ChristiansUnite Forums

Some friends and I have been having an ongoing debate about this, and I thought its about time to get more people involved. What are your thoughts on the Oneness Pentecostal belief about the Trinity? I know most of you think it is wrong (Both of us agree on this) however, do you think it is a heresy, or just an error that isn’t that big of a deal?

It's a big deal because it is in error concerning the very essence of the being of God. God is essentially three-one (triune) in nature.

His triune nature is the very reason we can experience Him organically. By organically I mean in the way of Life union (He in us and us in Him). While the Name of Jesus does permeate the Triune God and is the Name above every name it does not follow that Jesus is the only element of God. In Him dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily but also He is in the Father and the Spirit testifies of Him. And Jesus is man and God as the life giving Spirit. Also He says that we can pray to the Father in Jesus name.
I believe in the Triune God only movement, not the Jesus only movement.
Is not "Jesus Only" modalistic at it's core?

asaph

Amen! My friend always argues "Well, it is just a minor Heresy, no big deal." WHAT? What is a "minor heresy"? Heresy is Heresy, end of story!

Tibby:

Modalism was first declared heretical around 200, along with a couple of variants. following is a little info.

Sabellianism
Although the heresy was first taught in 190 by Theodotus of Byzantium and by Paul of Samosata, it  was most notably promoted by Sabellius in the third  century.  A variation was later promoted by Monarchus, and became known as Monarchianism. It denies the Trinity by teaching  that  the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not  separate persons. Instead, the monotheistic God (called a  monad) progressively revealed Himself as the creator and  lawgiver through the “office” of Father, as the  redeemer through the office of Son, and as the source of  grace through the office of Spirit. It continued through the teachings of Praxeus.

Various other "famous" teachers currently in tune with this are T. D. Jakes, Joyce Meyers, and Marilyn Hickey, although they stay away from the use of the term "modalism", preferring instead to call it "facet", or "presentation."  

 Scriptural Refutation: John 3:16;  17:22–23; 1 John 5:7–14.

Yeah, that why it gets to me so much. The same guys who put the bible togeather said it is wrong, and people still follow it. :-\ It just boggles my mind.  :(

Tibby:

Sorry I didn't get to conclude, but I was very busy....here's this to consider.

Modalists, in the main, do NOT deny in any way, shape, form or fashion that Jesus is divine, or that His blood is the only means to salvation, or His resurrection.....

Because of this, it is extremely hard to say that modalism is a heresy that is deserving of death....or, that those who are modalists are not saved.

In the simplest terms, the Gospel is.....believe in thine heart, and confess with thine mouth.........

They do believe....and they do confess.

While I do not personally understand how they (modalists) can maintain such a stance in the face of scripture, I do not consider them to be 'gentiles', or unsaved.....just in error, and practicing a heresy that DOES lead to other error.

Not all heresies, though, are of the type that can permit the possibility of one being saved while following a heresy.....Eunomianism and Decetism in particular.

I unterstand all about their belief and the history behind it. It is the fact that they DON'T that gets to me. :-\ :( It is the simple thing of reading a history book.

LoL....that I understand. I guess it just comes with a combination of what someone who read part but not all skipped over and jumped to a conclusion......hehehehe........or glommed onto one verse and said "WOW", there's the whole answer!  And then they taught someone else, who didn't bother to check it out, and then they each told someone else, and............

Rabbit multiply.

Honestly, I hate to play the “denomination” card, but I think part of it has to do with anti-Catholicism. A lot of Pentecostals consider everything after the Death of Paul to be the corrupt church, and that includes most of the councles that declaired all the heresies and compiled he bible. What they don't get is that it isn't CATHOLIC Histoy, it is CHRISTIAN History, it is single history that we all share and the Body of Christ. I wish they could understand it.  :'(