Different God?

[ReformedDave]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

Yes, Trinitarians worship a different God than Oneness do. Below I asked a Trinitarian to interpret the word, God.

How do you interpret the word, God, in these 8 examples?

1. Jesus is God. Ontologically.
2. God is a Trinity. Relationally.
3. The God of our Fathers. God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).
4. And the Word was God. Ontologically.
5. God the Father One of the persons within God
6. Being in the form of God. Ontologically.
7. In the beginning, God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).
8. 2Cor5: 18-19 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation ....I'd say the Father.

As you can see, he attributes multiple meanings to the word, God, depending on the context. I'm not sure why in #8 he chose to say "Father" because I think this verse would cause a problem for Trinitarians as it is vague.

Because Trinitarians recognize God as a Trinity and each as a Person, some of them pray to three who they call God separately. Others say they pray to the Father (as instructed by Jesus) in the name of the Son through the Spirit. If they truly believe this then no prayer is ever truly to God (the Trinity) but is only to the Father. So when they talk to God, they are only talking to the Father.

This is very different from a Oneness prayer to God. We recognize God as God. I don't have to try to figure out who God is everytime I see the word, God, in the Bible. As you can see our prayers to God (the source of our relationship with Him) is different because of the way we view who He is.

You mistakenly assume that all oneness are uniform in their conception as are trinitarians.

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by ReformedDave

You mistakenly assume that all oneness are uniform in their conception as are trinitarians.

RD

All Oneness may not understand the incarnation, but they do know that God is one. He is "I am". We pray to ONE.

[crakjak]

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, 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.

Originally Posted by crakjak

There is a big difference in shaping a golden calf and worshiping an innate object, and worshiping the God of the Holy Scriptures, yet not having a pure understanding of all He is. I am surprised at your analogy?

I agree with the bolded portion, however isn't all of our understanding of who God is based on our own thinking and understanding of scripture (you did broaden it to the culture, didn't you)? However, how else can we know God? Would you suggest that we just accept someone else's thinking and understanding, without either on our own part?

I know what you are suggesting is certainly possible, however my thoughts are in the context of the question of this thread.

[ReformedDave]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

RD

All Oneness may not understand the incarnation, but they do know that God is one. He is "I am". We pray to ONE.

As I have read the OP material there have been some significant differences between scholars. You may disagree but you are not part of a monolithic group.

[crakjak]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

RD

All Oneness may not understand the incarnation, but they do know that God is one. He is "I am". We pray to ONE.

I know many Trinitarians and not one of them believe God is more than one. Do need they clearer understanding, I say yes, however it does not hinder them from relationship with God, pray to God, as in Father in Jesus Name. So they do not pray to another God, their understanding is not perfect. BTW neither is any OP that I have ever meet.

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by ReformedDave

As I have read the OP material there have been some significant differences between scholars. You may disagree but you are not part of a monolithic group.

What does that mean? monolithic group?

Do you say this because Oneness do not have creeds?

[Barb]

Originally Posted by Pianoman

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

My sanctified momma said almost the same thing a few days ago...

[ReformedDave]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

What does that mean? monolithic group?

Do you say this because Oneness do not have creeds?

If you are part of the UPC you have a creed.......the manual.

By 'monolithic' I mean that a group all agrees and concerning the oneness I've seen some significant differences of opinions in oneness pentecostalism.

[ReformedDave]

Originally Posted by Barb

My sanctified momma said almost the same thing a few days ago...

Yes and no. To bring God down to our level is dangerous.

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by ReformedDave

If you are part of the UPC you have a creed.......the manual.

By 'monolithic' I mean that a group all agrees and concerning the oneness I've seen some significant differences of opinions in oneness pentecostalism.

I'm not part of the UPC. I belong to a independent OP church. If I walked into a UPC fellowship on a Sunday morning they would try to save me!

What differences have you seen?