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"Resolved: That all men should live to the glory of God. Resolved, secondly: That whether or not anyone else does, I will." ~Jonathan Edwards
"The only man who has the right to say he is justified by grace alone is the man who has left all to follow Christ." ~Dietrich Bonheoffer, The Cost of Discipleship
"Preachers who should be fishing for men are now too often fishing for compliments from men." ~Leonard Ravenhill
Well, I am "oneness" and don't consider myself to be in a cult. Of course I am also one to see very little difference between oneness and trinitarism outside of hairsplitting to the nth degree and endless arguments regarding terminology (much of which each side considers salvational).
Now I DO consider many individual church's to be VERY cultish based on the authority that the high exalted mystic ruler-of-them-all has assumed for himself and the sheep-like way his followers follow.
Well, I am "oneness" and don't consider myself to be in a cult. Of course I am also one to see very little difference between oneness and trinitarism outside of hairsplitting to the nth degree and endless arguments regarding terminology (much of which each side considers salvational).
Now I DO consider many individual church's to be VERY cultish based on the authority that the high exalted mystic ruler-of-them-all has assumed for himself and the sheep-like way his followers follow.
Does anyone in a cult know they're in a cult?
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
Many of the churches have cultish aspects and controlling ways. Many will not rise to the level of a full blown cult, I am not speaking specific to Oneness churches. The spiritual aspects of the Jim Jones cult started with the congregation separating from the world and looking to find a deeper relationship in Christ. If the pastor starts to walk that fine line then their needs to be strong saints to stand up and protect the congregation. A blind trust for the sake of following a pastor is not always a good thing...
I have always been Oneness but I see that I probably agree more with Trinitarian theology than Oneness theology. Sure the term persons has been hard for me to get used to but I am not sure there is really much difference in the two views.
So I now accept that I am trinitarian. This was probably the last idea from the UPC that I had held on to these past few years.
I have already told my wife that I am trinitarian and my pastor so far so good.
I have always been Oneness but I see that I probably agree more with Trinitarian theology than Oneness theology. Sure the term persons has been hard for me to get used to but I am not sure there is really much difference in the two views.
So I now accept that I am trinitarian. This was probably the last idea from the UPC that I had held on to these past few years.
I have already told my wife that I am trinitarian and my pastor so far so good.
Can you explain to me what the Trinity is?
if there is not much difference in the two views how can you be a Trinitarian, not Oneness?
__________________ Let it be understood that Apostolic Friends Forum is an Apostolic Forum.
Apostolic is defined on AFF as:
There is One God. This one God reveals Himself distinctly as Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
The Son is God himself in a human form or "God manifested in the flesh" (1Tim 3:16)
Every sinner must repent of their sins.
That Jesus name baptism is the only biblical mode of water baptism.
That the Holy Ghost is for today and is received by faith with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues.
The saint will go on to strive to live a holy life, pleasing to God.
if there is not much difference in the two views how can you be a Trinitarian, not Oneness?
Prax, there is plenty of info out there on Trinitarian theology. It is Oneness theology I have a hard time finding a definition for. This is not something I have spent a lot of time thinking about or studying but it seems to me that within the Oneness movement it is hard to even find out what the basic Oneness thology is. Some say, Jesus is the Father, some say Jesus is the Son. Some say, Jesus came into existence when he was born some say he was just a man filled with the power of the Holy Ghost.
Growing up I was taught that God manifested himself in flesh and that he came and died on the cross and when you get the Holy Ghost you get Jesus' spirit inside of you. Am I going wrong here?
Honestly I lean more toward trinitarian views than Oneness. Another thing, I am not going to tell people I am Oneness because Christianity thinks Oneness doctrine is heresy. Other than this forum I don't associate with Oneness people anymore.
Prax, this is probably the scripture that really helped seal the deal and made me realize the beauty of the trinity. Here we have Jesus talking about how the Father has given him a bride and that Jesus, the Son, is doing the will of the Father. The Father sent his son to die in our place. He didn't send himself.
John 6:35And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
36But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.
37All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
38For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
39And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
40And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Prax, there is plenty of info out there on Trinitarian theology. It is Oneness theology I have a hard time finding a definition for. This is not something I have spent a lot of time thinking about or studying but it seems to me that within the Oneness movement it is hard to even find out what the basic Oneness thology is. Some say, Jesus is the Father, some say Jesus is the Son. Some say, Jesus came into existence when he was born some say he was just a man filled with the power of the Holy Ghost.
Growing up I was taught that God manifested himself in flesh and that he came and died on the cross and when you get the Holy Ghost you get Jesus' spirit inside of you. Am I going wrong here?
Honestly I lean more toward trinitarian views than Oneness. Another thing, I am not going to tell people I am Oneness because Christianity thinks Oneness doctrine is heresy. Other than this forum I don't associate with Oneness people anymore.
Prax, this is probably the scripture that really helped seal the deal and made me realize the beauty of the trinity. Here we have Jesus talking about how the Father has given him a bride and that Jesus, the Son, is doing the will of the Father. The Father sent his son to die in our place. He didn't send himself.
John 6:35And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
36But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.
37All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
38For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
39And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
40And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
It's my experience that Trinitarians do not all agree on the same thing and many Trinitarians don't understand their own doctrine, that is why I asked.
__________________ Let it be understood that Apostolic Friends Forum is an Apostolic Forum.
Apostolic is defined on AFF as:
There is One God. This one God reveals Himself distinctly as Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
The Son is God himself in a human form or "God manifested in the flesh" (1Tim 3:16)
Every sinner must repent of their sins.
That Jesus name baptism is the only biblical mode of water baptism.
That the Holy Ghost is for today and is received by faith with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues.
The saint will go on to strive to live a holy life, pleasing to God.
if there is not much difference in the two views how can you be a Trinitarian, not Oneness?
As far as I understand... a "person of the Trinity" and a "manifestation of God" is very similar in terminology, except Trinitarians believe that each "person" or "manifestation" of God is a different "being", and these three "beings" are the make up of the Godhead.
Hybrid Mode
