Re: The Trinity Thread (To be a merged thread)

[Boxjobox]

Concerning Christianity in general and the LC in particular, as this is a web site to discuss WL, WN and the LC, LSM, FFT, and all else related to this enigma, I find it fascinating that the whole question of trinity, and the person of Jesus Christ comes up quite often, and always seems to result in a standoff. I would say that the main feature of WL/LSM, after establishing a necessity for the LC, is to fill it with a theological viewpoint that what is missing from Christianity is an experiential understanding of what WL called the processed triune god. Unless one accepted this view, it would be very, very difficult to maintain existence in an LC. In fact, I would say that anyone speaking anything but this viewpoint would either be so marginalized to the point of leaving, or would be called divisive and forced out. Among those who left, few seem to hold to the “ processed “ part, and the triune part and the nature of the person of Christ Jesus seems to be unsettled.

Those who feel strongly that Jesus is God, or God in some fashion mainly quote the gospel of John, and with that, only a few select verses. It should be noted that the foundational church did not have the gospel of John, and there is no scriptural track record for the work John may have been doing at the time, other than he was with Peter in the beginning of Acts. Our famous Thomas, who has a one line quote that seems to cinch in the mind of the Jesus is God crowd that this is the NT in it’s fInest moment. Yet, we have no follow up in the book of Acts that anyone who may have been present took this great revelation of Thomas as something that needed to be preached or taught. Even in John’s writings it does not seem to be the end all of our faith.

One has to think that if the early church was going around speaking of Jesus as God, that there would have been such an outcry that Luke in his gospel given to assure us of our faith, and his work of Acts, would have recorded this Jesus is God thing as being taught and defended, and a whole lot of Christians being killed because of it. Indeed, Stephen is stoned to death, an event probably witnessed by Paul, because he said he saw a vision of the Son of man standing on the right hand of God- something that is taught and preached and expanded throughout the NT. So where is Thomas’ great revelation spoken of in the NT. There would have had to be such an upheaval because this would have contradicted the entire Jewish mindset. It would have to have such a strong beginning and a strong defense, yet there is no gospel spoken in Acts to bring this out.

John is certainly an interesting writer- he introduces a gospel that differs considerably from the other three, he has an epistle that still has people scratching their head about sin and the believer, and of course, he writes the Revelation- a book that so many try to interpret and expound, and a book so many Christians avoid for fear of adding or subtracting from it.
It doesn’t seem to me that the early church, as recorded in Acts, was influenced by John. John doesn’t seem to refer to the church in the same manner as Paul in his epistles. But then, in Revelation, all of the sudden he introduces the 7 churches, which correspond to 7 cities. It seems there is a lot of problems in 5 of the churches related to various teachings. But, there is one church that stands out plainly as doing a praiseworthy work, that one in Philadelphia. To this church, Jesus praises for keeping his word. And look, he says he will cause some false ones to come and worship before the feet of the believers there in Philadelphia.
Jesus, in this speaking, says that as a reward he will “make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go out thence no more: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God, and mine own new name. 13He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.”

Here is my curiosity; among my brethren who hold Jesus as God, what do you do with this that Jesus is saying? Here is the resurrected Christ speaking of his God and plainly speaking of it to those who keep his word. The strangest thing to me, is that John, who seems to be the kingpin of the Jesus is God persuasion writing about believers being rewarded with the things of his God. It should be noted that in all 7 writings to the 7 churches, Jesus never refers to himself as God, but particularly here to Philadelphia, I can’t help but appreciate Jesus speaking of his God.

So, maybe, some of the Jesus is God brethren would like to share their understanding and appreciation. I seem to recall one posting here about when we appear before Jesus, we will see....is there any consideration in light of these verses that we will see but a resurrected, glorified man, who is Christ our Lord? But specifically, how do you all relate to these rewards Jesus offers to the overcomers; I’m really interested to hear your perspectives.