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Destined for Salvation: God's Promise to Save Everyone

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Suppose there was a rural tribe in the farthest reaches of the world who had never seen a Bible, been visited by a missionary, or even heard of the name of Jesus Christ. Would a loving God condemn such people to an eternity of agonizing punishment for what basically amounted to an ignorance of his existance? In thousands of (well-meaning) Evangelical Churches across America, the shocking answer to that question would be a "Yes". Fortunately, their ARE Christians who feel quite differently!...While I have always been a voracious reader of spiritual/Christian books, over the last few years I have taken an specific interest in learning about Universalist Christian theology. How my personal faith journey lead me to embrace Universalism is a long story that I don't have the space to recount here, but let me just say I feel blessed to have discovered this small, growing (but still largely misunderstood) faith movement. Luckily for me, during the period when my interest began growing, several new books on Universal Salvation hit the market - and I have now taken the time to read most of them. What's interesting is that each of these books has a slighlty different approach to Universalist Christianity (sometimes also refered to as 'Universal reconciliation' or 'the wider hope'), and therefore each seems geared towards a different niche audience...Theologian Thomas Talbott's "The Inescapable Love of God" is probably the most exhaustive and scholarly work in this field, and makes it's case based heavily on theological minutia, philosophy, and Church history. Minister/writer David Lowes Watson's "God Does Not Foreclose" deals mostly with discipleship, and contends that Universlaism is the way forward for the modern Church. Randy Klassen's "What Does the Bible Really Say About Hell?" argues convincingly that the mainstream Church (throughout history) has greatly distorted the Biblical texts on hell, judgement, and salvation. And Quaker pastors Phillip Gulley & James Mullholland ("If Grace is True") argue from a humanistic, common sense standpoint (although, based on some of the reviews here on Amazon, a few of the duo's non-traditional ideas, well apart from their Universalism, have proven problematic for more conservative readers)...However, of all the works I have read, I believe that the one that works best as an introduction to the basic tenets of Christian Universalism would be THIS book; Rev. Kalen Fristad's "DESTINED FOR SALVATION". Fristad is a United Methodist minister who travels the country in a van, speaking in any church or public place that will have him. He does this, in his own words, "to spread the message of God's unlimited love and salvation". He is the founder of the Iowa-based 'Destined for Salvation Ministries', and wrote this namesake book to (again, in his own words); "Let the world in on a secret that the Church has kept away from most people for the last 1,400 years...that God will eventually save every person". In just 160 pages, Fristad lays out all of the basic teachings of (and arguments in favor of) Universal Reconcilation, and does so in a way that is clear, consice, and not weighed-down by the type of theological jargon that can make other books a bit too 'dry' for the average layman reader. In one of the book's masterstrokes, Fristad begins his discussion, right in chapter one, by answering and rebutting all of the common objections and "clobber passages" often used against Universalists. His rebuttals are thorough, convincing, and never demeaning to those who would disagree. This then allows the reader to leave some of their preconcieved notions at the door and focus on the evidence at hand. Fristad then builds a strong case based around familiar New Testament texts (quoting heavily from the teachings of Jesus and the epistles of Paul), examples from early church history (including writings from Origen, Tertullian, & Clement), and the most basic tenents of orthodox Christian theology (God's undying love for every person, God's merciful nature, God's omnipotence, etc.) I particularly found the sections about the early-Church to be facsinating. Although many Modern Evangelicals (including Billy Graham) are quick to label Univeralism as heresy, the facts show that the 'salvation of all mankind' was one of the most predominant and well-documented beliefs of the first 500 years of the Christian faith! Fristad also tells how the teaching of Universal Reconciliation was surpressed & banished (often by force) when militaristic emperors such as Justinian & Constintine (heavily influenced by the vengence-based theolgy of Augustine) gained control of the Church in the 6th century. Also fascinating is the information on how poor translations (from ancient Greek into modern English) of only a few key words in the NT have lead to many of the modern misunderstandings about the true nature of Hell, judgement, and damnation (although it must be said that this particular subject is given far more in-depth coverage in Randy Klassen's "What Does the Bible Really Say About Hell?") While some Fundamentalist critics contend that Universalists do not take judgement seriously enough, I doubt they would still feel that way if they took the time to read Rev. Fristad's thoughtful take on the subject. (I would counter that it is the Fundamentalists, who flippantly consign entire races & religions to hopeless eternal suffering, who don't take God's judgement all that seriously!) In fact, towards the end of the book, Fristad devotes a chapter to the question; "Why do some Christians cling so tightly to the idea of eternal damnation?" While I don't have the space here to do his answer any justice, I will just say that any person who has tried to spread the good news of Universal reconcilation, only to recieve a negative, angry responses from fellow-Christians, will find some great food-for-thought in his insights! Actually, the book closes with a chapter on how Universalist-believers can do a better job of spreading the news of God's unlimited love and salvation, even in a World that isn't always willing to listen!...All in all, I believe that Rev. Fristad has created a book that shows quite powerfully that Universal Reconciliation is not simply "wishful thinking", but is a historical Christian position built upon a sound theological foundation. If you are one who is undecieded and curious about Universal Salvation, then this book will provide you with a solid understanding of the subject. If you are already a Universalist, then you will no doubt find your views validated (and even deepened) by Fristad's excellent presentation. Finally, if you are one of those who rejects the idea that God will save all people, (or even thinks all we Universalist-types are crackpots!), I would challenge you to read this book anyway. Will it change your mind???...Perhaps it will, perhaps it won't....But either way, at least you'll hear the case for Universalism presented honestly & completely by a professing Universalist author. The fact is, there is a lot of false information about Universalism to be found in various Evangelical publications & websites. So, if you want to judge the validity of Christian Univeralism, please at least make that judgement based on what Universalists REALLY believe!...Well, thanks for taking the time to read this review, and blessings to all in the name of Jesus Christ, "the saviour of ALL men, especially those who believe" (1 Timothy 4:10)

If you buy and read this book, I think it just may shift your thinking a bit. It is a wonderful book that presents God as very loving, and concerned about each and every one of us. It is easy to read plus Biblically based. I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it to all, particularly to those who are tired of hearing God presented as a damning God, fire and brimstone. This is a much more reasonable understanding of, who I think, God is.

DESTINED FOR SALVATION: God's Promise to Save Everyone

by Rev. Kalen Fristad



Rev. Fristad is a dedicated Universalist who writes about Christian Universalism in a logical and loving fashion. The strength of his book comes from his twenty-seven years' experience as a United Methodist minister in communicating to parishioners rather than to academics. He feels so intensely about the need to spread the Good News of Universal Salvation to everyone that, in the tradition of St. Paul and John Murray, he has been traveling around the country in a mobile home speaking to groups from various denominations. When he was recently in Houston, I had the privilege of hearing him speak and conversing with him.



Interestingly, he begins his book by presenting the scriptures that are commonly sited as raising questions about Universal Salvation. After dealing with these questions, he moves on to a sampling of major verses supporting Universal Salvation. Additional Universalist proof-texts are scattered throughout. Next, he deals with Judgment and the fact that all punishment is "to make the wrong-doer a right-doer". Rev. Fristad sites Biblical verses stating that God's love is eternal and that God does not give up on us, even in Hell. He notes that after Jesus' crucifixion, Jesus went to Hell to bring out "all the people who in former times did not obey" (I Peter 3:18-20, 4:6). He adds that modern-day near-death experiencers report that such rescues are still occurring. Rev. Fristad says that God is more gracious than the best of we human parents and that God is always waiting for us to come home --- not only Here but in the Hereafter. Rev. Fristad uses M. Scott Peck's developmental theory of four stages of spiritual growth to illustrate how humans at different stages of development view God. He notes that people at Stage II (formal/institutional level) are the ones most likely to oppose Universalism. Those who oppose Universalism are sometimes doing so because of the theological lens through which they view Biblical verses, but more often their opposition is based on wanting to be in God's exclusive club. (This problem is as old as Jesus' disciples jockeying for position in the Kingdom of God.) Next, the history of Universalism is presented from the 2nd Century to the present. The final chapter deals with how the traditional message of Christian exclusivity alienates people from God. The book ends with an Appendix on how to spread the word of Universal Salvation.



This easily readable and well-organized book is a "must" for any Universalist and a source of comfort for all traditional Christians who have agonized over the fate of their non-Christian loved ones.


This article originally appeared in the UNIVERSALIST HERALD, May/June, Vol.156, No.3.

Destined For Salvation is a well written, thoughtful, convincing book about Christian Universalism, the belief that God will eventually save all people through Jesus Christ. There are many books available on this subject, but Kalen Fristad's is one of the best because it is easy to read and suitable for a general Christian audience.

Fristad does more than simply quote verses from the Bible that support universal salvation. He explains how the key themes of scripture point toward a universalist interpretation of the Gospel, and he is fair in recognizing that not all Bible verses seem to support universalism. He also discusses the many negative effects of belief in eternal damnation and argues that belief in universal salvation has a positive effect on the way we live and treat each other.

One of the best ideas in this book is that salvation is about spiritual growth, an eternal process of growing into God's likeness, not just one moment of going down to the altar and professing a religious doctrine about Jesus. Another book that I highly recommend which more fully develops this theme is Christian Universalism by Eric Stetson.

I would give Destined For Salvation to anyone as an introduction to the Christian teaching of universal salvation. Definitely one of the top books about Christian Universalism!

Destined For Salvation is like a cup of cold water on a hot day for those of us thirsty to understand Christian Universalism. Rev. Fristad's book is easy to read, and includes many modern day references to helpful insights, particularly how the co-dependency of the traditional church perpetuates the doctrine of eternal hell. Many who have quietly believed in their hearts that Jesus is the Savior of all people will find great comfort in the pages of this book. I recommend it highly to anyone seeking a closer walk with Christ that affirms the worth and dignity of all God's children.

A well written book. Makes a good case for the unconditional love of God. I have a few other books to read on this topic yet, but this is definitely on my list to give to others.