Modalism

[UntoHim]

Originally Posted by OBW

The theological problem is not that they are accused of modalism, but that they do espouse a form of modalism. Yet at the same time they declare that the three are co-eternal and co-equal.

This goes to a crucial point - just because a genuine Christian is taught heresy does not make them a heretic - it only makes them deceived when it comes to that particular doctrine, teaching or standing. Witness Lee taught a form of modalism, which makes him a heretic. Modalism has been condemned by the church since the earliest days, and has crept up from time to time ever since. Lee also taught a form of the orthodox doctrine of the trinity along side of the heretical (and so did a number of other heretical teachers throughout history), however it should go without saying that teaching heresy in one breath, while teaching and espousing orthodoxy in the next, in no way mitigates, much less excuses the heresy.

For centuries the genuine Christian church has taught and espoused a view of the Trinity which holds that "God is one being in three Persons". Heretics like Witness Lee usually end up doing one or both of the issues addressed in the Athanasian Creed: "Confounding the persons" and "Dividing the substance" of God. Most orthodox Christian teachers, scholars and apologist would tell you that Lee's "processed Triune God" teaching is heretical because it is a form of modalism in which the Persons of God are confounded and/or the substance of God is divided.

I think the late Nabeel Quareshi does an excellent job of "explaining the Trinity" in this short YouTube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0JpwOSKRC0
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[Ohio]

Originally Posted by aron

And not only, but since Jesus prayed that we'd all be one even as he's one with the Father, then Trapped is really aron the Father and vice versa...

Wow, you have taken inferential Leeisms into outer space!

Originally Posted by UntoHim

This goes to a crucial point - just because a genuine Christian is taught heresy does not make them a heretic - it only makes them deceived when it comes to that particular doctrine, teaching or standing.

The real problem of Lee's teachings here is not the over-emphasis of the Oneness side of theology to counteract the over-emphasis of the Threeness side of theology but the loss of our loving and obedient relationship with God as Igzy/Cal has so often posted.