Therefore Be Alert
Written by Administrator Saturday, 24 June 2006 19:00
In our study of the book of Acts last week, we came across Paul’s warning to the church leaders of Ephesus, “I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert …” (Acts 20:29-31). That warning should be sounded again in our own day.
An article in Tuesday’s Richmond Times-Dispatch (with a clarification the following day) reported that the national assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) voted to send a policy paper to their churches to consider approving alternative references to the Trinity. For some time there has been a group within that denomination that has been concerned with the “traditional” reference to Father, Son and Holy Spirit. By using titles of male gender, the committee believed that this concept of the Trinity supported the idea that “men are superior to women.”
The “new” options for consideration would be for the purpose of expanding “the church’s vocabulary of praise and wonder” and include such expressions as:
- Mother, Child and Womb
- Rock, Redeemer, Friend
- Lover, Beloved, Love
- Creator, Savior, Sanctifier
How tragic when church leaders seek to alter biblical terminology to cater to the spirit of our libertarian age. The Scriptures are clear; the Godhead is revealed in three persons – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
The baptismal formula prescribed by Jesus Himself was this, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). The classic benediction of the Apostle Paul was this, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Corinthians 13:14). The Apostle Peter acknowledges Father, Son and Holy Spirit in the opening lines of his first letter. “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who are elect … according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood” (1 Peter 1:1-2). The witness of the Trinity is evident at the baptism of Jesus (cf. Matthew 3:16-17). And Jesus taught this important doctrine and referred to both the Father and the Spirit (cf. John 14:25-31; 15:26-27). And consider these words from Jude, “But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life” (Jude 20-21). So the very building up of our faith is dependent upon the three Persons of the Trinity.
While this assembly claims that their new wording would not “alter the church’s theological position,” they are deceiving themselves. God’s Word provides the foundation of our faith and teaching. Either we accept the Scriptures or we don’t! And woe to those who try to redefine God.
-- Sparky