Different God?

ReformedDave · #1 05-12-2007, 02:57 PM

Is the God of Trinitarians a different One from the Oneness adherants?

Please. I really don't want to turn this into a debate on the two positions. We realize that there are very distinct differences and either one or both positions are incorrect.

We both would say we recongnize that there is an aspect of incomprehensibility and mystery about God. While He is immanant He is also transcendant. Our knowledge, at best, is incomplete and finite....and will always be.

If one has adopted the 'wrong' view of God isn't it still the same God? Mistaken? You bet. Is this a sin of making God into an idol? Some on both sides of the issue would say so. I tend to lean that way. From what I've read David Benard would disagree. He'd say that we both worship the same God though one has a mistaken conception of Him.

What say ye and more importantly, why?

berkeley · #2 05-12-2007, 04:02 PM

The misconception of the godhead leads to the misconception of what it means to be born again. If someone is baptized in Jesus' name and is filled with the holy ghost then I don't think God holds their misconception against them. I know that in the Oneness group the "common" people don't understand "oneness." Maybe it's because they don't study. *shrugs*

Felicity · #3 05-12-2007, 04:10 PM

I think that apart from the godhead issue it's possible to worship and believe in and pray to "another" God.

I believe that there are many people who are worshiping a God that has been defined and formed by incorrect theology and incorrect understanding of who He is in His attributes as laid out in Scripture. In some ways they have formed and fashioned a false god like the children of Israel did when Moses was away having a one on One appointment with the Almighty.

If you don't understand who He is then you're going to live and pray amiss -- both. A proper understanding doesn't guarantee against either of those either if you don't live in obedience and submission, but when your understanding of who He is is based on your own thinking and understanding, doctrinal error, unbalanced emphasis, and view that's been influenced and shaped by culture and the "world" and in which we live it's more likely and more problematic.

StillStanding · #4 05-12-2007, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Berkeley

The misconception of the godhead leads to the misconception of what it means to be born again. If someone is baptized in Jesus' name and is filled with the holy ghost then I don't think God holds their misconception against them. I know that in the Oneness group the "common" people don't understand "oneness." Maybe it's because they don't study. *shrugs*

If you asked most saints from Oneness churches why they believe in Oneness, most of them would say it's because it's what their pastor preaches. The same goes with folks from Trinitarian churches.

If one has to have a clear understanding of the godhead to be saved, we're all in trouble! Most of us believe that the God of the Holy Bible has saved us. I think that's good enough!

berkeley · #5 05-12-2007, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pianoman

If you asked most saints from Oneness churches why they believe in Oneness, most of them would say it's because it's what their pastor preaches. The same goes with folks from Trinitarian churches.

If one has to have a clear understanding of the godhead to be saved, we're all in trouble! Most of us believe that the God of the Holy Bible has saved us. I think that's good enough!

It's pretty simple when you believe "saved at repentance."

berkeley · #6 05-12-2007, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Felicity

I think that apart from the godhead issue it's possible to worship and believe in and pray to "another" God.

I believe that there are many people who are worshiping a God that has been defined and formed by incorrect theology and incorrect understanding of who He is in His attributes as laid out in Scripture. In some ways they have formed and fashioned a false god like the children of Israel did when Moses was away having a one on One appointment with the Almighty.

If you don't understand who He is then you're going to live and pray amiss -- both. A proper understanding doesn't guarantee against either of those either if you don't live in obedience and submission, but when your understanding of who He is is based on your own thinking and understanding and view that's been influenced and shaped by culture and the "world" in which we live it's more likely and more problematic.

I agree with the opening line, and both paragraphs.

StillStanding · #7 05-12-2007, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Berkeley

It's pretty simple when you believe "saved at repentance."

I do think we can make it more complicated than it needs to be!

berkeley · #8 05-12-2007, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pianoman

I do think we can make it more complicated than it needs to be!

I don't disagree..

ReformedDave · #9 05-12-2007, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Berkeley

The misconception of the godhead leads to the misconception of what it means to be born again. If someone is baptized in Jesus' name and is filled with the holy ghost then I don't think God holds their misconception against them. I know that in the Oneness group the "common" people don't understand "oneness." Maybe it's because they don't study. *shrugs*

But that's really not my question? It's not one of 'significance'. It's one of 'essence'. Does the trinitarian worship a different God than the oneness? Does the conception change the Diety?

berkeley · #10 05-12-2007, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReformedDave

But that's really not my question? It's not one of 'significance'. It's one of 'essence'. Does the trinitarian worship a different God than the oneness? Does the conception change the Diety?

I can answer that...