Modalism

[aron]

Originally Posted by Cal

... it's not exactly subservience in the sense of the centurion and his subordinates, because the Father and the Son are co-equal and even the Son is now Lord of all. It's the subservience of a being's "outer" self being consistent with his "inner" self. Though when expressed in human form as Jesus it appeared like the subservience of the subordinates to the centurion.

I think this is so close to my own view as to be equivalent. Remember that the gospels are about the human and very subservient Jesus. "Thy will [Father] be done, not mine [Jesus]". The epistles typically stress the ascended and reigning Christ. But we here on earth may safely take the subservient position, which is why I stress it. But your point remains.

The main emphasis for me might be illustrated in a story. The Centurion tells two servants to go and dig. They are digging and one says, "Why do we listen to that guy? He's just a man like us. He ain't Caesar". The other says, "Shut up and dig."

In other words, the first is overthinking the problem, and will get himself into trouble. I see theology like this. It's only so useful, as it doesn't get us into trouble! The world is full of people who take their theology too importantly. And look at all the trouble that's followed. Witness Lee and Watchman Nee were merely two out of many, many deluded charismaniacs. I just posted on a group out of China called the True Jesus Church in the "Christian Movements" forum. Another instance of zeal and ignorance, with something like 2 million members and training training centres round the globe, infiltrating U.S. college campuses, etc. What's amazing isn't that they exist, but that such groups are so many, and so viral. This world is not for the unwary.