Can a oneness believer make it to Heaven...

[Sister Alvear]

Originally Posted by Traci

Sis Avear, you are such a precious lady....may the Lord shower you with many blessings and keep you always in his care.

Thank you, Traci and many precious blessings to you as well.

[U376977]

Originally Posted by Baron1710

Arianism denies that the Son is Devine.

Correct, Classic Arianism does just that. But I was really referring to a modern belief that borders on Arianism, placing Jesus in a "demi-god" form.

Before I was led to the knowledge of the Oneness of God I used to attend Kenneth Hagin's ministry in Tulsa. If you read their statement of belief it includes one on the Trinity. But it is not the classical definition of the Trinity. It states, when speaking about the Godhead, that "God the Father" is "greater than all." This is beyond even Trinty doctrine that holds to a "co-equal" belief. Most of the other WOF follow that same doctrinal statement. In fact, every WOF ministry that I have been able to locate their doctrine reads with this same statement. They all follow Kenneth Hagin's statement.
I am not picking on them, just using the WOF as an example of how many Trinty people think--they exalt the "Father" above the other "members" of the Godhead.

[Elizabeth]

Originally Posted by Traci

Yes, that is the situation I am in right now. I will never believe anything different than the oneness or baptism in Jesus name but we don't have another church to go to in this town not even a UPC.

That is the point I wanted to insert, there are times when a Jesus name church may not be close by. Then you have to do the best you can.

[Cindy]

If you are going to go to a trinity church might as well just go to a Catholic church. For those of you that are and have been on the mission field, there are people that walk miles sometimes a 24 hour walk or maybe in some cases more, and carry sick people and children to get to hear about Jesus. Have you thought about walking or using public transportation to go to a Oneness church? And if you haven't why not? I guess you could just stay home and have church, for where two or three are gathered in His name, he will be in the midst of them. You just have to make up your mind what is more important to you I guess. These are my opinions only, I am not bashing anyone else for their beliefs. I have walked to church when I was little, I have gone to church and only be allowed to stay for a short period of time before my husband was saved, for fear of abuse when I got home. But it was a oneness church, and I am still oneness to my soul.

[ManOfWord]

Originally Posted by cneasttx

If you are going to go to a trinity church might as well just go to a Catholic church. For those of you that are and have been on the mission field, there are people that walk miles sometimes a 24 hour walk or maybe in some cases more, and carry sick people and children to get to hear about Jesus. Have you thought about walking or using public transportation to go to a Oneness church? And if you haven't why not? I guess you could just stay home and have church, for where two or three are gathered in His name, he will be in the midst of them. You just have to make up your mind what is more important to you I guess. These are my opinions only, I am not bashing anyone else for their beliefs. I have walked to church when I was little, I have gone to church and only be allowed to stay for a short period of time before my husband was saved, for fear of abuse when I got home. But it was a oneness church, and I am still oneness to my soul.

I am oneness to the core as well and I could still attend a trinitarian church and retain everything I have. I know some other may not be able to do that, but what I have is far stronger than a misunderstanding of scripture.

[Baron1710]

Originally Posted by ManOfWord

I am oneness to the core as well and I could still attend a trinitarian church and retain everything I have. I know some other may not be able to do that, but what I have is far stronger than a misunderstanding of scripture.

Amen.

[Scott Hutchinson]

Speaking from myself only I feel I would be lost if I made a Trini church my homechurch.
In Christian charity if I had no other choice I would have house church.
That Trinity doctrine is something I can't digest,or baptism in the titles I can't accept such.
This is me speaking for me only.

[A.W. Bowman]

Hey – where are all of my Bible scholars and linguists?

The question: Can a Oneness believer attend a Trinitarian church and still get fed (get to heaven)? Short answer: Absolutely! NO QUESTION!

Point taken: I receive most of my deep Bible study material from the likes of Alistair Begg, Michael Youssef, and Ravi Zacharias. The most profound series on the deity of Jesus I have heard was by R.C. Sproul. (Assuming that most of you recognize these names but just haven’t admitted to it.) Neither am I ashamed of their teaching – it is right on – it is straight Bible!

We Oneness folks (yes, I am a Oneness guy) have generally got so stuck in our doctrines, that we can no longer read the Bible for what it actually says. When pressed, some preachers I have discussed issues with became quite angry – “It is our Oneness doctrine – accept it!”

As to the Godhead question, that was never a legitimate issues between the Oneness camp and the AOG (where all of this fighting and squabbling started), it was over which formula one is to employ in the baptismal ritual. One problem concerning the Godhead – there isn’t any. Never has been, never will be. Sorry kids, arguing over the Godhead is arguing over something that no one knows anything about – that is, absolutely nothing! Check it out for yourself. The term Godhead does not exist in any of the original biblical languages. It is a translator’s construct to convey a non-existent meaning for three different Greek words meaning three different aspects of deity. And, there is not a human being alive that can adequately explain the full (complete) concept of what the deity of God consists of. So, the next time you here someone ask, “How many gods are there in the godhead?”, You can tell them, “None! Deity is but one aspect of who and what God is, it neither defines Him nor does it contain Him.”

Back to the question of being in trinity church: Simply ask the pastor if he believes in three gods or in the One God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. If he says the One God, then don’t quibble over terms that can be made divisive. Father, Son and Holy Ghost are still terms that Jesus used at one time or another! So, let’s not call it “false”,when we, ourselves, don’t have an absolute handle on the full knowledge of God.

Now, here is one for you: I have a friend in the military who is a very ultracon Oneness type. While overseas on assignment he attended the only church service on base. It took him three months (according to his own sharing) to realize that the preacher was a Trinitarian. As soon as he learned that “disturbing” fact, he quite going to church for the rest of his tour there. Anything wrong with that picture?

I have heard countless trinity preachers (Ok, only 20 –25) refer to Jesus as God and to God being manifested in Jesus, and, yes, even call Jesus, God and baptize in Jesus name. So, my personal position is that we really need to drop the broad-brush approach to our own self-justifications.

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Brother Scott - wonderful to see you here. Blessings.

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by Traci

Yes, that is the situation I am in right now. I will never believe anything different than the oneness or baptism in Jesus name but we don't have another church to go to in this town not even a UPC.

Then if I couldn't go anywhere else but to a Trinitarian church, I would go to the Trinitarian church, and pray daily and fast for God to open hearts to receive a revelation of who the Father is and who the Son is. Matt 11:27

[Jack Shephard]

Originally Posted by HaShaliach

Hey – where are all of my Bible scholars and linguists?

The question: Can a Oneness believer attend a Trinitarian church and still get fed (get to heaven)? Short answer: Absolutely! NO QUESTION!

Point taken: I receive most of my deep Bible study material from the likes of Alistair Begg, Michael Youssef, and Ravi Zacharias. The most profound series on the deity of Jesus I have heard was by R.C. Sproul. (Assuming that most of you recognize these names but just haven’t admitted to it.) Neither am I ashamed of their teaching – it is right on – it is straight Bible!

We Oneness folks (yes, I am a Oneness guy) have generally got so stuck in our doctrines, that we can no longer read the Bible for what it actually says. When pressed, some preachers I have discussed issues with became quite angry – “It is our Oneness doctrine – accept it!”

As to the Godhead question, that was never a legitimate issues between the Oneness camp and the AOG (where all of this fighting and squabbling started), it was over which formula one is to employ in the baptismal ritual. One problem concerning the Godhead – there isn’t any. Never has been, never will be. Sorry kids, arguing over the Godhead is arguing over something that no one knows anything about – that is, absolutely nothing! Check it out for yourself. The term Godhead does not exist in any of the original biblical languages. It is a translator’s construct to convey a non-existent meaning for three different Greek words meaning three different aspects of deity. And, there is not a human being alive that can adequately explain the full (complete) concept of what the deity of God consists of. So, the next time you here someone ask, “How many gods are there in the godhead?”, You can tell them, “None! Deity is but one aspect of who and what God is, it neither defines Him nor does it contain Him.”

Back to the question of being in trinity church: Simply ask the pastor if he believes in three gods or in the One God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. If he says the One God, then don’t quibble over terms that can be made divisive. Father, Son and Holy Ghost are still terms that Jesus used at one time or another! So, let’s not call it “false”,when we, ourselves, don’t have an absolute handle on the full knowledge of God.

Now, here is one for you: I have a friend in the military who is a very ultracon Oneness type. While overseas on assignment he attended the only church service on base. It took him three months (according to his own sharing) to realize that the preacher was a Trinitarian. As soon as he learned that “disturbing” fact, he quite going to church for the rest of his tour there. Anything wrong with that picture?

I have heard countless trinity preachers (Ok, only 20 –25) refer to Jesus as God and to God being manifested in Jesus, and, yes, even call Jesus, God and baptize in Jesus name. So, my personal position is that we really need to drop the broad-brush approach to our own self-justifications.

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Brother Scott - wonderful to see you here. Blessings.

Great and wise post.