Quote:
Originally Posted by Ohio
When I visit diverse churches, I learn that their teacher/ministers are all over the map. Most don't even address the subject. The apologetics always like to make it seem like modalists or trinitarians are the end of the world. I once visited a place and they absolutely believed Jesus was the Father, Jesus was the Son, and Jesus was the Spirit. They told me that.
After all is said and done, who cares? I doubt even God cares much that we all have perfect theology. Years ago it was just something to condemn WL about. Today it basically just provides fuel for internet debates.
|
In the NT, you have this - I’m going to use the term phenomenon, but I mean no disrespect, or controversy, phenomenon called The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is that gift from God that is supposed to lead us to truth, convict us of sins, reveal the things of Jesus Christ, pour the love of God in our hearts, and bring about the workings of God. I would say that by the 3rd century, if not the second, the Holy Spirit fled the scene and was replaced by 1) nicolaitans, who loved power and influence and the best seats at the feasts and despised the little people and their fervent simple relation with God, 2) forms of Christian idolatry- removing the prominence of one God, our Father, and replacing Him with a 3 headed god 3) marriage of the church with the world, the Holy Roman Empire, where power was everything and 4) grand teachings to tie this all together.
The foundational church as established by Paul was transformed into a great mystery.
So in my opinion, it matters very much how and what one believes, what one practices, what an assembly of people preach, teach and practice. I seriously doubt what passes for the Holy Spirit today is all that holy. The thing about the early “recovery” was, I think, that we all were somehow returning to that foundational church- beliefs, meetings, practices, only to find out that some really like the chief seats at the feasts, liked to be head and shoulders above others, and filled the assemblies with something worse than the 3-4th century farce.
I think, concerning the three who work as one, with one being the One God and Father, the other being the son of God, Jesus our Lord, and one being the Holy Spirit that proceeds from the One God and Father, that the three do not work to establish the facade mystery.