As Christians and people of Eastern Orthodox faiths observe their holiest day this Sunday, one of their number has a few questions about what they think it means to follow Christ.
Christian commentator Roland Martin speaks for many.
When did it come to the point that being a Christian meant only caring about two issues, abortion and homosexuality?
Roland Martin: “I’ve grown tired of people who pimp God”Ask the nonreligious what being a Christian today means, and based on what we see and read, it’s a good bet they will say that followers of Jesus Christ are preoccupied with those two points.
Poverty? Whatever. Homelessness? An afterthought. A widening gap between the have and have-nots? Immaterial. Divorce? The divorce rate of Christians mirrors the national average, so that’s no big deal.
The point is that being a Christian should be about more than abortion and homosexuality, and it’s high time that those not considered a part of the religious right expose the hypocrisy of our brothers and sisters in Christianity and take back the faith.
Martin puts his finger on one of the reasons I and so many others have all but turned our backs on faith, and can’t be pushed into an organized religious service with a Mack truck.
…it’s troubling to listen to “Christian radio” and hear the kind of hate spewing out of the mouths of my brothers and sisters in the faith.
In fact, I’ve grown tired of people who pimp God. That’s right; we have a litany of individuals today who are holy, holy, holy, sing hallelujah, talk about how they love the Lord, but when it’s time to walk the walk, somehow the spirit evaporates.
I mean no disrespect to the people closing their businesses to celebrate Good Friday, or those joining the throngs at church on Easter Sunday. But the joy of religion is long since past for me. And until it becomes more about quietly setting the highest example for others to follow and less about judgement and scorn, it will probably remain that way.
The problem with all of us who profess to be Christian is that we frequently forget that we are to follow the teachings of Christ. There are many important points in those teachings, but I believe the most important are John 3:16, the Golden Rule and “Judge not lest ye be not judged.” Most of us at least try to remember the first, most forget and don’t understand the second and virtually all in organized religion fail horribly with the third.
Christians must re-learn that even though we are Christian, we are ALL sinners. The world if full of sinners (and full fledged satanists) who try to push their sin off onto someone else. Homosexuality is a sin, but so are many of the things each of us do every day. Sin is Sin, one is not better or worse than the other. We need to practice real Christianity, not a satanic version, and realize that Christ spent most of his time among sinners, trying to teach them to do better, not shunning and condeming them.
Judgement day is going to be rough on most of us, but especially those who call themselves Christian, but whose lives are filled with hate instead of love for our fellow man.
P.S. If Bush is a true Christian, then woe unto us all.
I stopped going to church after our shameful shock and awe of Iraq. I believe God spoke loudly and clearly February 8th when over 8 million people of conscience poured out into the streets and pleaded that we not do this. This we did, and this we would’ve done even if it would’ve required tanks in the streets of America to enable it.
I’m not going to church this Easter, as well as not joining with family, because I don’t silently condone torture nor can I shut up about it. I’m supposed to zip my lip and not offend the morality of other family members who “love my country”. Excuse me. My morality is offended, much more deeply than those offended by my protests could ever fathom because of their shallowness. Abu Grahib was the 9-11 event to our morality. Where is the outrage?
This president is not ashamed or embarrassed to use tortured confessions. This country is not ashamed or embarrassed to use tortured confessions. Need I say more? I don’t suspect there is any questioning of this in the churches of this country. Rather, there is pray for our troops. And just what are our troops doing?
My faith is not wrapped in a flag. My conscience is not deadened to silently condone torture. And I can’t fellowship with those whose consciences are that dead… nor with those who sing happy hymns while being totally oblivious to what we are doing, what we’ve become.
Abortion and homosexuality are not end issues of themselves, but are symbols of a society gone mad. These issues are important to Christians because they herald the comming moral depravity, the result of which is a collapse of love, replacing it with pathological self-interest.
Abortion, the killing of innocents, is done out of convenience. To say otherwise is to be wrong. What is the end of killing for convenience? Did we not do the same to the native Americans found here? Do we not condemn such behavior when husbands kill their wives fo adultry or less, in many cultures today? How is this different than abortion.
Homosexuality, to the many of us who know such people, will know that this does not bring liberation or happiness. Look to the various ‘gay’ newspapers found in homosexual communities. Look at the advertisments… advertising is a window into deeper levels of understanding… you will find gyms, body waxing, alcohol abuse clinics, domestic abuse clinics, bars, porn, prostitutes.
These are the things of those who are self-possessed, a service-to-self mentality that has no room for larger issues. Those of us who oppose homosexuality are opposed to the extraordinary trivilization of our culture, the psychological baggage that homosexuals drag with them.
Earlier a poster named Frank said: “have you heard of communitarians? I suggest you find out about this term..hegelian dialectic”
I suggest you do as well, we’ve ALL been duped. Surely you can understand why I was shocked to see these terms mentioned here, as most people have no idea what they are. I see someone has decided to take the red pill, congratulations!
Here we are back to abortion and homosexuality. These are but two of oh so many sins. Many so-called Christians can’t get off these two overly politicized wrongs that they condone adulty if it is Republican adulty, so long as that repub. opposses abortion and talks against homosexuality, although maybe a closet homosexual himself (or herself(. It is even okay if they are child molesters or murder adults (of course children are killed in war, too), or visit prostitutes (oh yeah, it is the prostitute who is the sinner), or allow children to starve, or slavery in the Sudan, or many, many other sinful acts by our government and its officials. They don’t want to hear about the shortcomings of this resident in the White House i.e. his National Guard non-duty, his alcohol abuse, his cocaine abuse, the rumors of many other things including possible murder, and (with at least some good evidence, his own homosexual experiences). These can be ignored and pushed aside, because he professes to be a Christian. Sin is Sin, and although we all can be forgiven for our many, many sins, we at least must try to live our lives the way God would like us to live. This does not include lying to our nation to bring us to war, and many other things done by this fool and his followers that appear more satanic than Christian.
Christ warned us about false prophets and those who would twist our beliefs into something evil. That is exactly what has happened and we let it! Don’t blame Christianity blame those adherents who are too engrossed in their own hates and desires to understand or care about the destruction of their religion. A similar thing is happening with Islam and we have criticized them vociferously for it, for not caring enough about their beliefs to fight against fanatacism to protect them. Well people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones! Wake up Christians, and retake your religion from the legions of mountebanks trying to destroy it. You know who they are, their friends of the Great Decider.
God desires that no one be lost, that all be saved. What has the Father not done in the past 2000 years to win over civilization? What patience He has shown during this past century as we have unleashed two world wars, the evil of abortion, and countless other abominations while at the same time mocking Christianity!
And so, it is the season of choosing: the harvest is here. Pope John Paul II was more precise:
We are now facing the final confrontation between the Church and the anti-Church, of the Gospel and the anti-Gospel. —Addressed to the American Bishops two years before he was elected pope; Reprinted November 9, 1978, issue of The Wall Street Journal.
Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked man, You shall surely die; and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his wicked conduct so that he may live: that wicked man shall die for his sin, but I will hold you responsible for his death. (Ezekiel 3:18)
I think we can see that organised religion is and has always been a force, like organised government is a force. What better way to start wars to gain power, control and wealth than to manipulate the masses, appealing to their collective Christian, Muslim, Jewish, conscience over righteous indignations perpetrated by the intended victim, i.e., “lets go steal their oil because they are evil muslims and hate christians” History is filled with such accounts of debauchery, all in the name of God. I don’t think you need churches to tell you homosexuality or abortion is wrong. Government or organised religions don’t really care, they want you to think they do so you will continue giving your allegiance (money,support) to help them grow. Real Christians will follow Christs simple teachings of forgiveness, not judging, self awareness, kindness and charity. Remember Christ condemned those that do it all for show! You don’t need Ishtar(easter) to celebrate Christ’s resurrection from the grave when it can be celebrated by an act of kindness from the heart.
Easter was designated on Sunday because most churches found it hard to get people to church on a Saturday night. The actualy Sabbath day is Saturday, and the poster who mentioned Passover as the correct celebration was right.
As for the poster…I agree wholeheartedly. But until more true Christians start demanding that so-called spiritual leaders and politicians stop pimping the church and it’s congregants…and start holding them accountable, the madness will continue. God can only do FOR us what he can do THROUGH us.
Fun with words.
If Christianity is the religion of Christ, what is the religion of anti-christ?
Come on now, what religion is anti-christ? It isn’t the muslims, every time JC’s name is mentioned in the Qu’ran, it is followed by, “praise be upon him”.
Answer, Judaism is the true religion of the “anti-christ”.
Hmmmmm.
“Judaism is the true religion of the “anti-christ”. Truer words I don’t know. Having just been ripped off over $125,000 from a jewish lawyer who has yet to finish the case, the crook.
The pharisees condemned Christ to death. Some Christians can be very stupid about Zionism.
Don’t forget that Christ was a Jew, not a Christian, which didn’t exist in his lifetime. We cannot assume that all Jews are bad any more than that all Moslems, Hindus or Christians are bad. They are simply different and some members of any group bastardize the true meanings and beliefs of the group.
We Christians have taken pagan holidays and added our own religious beliefs to them, often overshadowing the Christian religious beliefs (Christmas and Easter) with those pagan or secular overtones, (Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny). There were probably reasons for joining them together at the time, but we have allowed the positive to frequently be overcome and eliminated by the non-Christian elements, including the financial aspects of the holiday.
Our nation is going the way of the Roman Empire, with the government leaders becoming more interested in accumulating power and wealth than in doing what is right for the people of our nation.
We are a diverse and multicultural nation, with many and various religions and beliefs. We must be tolerant of each other, allow religious freedom, as guaranteed by our Constitution and stop trying to slam our personal beliefs down the throat of everyone else, even other “Christians”.
In the past we have been able to seperate our religious doctrine from government policy. However, now it seems that we are pushing the limits to see who can be more religious and less tolerant, even to the point of undermining that Constitution.
If we are to remain a free and independent nation, protected by the govenment under the Constitution and The Bill of Rights, we must re-establih tolerance, religious freedom including (seperation of church and state) and individual liberty both by our government and within each of us.
We cannot allow the rights and freedoms that many of our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines have given their lives to protect to be pushed aside and ignored by zealots who care nothing for their sacrifice.
The time has come to take our nation back, to remove those who attempt to be dictators and force our elected officials to follow the law, the Constitution and the will of the people.
“Don’t forget that Christ was a Jew, not a Christian”.
I believe you mean to say JC was born a jew, and at some point, decided to denounce his “jewishness” and begin his own religion.
We should not assume anyone is good or bad (caste the first stone, etc) however, the teachings within the torah and talmud offer up some very disturbing concepts, and speaks of Christ in a soup of boiling waste and excrement. I dont read “love thy neighbour” in the translation.
Nevermind, the real truth is leaking out now, and the dam is about to burst. Humanity will stand a better chance of saving itself when we reveal all these lies, be they religious, economic or political.
It is time for you self-proclaimed believers to grow up. Quit being delusional and become real.
1.No savior is coming back to save your unworthy asses.
2.Getting billions in tax breaks is not being persecuted.
3.If god didn’t want man to think, man wouldn’t have a brain. Use it or lose it. Obviously you guys never had one. Iam sorry you were brainwashed as children. Your minds were molested.
4.You are allergic to the truth. You force your children to lie.
5.The aborted fetuses will be the lucky ones with nuclear weapons, overpopulation and global warming.
6. If you were truly opposed to abortion like I, a liberal hippy, you would support the forced spaying and neutering of humanes.
7.Gays are either created genetically (by god) or environmentally by lunatics. Obviously the lunatics are the fundamentalists. Quit creating people you hate.
8.The american republican party is a party united in hate. Hate moslems, communists, liberals, homosexuals, intellectuals, environmentalists and other races and religions…
Love thy neighbor is godly, hating thy neighbor is satanic. One nation under god. Are you a Bushie or an American. Torture is ungodly and unamerican.
I have read the comments here with great interest. Some have said that there are no examples of true Christianity left.
I read a beautiful story the other about the Amish. Awhile back a man went into a school in Amish country and shot five little girls and then killed himself. Know what the Amish did? They forgave him. They even reached out to his family in love and support, knowing that they were hurting too. Most of our society would be screaming for blood, but did follow the example of Jesus when he said “Father forgive them for they know not what they do”.
Jesus was still a Jew at his death and participated in Jewish rites and religious holidays (i.e. Passover) up to his death. He proclaimed new thoughts for his flock, but no where did he proclaim a new religion. Christanity did not start for several years after his death (by Peter and Paul). He also condemed the Pharises (sp) for allowing the temple to be used as a business and defiled, rather than the holy temple that it was.
He was killed because of the fears of the Jewish (loosely used) powers that be who felt threatened by him because of his popularity with the people and the use of the term “King of the Jews”. The Romans probably would have let him live had they been able to prevent the Jewish leaders from going nuts (and of course, because it was God’s plan of Salvation that Christ had to die on the cross).
Likewise, we cannot condem all Jews (2000 years later even) for killing Jesus (as the Nazis tried to do). If so we would also have to critize God, whose plan it was all along.
It is just too bad we can’t seem to allow people of other faiths and beliefs to have the same freedon to worship that we demand for our own religion, and for which our Constitution gurantees. Who are we to condem others, when we certainly do not follow our own beliefs faithfully.
We criticize and condem when we should be tolerant (as was Christ) unless the actions of others break the laws of man (and of God) making it necessary for the legal system (which also must be blind to religious, racial and ethnic differences)to act.
We also certainly should keep the government out of our bedrooms and homes (unless there is definite evidence of child or elder abuse, or forced sexual slavery). We don’t need someone (ususlly just as guilty of similar deeds) watching what consenting adults do within their homes.
Too many people in my family fit the model of Christian mentioned in this article. It is too rediculous to fathom, how intelligent people could waste their time worrying about these two issues. However, there is a reason. Its a divisive issue used to make greedy people feel holy. They mask their voracious appetite for wealth with their disdain for homosexuals and abortion clinics. Its too bad they couldnt pick an issue that was less offensive to such a variety of people. Why not condemn Nazis and Gnomes?
These are hot button issues used to simply rally their followers. The last thing the Republicans really want is to outlaw abortions. Their followers would then look to economic issues and the repugs would never win on that.
As for homosexuals, it appears there are many in the closet in the Rep. party (more likely to be open in the Democratic party). The only real problem with this is that many of the most vocal homophobes often turn out to be homosexual themselves. They just don’t want anybody else to know it. We would probably be surprised
at who some of these people are (or maybe not if the rumors are true). Just remember that those who throw stones frequently are just as guilty (or more so) than the one being hit by the stone. They simply want to cover up their own transgressions.
Time to face the truth. America adopted Jewish culture many years ago to the point that status, power and accumulation of wealth is America’s official religion. The very things our Saviour eschewed we embrace in his name. What hypocrites we all are. Our Christian Churches have become a place to meet other like minded brokers, indoctrinate the kids and placate our conscience. The dollar sign has replaced the cross. Like children, we argue over the meaning of Easter when we put money in a plastic egg to hide and Christmas when we charge up the card to buy gifts. Even Government got in on our National Religion giving themselves billions of dollars to declare their failed wars on drugs, terrorism, education and poverty, filling prisons, weighing in on homosexuality and abortion, along the way destroying families and indebting the nation. They knew we would support them, after all, in the name of Christian morality how can one not support such causes? No wonder government leaders, bankers and industrial leaders are mostly Jewish, its where their God hangs out. I think its time we see us for what what most of us really are, Jews in Christians clothing.
I overwhelmingly agree with John Kassak’s critique. Too many “Christians” are enamored by this “War on Terror.” They are so blind, they don’t see the hypocrisy of it. I consider myself a Christian, but, unlike many, I refuse to be a sheep, to follow in the bandwagon, because I have a conscience. Wake up people…We as a society, whether “Christian,” or “Muslim,” or “Jewish,” are bankrupt morally, and almost bankrupt spiritually. God gave each one of us our own mind, let us use this gift! When Jesus Christ comes to earth again, we’ll be rushing to withdraw from our moral and spiritual banks like there’s no tomorrow – only to find nothing in there!
“Christian” Politics?
Jesus says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations – teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you…” Matthew 28:19-20
Many, if not most, christian religious leaders are saying that “the church” should spend it’s time and resources doing things other than loving one another and making disciples of all nations. Their people are told we need to use political means to advance the Kingdom of God. Their people are told they are to fight against moral evil and to fight to preserve our “rights”. Their people are told to keep their minds on the world’s kingdoms (governments) and battles and to use the world’s means (political power) to fight those battles.
This is another false gospel, leading people away from God. Jesus says, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight…”. John 18:36 Many religious organization leaders say, “Jesus’ kingdom is manifest in this world through political means, so get fighting”.
Who do you believe, Jesus or the voices of those prominent religious leaders?
Something to ponder about:
Suppose that someone observed Jesus two thousand years ago, and he left this planet, or he went to sleep for two thousand years and returned today to look for the followers of Jesus, who would he find? who would he recognize? Christians? I conclude with just this food for thought: the Bible says very clearly that Jesus used to fast. Do Christians fast? Muslims fast; it is obligatory one month every year. The Bible says that Jesus prayed by touching his forehead to the ground. Do Christians pray in this manner? Muslims do. It is characteristic of their prayer and no one on earth is probably ignorant of that fact.
According to Jesus, he told his disciples to greet one another with the expression, “Peace be with you.” Do the Christians do that? Muslims do, universally, whether they speak Arabic or not. The greeting for one another is Assalamu’ alaikum (Peace be with you).
The brother of Jesus in the Book of James, stated that no man should suggest what he is about to do or highlight his plans for the next ew days in anyway without adding the phrase “if God wills” Do not say “I will go here and there, do this and that” without adding the phrase “if God wills.” Do Christians do that? Muslims do, whether they speak Arabic or not. If they so much as suggest they are going downtown to pick up some groceries, they will add “Insha Allah”, which in Arabic means, “If God wills.”
I found the Baha’i Faith to have solutions to the many problems the older religions have fallen into. After all, as the Bible tells us, “For everything there is a season,” which naturally must include religion itself. Religious communities don’t stay the same, last forever, or maintain their original purity or unity. Over time, they become mired in and divided over matters of theology and ritual practices and eventually become sources of contention and even violence. But what if God has sent the renewal of Religion, the solution to this problem? Baha’is believe He has. I would invite you all to investigate this most recent of God’s Revelations (it is not the final Revelation–God’s “hands” are always outstretched) and see if you find, as I did, that it has a modern and compelling resonance for today. You can find more at http://www.bahai.org.
Religion is anything that you practice and “worship”.
GOD so loved the world that HE gave Himself (JESUS).
JESUS IS GOD
Anybody can be “religious”.
Where are the TRUE believers ?
I had faith at one time and went to church,but now doubt has set in. What I have learned in the bible and what I see going on amongst christians don’t match up! I pray for a word from God and I get a nightmare instead! I try to help a family member and I get ripped off! friends and their family members are all messed up and their prayers are not getting answered! I know there is a God, and Jesus said don’t ask for a sign, but I need a sign now! Lord hear my prayer and take away my doubt! amen. in the mean time, Peace on Earth people!
Michael, you will not find the truth in any religious building. The source of our faith and salvation is in the words of Jesus of Nazareth as He Himself taught.
So, how do we get to know the heavenly Father and His Son?
The only source to get to know the Father is the scripture, and the Father’s greatest, clearest revealing of Himself is through His Son, Jesus. Jesus’ Words are found in the gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. For who else has said, “For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. “I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore, the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me. John 12:49-50
And again, Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me.” John 8:28
And who testified in return about the Son? The Father Himself spoke from heaven and said, “While He was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!” Matthew 17:5
Of who else can these things be said? Of David or Solomon? Of Peter or Paul? No, of only one, the Father’s chosen Messiah, His beloved Son. Are Moses words Jesus’ Words? Are Isaiah’s words Jesus’ Words? The simple answer to these questions is NO. Jesus’ Words are Jesus’ Words. Of His Words, he says, “Heaven and earth will pass away, by MY words will not pass away.” Matthew 24:35
Letting a man deceive you on this matter includes believing the clergyman/hireling when he tells you that this other man or men’s words are equal to Jesus’ Words. When the clergymen start with, “well, the other writers of the bible also spoke God’s words with equal clairty…”, you will now have the choice before you on which voice to listen to. You have read Jesus’ Words above which rebuke that belief, so now you must choose.
It should be obvious that if we love Jesus, we will want to know Him and to get to know Him, we must read His Words.
God our Father has ordained that in order to get to know Him we must read His Son’s Words, seek to understand them, receive the words like little children into our hearts and do them.
If we do all that Jesus says you will know that “You are already “clean” because of the word which I have spoken to you”. John 15:3 To be “clean” means to be accepted by Jesus’ Father. And that means Life eternal!
May we avail ourselves of this glorious salvation, and not play the fool by participating in the religion game thinking that we will successfully substitute the shallow counterfeit for the genuine.
Dave said Jesus is god and Linda said god’s son is Jesus.
Now who is what or which? Am confused? All I know that there is the one and only God. No wonder you are all a screwed up lot.
Hello sbm,
Yes, sadly few of us can measure up to the perfect standards that would delight our Heavenly Father.
The Trinity Doctrine has caused many divides among true seekers. I would like to offer some thoughts on this topic based upon Jesus’ words. Without Jesus’ words I would have nothing of value to share with you.
Jesus says, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me”. John 14:6
Given all the scripture that says the most important thing that God wants, is that we know Him, and thus love and obey Him, it seems quite odd that there would be confusion (contradictions) on knowing God. It seems to me that God would have revealed himself fully (of what we could comprehend) in terms of His person, Name, characteristics, etc. In fact, Jesus himself says, “I have revealed Your name to the men whom You gave to Me out of the world. They were Yours, and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. Now they have known that all things, whatever You have given Me, are from You. For I have given to them the Words which You gave Me, and they have received them and have known surely that I came out from You. And they have believed that You sent Me”. “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master does. But I have called you friends, FOR ALL THINGS THAT I HAVE HEARD FROM MY FATHER I HAVE MADE KNOWN TO YOU”. John 17:6-8; 15:15 (emphasis mine)
Clearly one of Jesus’ main missions on His first coming was to reveal his Father as well as Himself as the Messiah. If this be so, how can confusion and contradiction remain regarding knowing who Jesus is and who his Father is? We are not talking about an infinite aspect of God’s nature, but rather the issue of WHO GOD IS. In the above sayings of Jesus, He CLEARLY distinguishes between his Father and Himself.
When the Son says, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46; why can’t we receive the plain meaning? Why must we instead run to strange psycho-philosophical, “dual nature” explanations? Perhaps because we are hanging onto a tradition of men?
The Trinitarian view is that while they (the Father and the Son) are separate persons, yet they are the same God. This view is irrational and contradictory and there are many hundreds of verses that plainly state that Jesus and His Father are not the same person.
Here are a few more:
“Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father”. Matthew 20:23
So Jesus, being God, has not the authority to grant places of honor for his servants? Doesn’t it seem fairly obvious that this “Father”, that Jesus speaks of is “greater than” Jesus? And if Jesus is the Most High God, how could that be?
“Why do you call me good? No one is good but One, that is, God”. Mark 10:18
Jesus, sinless, yet in his humility, flatly denied that he was the Most High God. As always, he honored his Father above himself.
“Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will”. Mark 14:36
It is possible for the One Perfect God’s will to be divided?
“My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me”? Matthew 27:46
God the Most High, has a God? The Most HIgh God can forsake Himself?
No one has seen God at any time”. John 1:18 & John 4:12
What more can be said?
“God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth”. John 4:24
Jesus teaches that, “God is spirit,” not that God is flesh, and thus the truth that “No one has seen God at any time”.
“If you loved me, you would rejoice because I said, “I am going to the Father’, for my Father is greater than I”. John 14:28
If Jesus is truly the Most High God, equal with his Father, then how can his Father be “greater” than he, in any respect? This is especially true in this context, as the context speaks nothing about physical things or his physical nature.
“I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God”. John 20:17
Jesus is ascending to his “God”. How can the Most High God have a God???
Why do christians reject the hundreds of verses of scripture that refute the Trinitarian view, in favor of the less than half a dozen which appear to support it?
Jesus of Nazareth is properly honored by believing who He says He is, not by making himself into something he is not. If someone comes along and says that Jesus of Nazareth ought to be honored ABOVE his Father, are you going to do that?