universalist. If one believes that Whites should bless, care for, provide for, or do anything purposely for the benefit of other races, then one is a universalist.
The following is from a source which we would usually scoff at, but which is perhaps ideal considering the topic here. From the Wikipedia definition of universalism: “Universalism, in its primary sense, refers to religious, theological, and philosophical concepts with universal application or applicability. Religion in this context is defined as a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs. Universalism is a term used to identify particular doctrines considering all people in their formation. Universalism in the religious context claims that religion is a universal human quality. This can be contrasted with nonuniversalist religions.”
In answer to a theoretical question concerning eschatology and the non-Adamic races similar to the one described above, Eli James, in his article Beast Of The Field (Part 5) as it was published in the July, 2011 edition of the New Ensign magazine on page 6, said the following: “The Blacks will go back to Africa. The Orientals will go back to China. The Mexicans will be sent back to Mexico.... and we Adamites will keep the lands that Yahweh has given to us. And there will be peace and prosperity everywhere, after Adamkind gets restored to the condition intended for our parents, Adam and Eve.”
If one believes that the Adamic man will rule over the other races with the laws of Yahweh our God, that is a doctrine which has universal application, and it considers all people in its formation, and therefore it is a universalist doctrine. If one believes that a mexican, negro or chinaman can be a Christian even if he is separate from Whites, then one is a universalist, because it is an idea with universal application that puts all people into its consideration. If one believes that God judges people other than those of the Adamic race based upon their works, then one is a universalist. If one believes that other races will benefit in any way from the restoration of the Adamic man to the Kingdom of Yahweh, then one is a universalist. But one is not properly Christian Identity. Christian Identity is a nonuniversalist religion, because our God is not a universalist God. He is the God of Israel, exclusively.
In the days of Abraham, every nation had its own gods. For that reason Yahweh gave them all up, and chose Abraham alone out of all those nations. These were, of course, only the Adamic Genesis 10 nations, and no aliens were ever even considered as candidates for such election. From this point forward Yahweh was the “God of Israel”, the “God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob”, and Christ professed that He came only for the sheep of Israel. Micah 4:5: “For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.” Yet the gods of “all people”, excepting Israel, are little but vain idols as Psalm 96:5 states: “For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.” Therefore the Word of God in Micah tells us that “all people”, all others but Israel, will follow after their gods. Yahweh says of those gods in Zechariah 13:2: “2 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.” If in the end, all of the idols, all of the false gods, are destroyed, then as Micah tells us, all those other peoples who “walk every one in the name of his god” will follow likewise. There are many other Scriptures which support this assertion. Yahweh is not their God, and we must not be caught among their number. 1 John 5: “21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.”