America's New Religiosity: God Bless America, But Don't You Dare Tell Us To Repent!

Alpha & Omega Ministries ^ | n/d | Dr. James White

[BibChr]

PS -- what is called "Oneness" teaching is a heresy, long-refuted, which denies the Biblical teaching that God is immutable (unchanging), and so is eternally one in essence and distinctly three in Persons. (I.e. John 1:1 really does mean Jesus is God, and when He prayed to His Father He really was talking to a Person, not Himself.) It is not a Christian teaching — Biblically defined — any more than the teaching that man is God.

Dan

[AlGone2001]

America's New Religiosity: God Bless America, But Don't You Dare Tell Us To Repent!

Dan,

There is nothing new about that.

[BibChr]

If Christianity says God's nature and will is one thing, and other religions say it is something else, they cannot logically all be true. It isn't "intolerant" to notice that mutually exclusive propositions are, well, mutually exclusive.

Hey, hey, HEY! What are you doing -- trying to inject LOGIC into a recitation of modern kneejerkisms about religiou?

What were you THINKING, man?

Dan

[BibChr]

I didn't say you said that. I just said what I said. K?

Dan

[AlGone2001]

I've easily led 200-people to the Lord for salvation, both child and adult. I always have the person pray for the forgiveness of his/her sins, and work with them as long as I know them on the issue of repentance and abstinence from sin.

Fot too long the church has been treating God as though He is our "Good ole boy."

[BibChr]

I'm glad I'm not your judge too, but don't lie.

The early Christians, as have all Christians, affirmed the elements of the doctrine of the Trinity.

But as a Christian, I frankly don't care overmuch what they thought. I care what the Bible teaches. And it is a LONG-settled issue that the Bible, as a whole, affirms what we mean by saying that God is eternally one in essence, three in persons. To break it down:

1. God is ONE (Deuteronomy 6:4, etc.)
2. Three persons are called "God" in the Bible:
   • Father (1 Peter 1:2)
   • Son (John 20:28)
   • Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3, 4)

But I think you've already been told that. Now, you've been told again.

Dan

[ksen]

Thanks for posting this.

If you think of it, please ping me when you post your essay.

Thanks,

-ksen

[Dave S]

It isn't hate, it's logic. If Christianity says God's nature and will is one thing, and other religions say it is something else, they cannot logically all be true. It isn't "intolerant" to notice that mutually exclusive propositions are, well, mutually exclusive.

Is it logic to assume that your view is correct and all others are wrong?

[gumbo]

Thank you all for your replies.

[Matchett-PI]

#20: Aren't there non-trinitarian Christians ..."

"Non-Trinitarian Christian" is an oxymoron. There ain't no such animal.

But, yes, there are plenty of "professing Christians" who are non-Trinitarian. Ironically, you can find lots of them on the "Trinity Broadcasting Network" (TBN).

In fact, you will probably find them on the "Christian Broadcasting Network" (CBN), also.

The Scriptural "Christian" religion is comprised of certain CORE (cardinal/essential) doctrines. The FIRST of those doctrines is the Scriptural description of the Godhead, which is "One What and Three Whos"; "ONE GOD in THREE PERSONS". Any other definition of the Godhead is NOT a doctrine of the historical, Scriptural Christian religion.

[Jerry_M]

There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. (Luke 13:1-5)

[Caleb1411]

Marvin Olasky made reference to those same verses in Luke in his recent WORLD magazine editorial

. . . On our 911 day, creation groaned as thousands died because of sin: not their personal sin, we must hasten to say. Jesus once was asked about a news story concerning a collapsing tower: "Those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them-do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?" He answered, "I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."

Unless we repent, we will perish at the hands of an all-powerful God who is also all-good, which means He is holy and hates sin. We need to pray for God's mercy but also that we will think more of God's holiness.

If we did we would, through God's grace, turn away from our obsession with what Francis Schaeffer called "personal peace and affluence." We would do what is right, even when it hurts. We would protect human life, no matter how small.

Instead of comforting ourselves with thoughts of a Social Security lockbox, we would realize that the only true security lies in God's mercy. Instead of pampering ourselves, we would show love for poorer and weaker neighbors.

We should also pay attention to one key difference between the collapse of the Tower of Siloam 2,000 years ago and the collapse of the Twin Towers. The 911 attack was an act of international war-and in chapter nine of Genesis God states, "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man."

We are not dealing with cowards. It takes a kind of bravery to take over airplanes and commit suicide with them. It will take bravery on our part to keep the 911 murderers from murdering again.

They want to murder Americans and Israelis. They want to murder fellow Muslims who do not agree with their twisting of the Koran. They murdered Barbara Olson and thousands more. They hope to murder millions. We must stop them.

Let me know when your essay hits FR, Dan.

[the_doc]

Add Amos 3:6 to that, Jerry_M!

(Warnings to Israel, like those presented by Amos, are ultimately warnings to the professing Church, not merely warnings to the United States! And the very religiosity which White mentions is part of the PROBLEM.)

Anyway, a big BUMP for James White's article.

[Conservative til I die]

There is a big, big, big difference between something being believed and having a Council where beliefs are codified, made official, etc.

The Christians of the 1st-4th Century did in fact believe that there was a Trinity, and the fact that Oneness people believe that Jesus was first the Father, became the Son, and then became the Holy Spirit is infantile at best and shows a clear lack of understanding of the Bible, which numerous times states that Jesus, the Spirit, and the Father coexisted at the same time.

I mean, I don't even have to go deeply into Biblical exegesis to figure these things out, I mean its right on the surface of the text.

How can Jesus pray to the Father if Jesus is the Father!?!?

How can Jesus talk to Paul, when the Holy Spirit had already made his presence felt in the early Church!?!?!?!

[Conservative til I die]

Well, I don't think anyone can prove that their belief is the only true one when it comes to religion, but of course it is logical to believe that yours is true and all others is false!

That's what a belief is by definiton! I mean, I am a Republican and a conservative for a reason, I believe these are true beliefs. Liberalism, socialism, communism, and libertarianism to me are therefore false. Or else why bother believing in anything!

[Conservative til I die]

Dan, I think it is safe to say that your beliefs and mine do not jibe, but I think we can both agree that Oneness pseudoChristianity is the silliest of all the heresies that have arisen over the millennia as it pertains to our Lord's nature.

I mean, the oneness heresy was refuted like 1700 years ago! I think it was "modalism," if I am not mistaken.

[1lawlady]

Great Article! I've observed much the same reaction when I mention the word repentance. Believers and nonbelievers alike, put their hands over the ears, try to shout me down, or figuratively run out of the room as if their hair was on fire. I, too, am saddened by invocations of God's blessing by people who've had no change of heart; they're frightened beyond words, but only know how to pull God out like a spare tire when their world has gone flat.

As I pondered this, I was reminded of the verse that says, "They draw nigh to me with their lips, but their heart is far from me." It took a couple of days before that verse cut me to the quick as I applied to myself as well. Simply put, I believe Jesus is calling His church to deeper repentance than they have ever experienced. I don't mean self-flaggelation or any outward show; nor do I mean that we should not continue to contend for the faith at the appropriate times, but now is the season of repentance! I am struck by this one thought, how will sinners know how to repent unless we model it?

I've known Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour for 45 years, and I have served Him most of that time. I've surrendered my life to Him a long time ago and allowed Him to change me from the inside out, but one thing I know I still have is an overwhelming pride. It's gotta go! I don't know any other believer's sins, but I know He is now calling each of us to repentance. For the sake of this heaven blessed nation, I pray that we will all listen and heed.

[mitch5501]

"Is it logic to assume that your view is correct and all others are wrong?"

Howdy Dave S.

John 14:6 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

As you can see,it is the bible that states "no man...but by Me" it is not something we assume.

May God bless you Dave S

May God bless America

[mitch5501]

Good read thanks Dan.

If you remember,I certainly would appreciate a flag to your article.

Grace and peace to you

God bless

BUMP

[Mahone]

Thank you all for your replies.

You are welcome gumbo, and the only thing I would add is this. A Christian can only be a Trinitarian, because of this basic fact, a Christian believes that Jesus is the Son and co-equal of His Father. A person who is monotheistic denies Christ's divinity and therefore cannot be a Christian.