God Isn't... (part 1)

Introduction: Have you ever contemplated what God is like? Who is God? Is the Holy Spirit a person or the creative power of God? If so, you are not alone. The Barna Group conducted a poll and reported its findings (October 8, 2002) in an update entitled, “Americans Draw Theological Beliefs From Diverse Points of View.” The report states: There are some fundamental Christian precepts that most Americans have held on to. The new survey reveals that more than three-quarters of all adults adopt each of three classic Christian beliefs. For instance, the concept of the trinity - "God is one being in three separate and equal persons - God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit" - is deemed to be a reality by 79% of adults. Women are considerably more likely than men to accept the Trinity as real, by an 85% to 72% margin, but few members of either gender doubt its existence. There have been countless conceptions throughout the many centuries of man’s existence. Some have thought of God as being the good intentions within us. Others have imagined God as an image or idol made of gold, silver, or carved out of wood.  In fact, ancient Israel, upon Moses’ absence tried to formulate God into a golden calf (Exodus 32:1-4). Nonetheless, this is a controversial question that goes back numerous centuries. This doctrine is so significant that the Catholic Encyclopedia states: “This [the trinity], the Church teaches, is the revelation regarding God’s nature which Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came upon earth to deliver to the world: and which she [the Catholic Church] proposes to man as the foundation of the whole dogmatic system.” Many Catholic and Protestant theologians claim Theophilus of Antioch (circa 180 A.D.) was the first person to write about the Trinity. They use statements of his, such as what he wrote about regarding the fourth day of creation: “And as the sun remains ever full, never becoming less, so does God always abide perfect, being full of all power, and understanding, and wisdom, and immortality, and all good. But the moon wanes monthly, and in a manner dies, being a type of man, then it is born again, and is crescent, for a pattern of the future resurrection. In like manner also the three days which were before the luminaries are types of the trinity, of God, and His Word, and His wisdom” (Ante-Nicene Fathers, “Theophilus to Autolycus”). This initial and unusual proclamation by a theologian is the first alleged teaching of the trinity doctrine. However, does this statement teach this? Does it teach that God is a trinity of Persons? Does it teach the Holy Spirit as a Person? Interestingly, even the editors of the book state in a footnote that the word interpreted as “wisdom” in English is from the Greek word sophia, which Theophilus elsewhere used in allusion to the Son, and not the Holy Spirit. In the second and third centuries (over 100 years after the New Testament Church began), there were copious heresies regarding the nature of God—most of which were contradictory. Many different individuals were pushing their ideas such as the trinity. Tertullian and Origen were Catholic theologians who had great influence in the last part of the second century. These were the men responsible for laying the foundations of Catholic (and later Protestant) teaching regarding the Trinity—not New Testament Apostles such as Peter, Paul or John. The Roman Catholic New Theological Dictionary makes a number of frank admissions regarding this topic. In its article, “Trinity,” it acknowledges pagan influences upon their theology: Christians…conversant with the then dominant philosophy of middle-Platonism seized the opportunity to proclaim and elucidate the Christian message in a thought from which was meaningful to the educated classes the widespread Hellenistic society… Confident that the God they [pagan Greek philosophers] preached was the Father of Jesus Christ and the salvation they proclaimed was that of Jesus, the apologists adapted much of the Hellenic worldview… [Tertullian made] the first known use of the term “trinity” (pg. 1054). The controversy of God’s nature continued to rage, particularly, between a Dr. Arius of Alexandria, a Christian leader who died 336 AD, and opposing bishops who called God a Trinity. The controversy became so violent it threatened the peace of the entire empire. The then pagan Emperor Constantine recognized the danger of the disintegration of Rome so he called together a council to settle the issue. The Encyclopedia Britannica says in its article “Arius”: This controversy over Arius’ doctrine reached even the ears of Constantine. Now sole Emperor, he saw in the one Catholic Church the best means of counteracting the movement in his vast empire toward disintegration; and he at once realized how dangerous dogmatic strife might be to its unity. Constantine had no understanding of the questions at issue… He summoned a general council… It was finally decided against Arius… Constantine accepted the decision of the council, and resolved to uphold it.” Therefore, in 325 AD, the Emperor Constantine called together the “Council of Nicene” to settle this raging controversy. Constantine was not yet a “Christian,” but was a political ruler that assumed control. The council or board, which was injected into the church by Constantine, approved the decision to uphold the doctrine of the Trinity. In this way, Constantine, the then civil leader, made it the law, but he could not make it the truth! Today, one of the most generally accepted teachings of “professing Christianity” about the nature of God is, the Trinity. This doctrine is taught by Catholics, most Protestants, Seventh Day Adventists and the like. Out of all the controversies that have existed regarding the nature of God, the doctrine of the Trinity has been the primary one above all. Only one, small minor detail remains—this doctrine is not in the Bible! This may astonish you, but as always, we admonish you to prove it for yourself. Definition: Let’s begin by examining what the actual definition of this doctrine affirms. The internet Wikipedia encyclopedia states: Within Christianity, the doctrine of the Trinity states that God is a single "Being" who exists, simultaneously and eternally, as a communion of three persons (personae, prosopa): Father (the Source, the Eternal Majesty); the Son (the eternal Logos or Word, incarnate as Jesus of Nazareth); and the Holy Spirit. Since the 4th Century AD, in both Eastern and Western Christianity, this doctrine has been stated as "One God in Three Persons," all three of whom, as distinct and co-eternal "persons" or "hypostases," share a single Divine essence, being, or nature. It is also helpful to look at the definition given by the organization that this doctrine originated with. However, it may be difficult to understand because by their admittance, it is manifest that a dogma so mysterious presupposes a Divine revelation—mysteries that are only revealed to the church.  From the Catholic Encyclopedia, in its article “The Blessed Trinity, “they write: The Trinity is the term employed to signify the central doctrine of the Christian religion -- the truth that in the unity of the Godhead there are Three Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, these Three Persons being truly distinct one from another. Thus, in the words of the Athanasian Creed: "the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God, and yet there are not three Gods but one God." In this Trinity of Persons the Son is begotten of the Father by an eternal generation, and the Holy Spirit proceeds by an eternal procession from the Father and the Son. Yet, notwithstanding this difference as to origin, the Persons are co-eternal and co-equal: all alike are uncreated and omnipotent. This, the Church teaches, is the revelation regarding God's nature which Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came upon earth to deliver to the world: and which she proposes to man as the foundation of her whole dogmatic system. Later in this same article, the Catholic scholars, discussing the background of teaching on the Trinity also state:The Vatican Council has explained the meaning to be attributed to the term mystery in theology. It lays down that a mystery is a truth which we are not merely incapable of discovering apart from Divine Revelation, but which, even when revealed, remains "hidden by the veil of faith and enveloped, so to speak, by a kind of darkness" (Const., "De fide. cath.", iv). In other words, our understanding of it remains only partial, even after we have accepted it as part of the Divine message. The Trinity doctrine is shrouded in a murky maze of mystery. Theologians find it difficult to fully comprehend or grasp and the layman is simply told not to bother—it’s a mystery anyway! As one book expresses, “The mind of man cannot fully understand the mystery of the Trinity. He who would try to understand the mystery fully will lose his mind. But he who would deny the Trinity will lose his soul” (Lindsell & Woodbridge. A Hankbook of Christian Truth, pp. 51-52). At this point an important question comes to mind. Would an all powerful God who said, “Let Us make man in Our image [representative figure], according to Our likeness [model]” really make His nature so mysterious to His sons and daughters (Genesis 1:26, 2 Corinthians 6:18)? In the words of Paul, “Certainly not!” In fact, we (Christians) are admonished not to forget the “Simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3). Yet, if the average person (non-scholar) were to investigate this “supposed mystery” further, he or she would be faced with discouraging statements such as: “The mind of man cannot fully understand the mystery of the Trinity. He who would try to understand the mystery fully will lose his mind. But he who would deny the Trinity will lose his soul” (Harold Lindsell and Charles J. Woodbridge, A Handbook of Christian Truth, pp. 51-52). In other words, accept the concept of the Trinity or else! It has always been a mystery, filled with controversy and difficulty. Most scholarly attempts at understanding have only lead to continued misunderstanding. Theological attempts of clarity have added further confusion. Notice this statement: “Some said that there was but one substance in the God-head, others, three. Some allowed, some rejected the terms…according as they were guided by the prevailing heresy of the day and their own judgment concerning the mode of meeting it…Some declare that God is numerically three; others numerically one; while to others it might appear more philosophical to exclude the idea of number altogether in the discussion of that mysterious Nature which is beyond comparison, whether viewed as One of Three, and neither falls under nor forms any conceivable species” (The Arians of the Fourth Century, p. 127, ed. 1854). The “Trinity doctrine” is thought of by many as the central belief of the “professing Christian” world. Actually many people become quite offended when this doctrine is not professed! Sadly, throughout church history from about 400 AD to 1800 AD, countless people were put to death for rejecting this doctrine. However, as Christians we are admonished by the Apostle Paul to “test all things” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). We are also shown the example of the Bereans to “search the scriptures daily” (Acts 17:10-15). To merely accept a doctrine without proving it would be completely contrary to Scripture. In fact, true doctrine of the Bible can be understood and does stand up to every proof and test. And according to Jesus we can know the truth (John 8:32). Peter further admonished Christians: “…Be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you…” (1 Peter 3:15). As Christians, we are duty bound to prove whether or not God really is a Trinity. So how about it—are you up to the challenge—does your Bible reveal the true nature of the “Unknown God” (Acts 17:16-23)? Read on and examine what God reveals about Himself in your Bible. However, don’t just take my word for it, prove it for yourself! On the surface one could conclude that the Trinity is everywhere and clearly taught in the Bible. However, the more one studies the subject the more one realizes that the Trinity doctrine is built upon very shaky ground. Numerous Bible dictionaries and Encyclopedia’s bring this out. The New Catholic Encyclopedia states: “It is difficult, in the second half of the 20th century, to offer a clear, objective, and straightforward account of the revelation, doctrinal evolution, and the theological elaboration of the mystery of the Trinity. Trinitarian discussion, Roman Catholic as well as other, presents a somewhat unsteady silhouette” (Vol. XIV, p. 295). Have you ever asked why such a central theme of the Christian faith is so difficult to understand? Why something so important is based on an unsteady foundation? Certainly, the Bible must be filled with teachings about a doctrine as significant as the Trinity. Amazingly, the term “Trinity” is not a Biblical term.