TRADITION HOLDS THE MIND CAPTIVE

  

Of course there are many beautiful and innocent traditions in society and the family, but when tradition becomes the belief of Christians, it is dangerous. Some traditions are innocent enough, but others are mind-crippling.


One extremely strong tradition is that of the Trinity, but to call it a tradition is enough to start a war.   I do not intend to aggravate the reader, but simply to put forward facts.


There are millions of Christians who believe the Trinity is the true God. 


Words such as 'the blessed Trinity' are endearing to those who believe it, simply because it is the God they love and worship.


This site is for the purpose of discussing the subject from Bible evidence. 

To make clear the difference between the Trinity and God having a Son, please note the following:

THE TRINITY


The Roman Catholic understanding is as follows: "We worship One God in Trinity and Trinity in Unity, neither confounding the persons nor dividing the substance.  For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, another of the Holy Spirit.  But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, is One, the glory equal, the Majesty coeternal."  Catholic Creeds.


The Protestant understanding is the same as the Catholic understanding as it is based on the decision at the Council of Nicaea.   According to certain Protestant pastors, many believe in the Trinity by default and not through their own study.


The Anglican understanding is as follows:  "There is one living and true God...  And in unity of this Godhead there be three Persons, of one substance, power and eternity;  the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost."

Thirty Nine Articles.


The Seventh-day Adventist understanding is as follows:  "There is one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, a unity of three eternal Persons.  God is immortal, all-powerful, all-knowing, above all, and ever present. He is infinite and beyond human comprehension, yet known through His self-revelation."    adventist.org


All use the triquetra to illustrate their belief in the Trinity, signifying that they believe the same.   However, there are differences between the Adventist belief and that of the other churches;  in some writings appearing to be Tritheism and in others the teaching of the Catholic Church.


The Mormons believe there are three separate Gods, the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, however, "God is a man with a body of flesh and bones. There is a mother goddess. God and his wife are married." A Comparison between Christian Doctrine and Mormon Doctrine. Matt Slick.



THE NON--TRINITARIAN VIEW

Among those who do not believe in the Trinity, there are marked differences.


For instance, Jehovah's Witnesses believe Jesus to be a lesser God than the Father, having been the first of His creation.


The Jesus Only people believe it was the Father who came to this earth as Jesus, then Jesus came as the Holy Spirit, there being only one God at all times.​​


Some Christians believe Jesus was 100% human and zero% divine when on earth.   Others believe He was human and divine, but without any of the attributes of deity.  Some Christians believe Jesus existed in heaven as God prior to the Incarnation, others believe He did not.


The major view is that Jesus was begotten of the Father at some point in eternity, inheriting all the divine attributes of divinity from His Father.   Thus He was able to create the worlds with God the Father.


Many non-Trinitarians believe the Spirit is the power and active force of God, rather than the individual God-Person, however, there are some differences between their beliefs in this area.  The Mormons believe there is a difference between the Holy Ghost and the Holy Spirit.    Many believe the Spirit is the glorified Christ in Spirit.  Thus He is able to succor us, having gone through it all Himself. 


Of course our question must be:

Which one is correct?


And:

              Does it matter?

​​

God gives the answer to both questions.  The first must be studied diligently from Scripture; the second is a plain statement.


The ones who perish will be those who "received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned..." 

2 Thessalonians 2:10-12.

  

In the light of the seriousness of the subject of truth, I hope you will make a decision to study the subject from many angles so you will be able to make a completely Biblical decision about the God we worship.