Saturday, September 23, 2017

one God

I believe that there is only one God.  He is divided up into part by various groups, but there is only one God.  The thought that there is only one God has some interesting implications.  For example, I believe that if people are trying to worship God, that counts for something, even if part of what they are doing is wrong.  It may not be your group, it may not be your denomination, it may be folks that have little in common with you but if they are reaching out to the one God, that ought to count for something.

We tend to want to reject anyone who does not see it the way that we do.  We tend to want to throw away those who have a different understanding than we do.  Why?  Are we so sure that we are the ones that have it just right?

1.2 billion Catholic Christians believe that Mary is sinless.  Are we right and them wrong?
400 million Orthodox Christians do not believe in the trinity.
There are 800 million of us protestants and we don't agree on many things.

If there is only one God, who are the Jehovah's Witnesses [for example] worshiping?  Who are the RLDS worshiping?  Who are the Greek orthodox worshiping?  Well, I was taught that they were all wrong.  But if they are trying to worship God [and there is only one God right?] then who am I to say that they are going to hell?  Do Methodists have the corner on correct ideas about God?

My point is this.... all people that worship God get it partly right and partly wrong.  And God, the one God, welcomes all of their worship.  Who am I to say that this group or that group, this person or that person is going to hell?

There is only one God and everyone that wakes in his world sees the same gift of creation.  It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.



Travel with Pastor Jeff

Italy's Historic and Religious Sites
November 7-16, 2017
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/it17-brinkman-17768#eotours

Holy Land via Jordan
March 5-14 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/hl18-brinkman-030518j-17768#eotours

Wesley's Ireland
October 8-17, 2018
http://www.eo.travelwithus.com/tours/wesley-in-ireland-2018-with-rev-jeff-brinkman#eotours

2 comments:

Unknown said...

really enjoyed your perspective on this I have often questioned this n even wondered about doubting my own beliefs (so If we r to accept many forms of beliefs n We believe in the apostle's creed, how do we witness to others?)

Mary Van Tol said...

I agree with your comments about one God, but I have to correct you about Greek Orthodox DO believe in the trinity. It is center to its beliefs. I was brought up to make the sign of the cross on my body saying Father,Son and Holy Ghost" just as the Catholics, only starting with the opposite shoulder!