Biblical Christianity and Islam: Plural Monotheism versus Monolithic Monotheism (Part 5)
Posted on July 6, 2007
Filed Under Islam & Biblical Christianity |
(Continued from last week…)
“…go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…”
Jesus, Matthew 28:19
The New Testament brings to us an explosion of revelation about God and His nature. For our purposes, that explosion includes pulling back the veil on the Old Testament hints that God is socially complex, with some sort of plurality in the midst of His oneness.
We began by noting that the creation of God was brimming with relationships, including the creation of marriage and other institutions of social order. We wondered how a god who was socially monolithic could produce a relational cosmos so contrary to his nature. Last week, we noticed how multiple persons were distinctly called God. The One who spoke to Moses from the burning bush saying, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob…” was surprisingly introduced as a messenger OF the Lord. Before that, we took note of how God had spoken of Himself using plural pronouns, “Let US make man in OUR image.”
Now, in the stark commission to His disciples, Jesus blows the door open, revealing their distinct names: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The socially plural One is Triune.
All that is left to us now, is to examine what this means. Jesus had clearly presented Himself as divine. The Jews were incensed that He had made Himself out to be God. The Holy Spirit is presented as a divine person, guiding, leading, comforting, interceding, etc. Jesus even gives us the chilling warning that anyone who “blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.” (Luke 12:10) Blasphemy can only occur against God.
It would take us a long time to examine all of the evidence that is presented in the New Testament for triune monotheism. The summation of it can be found in three statements:
1. There is one God.
2. The one God is socially complex, existing in three persons.
3. Each person is fully God, yet with distinct roles.
Although many assert that the Trinity presents perplexing questions, I submit that it ends up answering the greater questions. Yes, we are unable to understand the depths of it, but that isn’t new. Psalm 145:3 says that we cannot fathom God’s greatness.
But it is in the social plurality of God that we have answers to a multitude of questions and problems that a monolithic deity cannot address. It is to this great contrast and its consequences that we will direct our attention beginning next week.
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3 Responses to “Biblical Christianity and Islam: Plural Monotheism versus Monolithic Monotheism (Part 5)”
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Dr. Del Tackett is president of the Focus on the Family Institute and Senior Vice President to Focus on the Family. He is also the architect and chief spokesperson for Focus on the Family's The Truth Project--a nationwide initiative designed to bring the Christian worldview to the body of Christ.
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God Bless you Dr. Tackett:
As usual you are right on with the Scripture in Matt.28:19 telling us to make diciples of all nations…which shows not only the triune personality of God but of also how all nations are like we were without God in need of God to fill the void inside. Peter stated in Acts 15:9 is that there is no difference between us and them and Paul said in Rom.3:22 and again in Rom.10:12 There is no difference between Jew and Greek in Him we are one, which leaves us with no excuses for not going and making disciples. We should let no nationality or color stop us from this since we have this similarity which is greater than our differences.
Dear Dr. Tackett,
This series has been so enlightening! I’ve enjoyed it immensely! The Triune nature of our Creator has always fascinated and enthralled me as I continue my meager efforts to “seek His face…”
One suggestion for a possible future offshoot of this series: How do we explain the triune nature of God to our children? Many of the points made in your series will be very helpful for future conversations with my children. However, I thought that you might like to expound upon this subject a bit. I know that I would enjoy reading it.
July 24
Greetings in Jesus,
I just downloaded the series comparing Biblical Christianity and Islam. Food for thought, are the terms: FATHER, SON and HOLY SPIRIT names or titles?
I have been looking into this area for several years now, since I realized that Numbers 6:27 makes no sense if we don’t use the one true God’s proper name, Yahweh.
I had accepted for years what I now realize cannot be a valid argument for the non-use of Yahweh by the Hebrew leaders since shortly after the return from Babylon. It can never be correct and proper to disobey a diret command to “obey” another.
Did Jesus mean for us to baptize in Yahweh, Yahshua and ____________________ ?