My contention with Christianity

I was raised Christian. For a long time, I believed in the Christian faith. My faith came to a grinding halt one summer when I was working at an unnamed Bible camp, during a week when we had 5th graders. A counselor came into the office, and asked the camp director "one of my campers wants to know if he'll go to Hell if he doesn't accept Jesus, what should I tell him?" The camp director took just a couple seconds to think before replying "tell him he'll go to Hell." A 5th grader; 10 years old. Our director wanted the counselor to tell that kid he was going to go to Hell.

I am now no longer a Christian, and I highly doubt I will ever be again, but there are many Christians whom I respect deeply, and with whom I can speak about just about anything without judgement. Some of these Christians a scholars, others are pastors, others are both, and they all have two things in common: 1. they are exceedingly more educated in Biblical studies than, literally, any one else I have met, and 2. each of them believes everyone is universally saved by Christ's sacrifice.

I hold no ill will towards most who hold firmly to their faith, but the very instance a level of exclusivity is claimed but for the utterance of a superficial four word phrase, I hold a severe point of contention.

Yes, the Bible says "if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, then you will be saved," but it fails to say "if you don't, you're going to hell." There is, however, numerous other scripture professing the universal saving of humanity. I've highlighted every word that includes "everyone" in blue, and I've highlighted every word that writes in an exception to salvation in yellow.

Matthew 18:13 - Like the man who owes a hundred sheep and is not willing to lose even one, God is not willing that any be lost.

Luke 3: 5-6 Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all people will see God's salvation.

John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"

John 3:35 - The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.

John 12:32 - And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself

John 12:47 - If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.

John 17:2 - For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him

Romans 5:18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people

Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord


There are, in fact, other verses that speak of some level of exclusivity - some in Matthew and Mark, but for God's sake, when given the choice, why not just opt for love? What the hell do you get out of telling people they're not going to get into heaven, or they'll only get into heaven if they do such and such?

I digress.