Question:  Hi Greg,

            In the past several months I have experienced a re-emergence of my spirituality, where for the previous seven years I had not prayed, had not attended church, and had instead lived a totally non-Christian, ungodly and sinful life.  Before this seven year “exile”, if you will, I was very, very much involved in Christian preaching and was intensely engaged in a ministry of Bible teaching.  While I can’t explain what happened to me ten months ago to cause me to so fervently seek God again, I believe He has “opened his arms” to me, actively inviting back to His care and service, doing to through repentance and reaffirmation.  It feels great.

            Part of this new spiritual journey of mine has seen my investigation of many, many churches, interpretations, doctrines, practices, etc.  Today was the first time I stumbled on your web site, and after viewing the Q/A forum I was deeply moved and encouraged to discover the wonderful balance in your perspectives, your responses, and your faith.  It was refreshing.  Thank you.

            I’ve been reading a great deal of your forum today, and I would like to invite your response on the topics of the Incarnation and the Trinity.  In my past studies in Scripture, Theology and Church History, my conclusion is that the Bible does not EXPLICITLY state that God and Jesus are One, nor does it explicitly state that there is a unity of divine and human nature in the man Jesus.  I believe that people have interpreted, too literally, references and phrases regarding Jesus’ statement that “I and the Father are one” and others where there is singular mention of “the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

            My previous life as a Christian was based solely on doctrinal interpretation, judgment upon those who did not “buy” the doctrines I subscribed to, and relegating non-believers to eternal damnation.  It had little to do with “doing” Christianity.  In other words, it was a purely academic faith.  I now realize such an attitude was terribly, woefully unbalanced, and betrayed the true spirit of Christ’s message and Way.

            Greg, I would very much enjoy your response and insight on my mention of scriptural inference and interpretation, specifically regarding the incarnation and trinity doctrines.  I welcome your balanced perspective, because I believe it can only add to my knowledge and help to strengthen my faith.

         In Christ,

         Robb

Answer:  Hello Robb,

            Great to hear from you.  Thank God for what is happening in your life!  Jesus is alive, he is risen, and he is the new life that comes to those who accept him, trust him, seek after him, and believe in him.  He breathes new life into those things that are dead.  He reinvigorates, heals, and transforms.  I’m delighted to hear that you “feel great” about your growing relationship with God.

            Thanks for the encouragement about our web site, and the ministry of PTM.  We very much agree with you, that there is far too much denominationalism, criticism, claims of being the “one and only true church”, claims of exclusivism, judgmentalism – in short, the kinds of things displayed by religious leaders of Jesus’ day that constantly upset him.

            While you are coming from a rigid view of what constitutes true doctrine, and now you see the errors and mistakes of your past, it would seem that, like all humans, you might swing to another extreme as you attempt to reach middle ground.

            Surely there must be doctrinal truth – and error – for every truth claim cannot be correct and biblical, can it?  How do we decide?

            You note that interpretations of the Bible can be flawed – and you are obviously correct.  Many false interpretations of the Bible exist – but that fact does not mean that a correct interpretation does not exist and cannot be found.

            One issue that you do not address in the topics of the deity of Jesus Christ and the Trinity is church history.  If we exist as an island, if each generation has to re-invent the wheel, then we never will learn the lesson of history, will we?  Jesus said that he would build his church and the gates of hell would not prevail against it.

            These issues – the nature of God and the nature of Jesus, are among the primary issues that Christians have always faced – from the beginning.  We can gain a great deal from church history.  We will see that the ideas that exist today about the nature of God and the nature of Jesus that are not “orthodox” (as defined by 2000 years of Christian history).  They are not new, they have been around for a long time, and many generations of Christians have wrestled with these issues.

            One of the difficulties that both history and present reality teaches us is that virtually all groups that claim to be Christian and “go off the track” in teaching, administration, behavior, etc., do so by beginning with a flawed view of God and of Jesus.  These teachings, while academic, and seemingly boring, are important.  Our beliefs can lead either to more error, heresy and spiritual dysfunction, or they can help keep us grounded and centered in Christ.

            You say that you have read our postings of questions and answers – and I presume you have looked at the ones in the category of “Trinity” and “Jesus Christ”.  We have many and they address some of the specific questions you have about the “one-ness” of God, as well as the divine and human natures of Jesus Christ.  You also mentioned that you have studied and read widely.  If you would like to share some of the titles with me, I would be happy to suggest some others for you to study and read.

            Hope this helps.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht