Bishop T.D. Jakes says he has moved away from a “Oneness” view of the Godhead to embrace an orthodox definition of the Trinity — and that some in the Oneness Pentecostal movement now consider him a heretic.
Jakes — long a controversial figure among evangelicals because of his past unwillingness to affirm the Trinity — stated his belief Wednesday (Jan. 27) at the second-annual Elephant Room (theelephantroom.com), an event that brings together Christian figures from different backgrounds for what organizers call “conversations you never thought you’d hear.” This year’s Elephant Room was held at Harvest Bible Chapel in Illinois and was simulcast to other locations nationwide.
I was raised in a United Pentecostal congregation, and as such, can appreciate what a huge development this is in Jakes’ ministry. As a boy and adolescent, I sat through innumerable sermons defending modalism. Among many Pentecostal clergy, modalism was the doctrine that they believed kept them pure from the heresies of other Christian denominations,and was a sign of their faithfulness to Received Truth. I saw many Pentecostal preachers break down in tears while reciting examples of the perceived persecution that they underwent for not indulging in the Romanistic doctrine of Trinitarianism. I’m sure that Jakes is going to lose a lot of Pentecostal friends for his change in position. Hopefully, he will pick up a corresponding amount of new, orthodox, friends in compensation.
I should have put “Romanistic” in quotes, of course…I was relating the Pentecostal position, not my own.
Although, when I return to my old congregation for some family occasion, I am always warmly greeted….despite my divergence into what I am sure many of the members see as “Papist heresy”. But it’s hard to stay mad at people when there is a plate of fried chicken between you.
About 1800 years late; but better late than never.
While so many in our tradition trade the saving faith for the great lie, others (in other traditions) are finding the truth. Many decisions to be made on the way to the eschaton…
Will the real heretic please stand up?
Fortunately modalism doesn’t seem to have contaminated the large pentecostal churches in Australia.
Hillsong Church in Sydney is said to have an ASA (actually weekly attendance) in excess of 20,000. Their statement of faith says:
[blockquote] “We believe in one eternal God who is the Creator of all things. He exists in three Persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. He is totally loving and completely holy.” [/blockquote]
MichaelA, there are large pentecostal churches/denominations in the United States that are trinitarian as well, most notably the Assemblies of God.
The Baptist Press is missing the slight of hand theology.
“Jakes said he prefers the term “manifestations” instead of the term “persons” — a position he has stated before.â€
A transcript quotes ( http://tinyurl.com/73kj9h9 )
“Driscoll: One God Three Persons?
Jakes: One God – Three Persons. One God – Three Persons, and here is why…there… I am not crazy about the word persons this is…most people who follow me know that that is really. My doctrinal statement is no different from yours except the word…
Driscoll: “manifestationsâ€
The way Modalists try to get around the issue is define God as there manifestations or the same one God not there distinct persons of the same one God. In other words, he just repackages his Modalist beliefs.
IF he is truly Trinitarian let him confers and sign a copy of the Athenasian Creed.
Oh yes, by the way he has not recanted of his word of faith heresy.
As with others, Pentacostal denominations come in many flavors, and the Oneness doctrine is just one of those. Most big charismatic churches are definately not Oneness.