Universalism
Universalism is a broad category that includes secular, pluralistic, non-Christian, and Christian varieties. Non-Christian forms include moral and ethical, philosophical, Universalist-Unitarian, and views among certain religions and belief systems, such as the New Age. These views affirm that everyone has an eternal existence in the universe and/or beyond it that is good. The reasons for non-Christian Universalism vary widely, and it differs from Christian Universalism because there is no need for atonement for sins in the non-Christian versions.
In the New Age, one usually believes in some form of reincarnation and that eventually they will merge with the New Age God or be in some kind of utopic state. In Buddhism, after many rebirths and overcoming attachment to this world and to self, the person enters Nirvana, which is a state of being, not a place. In Wicca, all go to a beautiful place, Summerland, between lives prior to the next reincarnation (this belief may not be held by all Wiccans and there are variations on what happens after death). Perennial Wisdom has the view that all came from God and are in God, and will go back to God (who is more of a principle than a personal God). These views are non-Christian Universalism.
Christian Universalism brings the necessity for Christ into the picture; and Christian Universal Reconciliation is a particular form of Christian Universalism. In some Christian Universalist beliefs, even Satan and the fallen angels are redeemed (Christian author Madeleine L’Engle seemed to hold this view).
Richard Rohr, as an adherent of Perennial Wisdom, holds to a form of Universalism that includes Christ but does not necessitate the atonement Even the supposed Christian form of Perennial Wisdom does not recognize separation from God through sin nor a need for redemption. So while Rohr’s views sound similar to Christian Universal Reconciliation (often abbreviated as UR), and while it is true that Rohr has influenced many of those holding to UR, the beliefs have different origins and foundations. This article briefly addresses some of those who are vigorously promoting Christian Universal Reconciliation, or UR. Because it seems that the UR view is gaining ground, it is worthwhile to get these issues and names out there.
Proponents of Universal Reconciliation
The Message of The Mirror Bible
I first wrote about The Mirror Bible in a CANA Facebook post in 2023. The Mirror Bible is a supposed translation of the original texts put into paraphrase by a South African pastor, Francis du Toit. Du Toit holds to a view called Christian Universal Reconciliation, a belief that includes several variations. The main idea is that everybody is already reconciled to God through the cross and only needs to come to this realization.
In a video interview, Francis du Toit and his wife discuss The Mirror Bible. At about 10 minutes in, Du Toit reveals his view of universal reconciliation: everyone is already saved and just needs to realize it. There is no separation from God, no wrath on sin from God; there is only the need to recognize that we are like Jesus (hence, the name, “Mirror Bible”). He mangles the Greek (according to those who know Greek) in order to justify his translation (see critiques of this Bible at the end).
C. Baxter Kruger and Jamie Winship
Another proponent of Universal Reconciliation (UR) is C. Baxter Kruger, mentor to Wm. Paul Young, author of The Shack. I have investigated and written on Kruger mainly due to his association with Wm. Paul Young and with Jamie Winship, whom I started investigating several years ago.
Winship has a burgeoning ministry called Identity Exchange, and does workshops around the country. Although Winship is more subtle about it, he apparently holds to universal reconciliation; I demonstrated this in several Facebook posts on Winship (the most recent post on Winship contains links to previous posts on Winship). The so-called “identity exchange” is for you to discover who Jesus says you are; this is done through subjective experiences that Winship has set up as exercises in his many seminars and courses. And the “true identity” is that you are already in Christ whatever you may believe. Although Winship does not put it so bluntly, it is clear that that is what he teaches; I have watched dozens and dozens of interviews and talks with Winship, and read his book, Living Fearless.
Kruger bases his views on a disturbing view of the Trinity, stating that “Union in, and with Him is given, and separation is not possible.” Apparently due to an influence from Karl Barth and the Torrance brothers — who were influenced by Barth, Kruger believes that
“whatever happened to Him [Jesus] as a human happens to us and the entire human race.”
The death of Jesus was not suffering wrath for sin but rather identification with Adam and all men. This view in effect denies God’s wrath on sin. One can see how these ideas came from Thomas Torrance:
“When Christ died on the cross, that corrupt, condemned human nature was permanently executed and brought to an absolute, eternal end. The legal penalty of sin—eternal death—was literally and permanently paid because the old Adamic humanity was completely annihilated in the grave of Christ.” Source; also see this
The penalty of sin being “permanently paid” is translated by Torrance and Kruger that nobody is born condemned. The Gospel is not an invitation to believe in Christ but an announcement that one is already in Christ.
Not surprisingly, C. Baxter Kruger wrote an endorsement of The Mirror Bible which can be read on page 7 at this link to the Bible.
Kruger preaches against the need for faith for salvation, insisting that one is already redeemed. Kruger, who has a folksy down-home way of talking, has amassed many followers. His Astonished Hearts channel has a “massive library of over 1,000 videos exploring themes of the Trinity, the unconditional love of God, and spiritual identity,” according to AI, and this does not include all the podcasts he appears on. The page for the channel states:
“This is the central place to access all of Baxter’s videos, which will leave us all with An Astonished Heart, when we realise that the Good News is that – Jesus has come to remind us that we are all included in the Life of the Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit, In us, and want to share their life with us.”
I cannot find any clear indication that Winship promotes or uses The Mirror Bible, but he has made statements that line up with it. Some have told me he quoted from it but I was unable to verify this.
Wm. Paul Young
Another endorser of The Mirror Bible and adherent to UR is none other than Kruger’s mentee, The Shack author, Wm. Paul Young. On the Amazon page for The Mirror Bible, we read:
“In a world where Bible translations and paraphrases are ubiquitous, The Mirror Study Bible is uniquely beautiful and helpful! Submitted to the original texts and the abiding guidance of the Holy Spirit, Francois du Toit carefully and meticulously opens and explores the treasures of Scripture. Not only does it satisfy the demands of the intellect, but it overwhelms the heart. WM PAUL YOUNG – Author of The Shack”
One sure thing about The Mirror Bible is that it is decidedly not “submitted to the original texts” nor to the “guidance of the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirt is as far away from The Mirror Bible as Satan is close to it, because it is a shameless misuse of the Greek, of translation principles, and even of paraphrasing. It may be one of the most terrible translations of a Bible text out there.
Rob Bell
Rob Bell holds to another type of Universal Reconciliation. His view is that some will go to hell but they will have chances to repent in hell and be taken to God. This differs from du Toit, who teaches that the reconciliation is a done deal (see article on Bell’s views by Kevin de Young). Bell is not part of the Kruger circle as far as I can tell, but since his ideas fall under this category, he should be included.
The idea that those in hell will have a chance to repent also mimics teachings from some in the first few centuries of the church that hell is a purgation (Origen of Alexandria, 185-254; St. Gregory of Nyssa, 335-395; St. Clement of Alexandria, 150-215; and a few others). Adherents of UR like to point to these men as evidence that such a view was not uncommon in the church. However, many like Justin Martyr, 100-165; Iraneus of Lyon, 130-202; Tertullian, 155-220; Jerome, 347-420, who initially supported Christian Universalism but later rejected it; Augustine, 354-430; John Chrysostem, 347-407; and others opposed and argued against it, and it was never a foundational teaching in the church. By the 6th century, this view had lost favor and was less common.
But the final word should be Scripture and verses used to support UR have been exposed as not doing so (see further down under Misuse of Scripture).
Brad Jersak
Brad Jersak, a former Canadian pastor who is part of conferences alongside Kruger, Winship, Young, and Brian Zahnd, holds to a form of Universal Reconciliation that views judgment as restorative. Many UR proponents like Kruger, Jersak, and Young speak at the Open Table Conference, founded by John MacMurray, who, influenced by soft universalist George MacDonald (also see this), embraced UR. Jersak’s view is similar to Bell’s though they arrive at their beliefs via different influences. Jersak has a more academic approach while Bell’s is a more popular approach.
One source that said Jersak would never endorse The Mirror Bible because as somebody with theology degrees, he knows what a shoddy translation/paraphrase it is. It is also true that Rob Bell has never endorsed The Mirror Bible although I do not know his reasons.
Brian Zahnd
Brian Zahnd, a Missouri pastor and author of Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God, holds views more similar to Rob Bell than to Kruger, but he is part of the Kruger circle. However, he is not as dogmatic as the others, and does not express certainty about Universal Reconciliation, calling it a “hopeful” view.
In my research on Winship, I consistently came across ties and associations between Winship, Kruger, Zahnd, Jersak, and Young. They seem to speak at the same conferences, they are on podcasts together, and most have endorsed one or more of the others.
John Crowder
I am including John Crowder since he wrote a recent book, The Silence of the Word, which promotes mysticism, panentheism, and Universal Reconciliation. An excerpt from Crowder’s book states:
“It is not only that God is bound up in Jesus Christ, but that in him, God has bound the entire cosmos to himself. Every autumn leaf, every distant supernova in the sky hums with the glory of God. Jesus came not only to impart his divinity but to endorse our humanity. There will always be a human being seated in the Trinity of God, and we have been woven into the humanity of Christ, seated in that very circle of Trinitarian life.”
Brad Jersak endorsed Crowder’s book, writing:
“The Silence of the Word is rooted in a noetic knowing of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ and his presence in us, his Body, and all of creation—’everywhere present, filling all things.”
The description of the book states that the book is about
“an awakening to the union and wholeness already given in Jesus Christ.”
This seeming panentheism goes hand-in-hand with Crowder’s views of UR (see videos here and here), which he openly espouses.
Crowder has enthusiastically endorsed The Mirror Bible; also see here.
Gregory A. Boyd
Open Theist Greg Boyd has moved from a position of annihilationism to a “hopeful” Universal Reconciliation view; also see this video .
The UR view is only one of Boyd’s many theological issues; see CANA material on Boyd.
Misuse of Scripture
Several biblical texts are used by proponents of UR to defend their views:
“Universalists of both kinds appeal to Scripture’s own most sweeping language: that Christ is “the propitiation for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2; Col. 1:19-20), that God “desires all humans to be saved” (1 Tim. 2:4; 4:10), that “as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ” (Rom. 5:18; 1 Cor. 15:22), that God is gathering “all things under Christ as head” (Eph. 1:10) until “every knee” bows before him (Phil. 2:10) and God is “all in all” (1 Cor. 15:28), and that “God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all” (Rom. 11:32).1 Some universalists press further, arguing that the Greek word usually translated “eternal” (aiōnios) denotes only an age of indefinite length rather than an unending duration, so that the destiny of the lost is better read as “destruction,” “corruption,” or “ruin” than as endless conscious torment.” From Theopedia
Theopedia gives some responses to this use of these passages, pointing out that the origins of universalism are in pagan philosophies, and that Christ’s death and atonement is universal in nature, but not in application.
Others that offer more specific responses to the use of those passages can be read here and here. This article on the doctrine of hell demonstrates biblical support for eternal punishment.
The Universal view is nothing less than an attack on the atonement of Christ and on Scripture, which teaches clearly that redemption is only by grace through faith alone.
Impact
While most of these men (except for Rob Bell and Wm. Paul Young) are not known by many Christians, they have had enough influence through their books and conferences, as well as the open ear of some churches, to be making an impact. It is likely that their influence might be the strongest on those disenchanted with church or with Christianity, on those not grounded in Scripture, and on unbelievers who are seeking.
The Mirror Bible is apparently popular among many Word of Faith teachers, New Apostolic Reformation proponents, and charismatic mystics like John Crowder (see link to video from Melissa Doughtery below in which she calls out those who promote The Mirror Bible).
I investigated Winship due to the fact that several people were asking about him. This is always an indication that someone is having influence. In fact, I think Winship has more influence now and may be more widely known than when I first looked into him.
A sequel to The Shack by Wm. Paul Young comes out this month (Oct. 2026), Return to the Shack: A Journey in Redemption. This will undoubtedly raise theological issues, including universal reconciliation.
RESOURCES
CANA Material
CANA Facebook post on Jamie Winship, “Worth Another Warning,” 16 Sept. 2026 (see links in post to previous posts on Winship)
CANA Facebook post on John Crowder (he uses The Mirror Bible but I did not know this when I did the post and I was focused on panentheism)
CANA article on Rob Bell’s book Love Wins
CANA article on Wm Paul Young’s The Shack
Critiques of the Mirror Bible
“Reshaping the Gospel: The Current Rise of Ultimate Reconciliation” by Dr. Damon Adams, Dec. 13, 2018
“To see what the Mirror does to the text, you have to see the theology driving it. Du Toit works within a form of union mysticism joined to what he calls the “mirror principle,” the idea that Scripture’s function is to reveal to human beings their true identity as those already in union with God, already reconciled, already included in the divine life through the Incarnation.
On the surface this sounds like a rich development of Paul’s teaching on union with Christ, a theme genuinely present throughout Paul’s letters. But du Toit’s version moves decisively toward universal inclusion: the conviction that the Incarnation accomplished a permanent, universal union between God and all humanity, not potentially for all who believe, but actually for all, regardless of faith or repentance. In his framework, no one is outside God’s family. No one is perishing. No one needs to be saved in the ordinary evangelical sense. People only need to recognize what they already are.”
“Consider metanoia, the Greek word translated repentance across two thousand years, in every language the New Testament has ever entered. It literally means a change of mind, a turning of the whole self from one direction to another, and in the Gospels it is always something required, what John the Baptist and Jesus demand, what unbelievers have not yet done and urgently must. The Mirror consistently renders it as an invitation to change one’s perception of what God has already accomplished, a shift in consciousness rather than a turning from sin. The call to repent becomes the suggestion to realize.” From “When Theology Wears the Clothes of a Translation” on The Final Convergence website
“A true translation seeks to convey the meaning of the original Greek and Hebrew texts into another language as accurately as possible. A paraphrase, though less precise, still aims to restate the same message in more contemporary terms. However, the Mirror Bible does neither. Instead, it introduces ideas that are absent from the Greek text while deliberately omitting key gospel concepts.
For example, consider John 1:12 in the English Standard Version (ESV):
‘But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.’
Yet, in the Mirror Bible, this same verse is rewritten as:
‘Everyone who realizes their association in him, convinced that he is their original life and that his name defines them, God gives the assurance that they are indeed his offspring, begotten of him; he sanctions the legitimacy of their sonship.’
…The Mirror Bible not only distorts the New Testament but also dismisses the Hebrew Scriptures as irrelevant. Du Toit refers to them as “those old Jewish writings.” From “The Mirror Bible: A Deification of Adam and a Denunciation of Jesus Christ” by Michael Lilborn Williams, Feb. 6, 2025
Short critique of the lack of scholarship with the Greek language in the Mirror Bible on Bible Hub
Video by Melissa Doughterty on The Mirror Bible
Video by Mike Winger on The Mirror Bible
Karl Barth
Theopedia on Neo-Orthodoxy, including views of Barth
Image by AI, Nano Banana
Short link: https://tinyurl.com/mr458wvx