Critique of The Crossing's beliefs-The Trinity: Part One...

PLEASE TAKE THE TIME AND EFFORT TO GET THE GOSPEL RIGHT: YOUR ETERNAL DESTINATION DEPENDS ON IT! 

 WHAT DOES THE CROSSING BELIEVE ABOUT THE TRINITY?

Now that I have exposed the absurd and contradictory nature of The Crossing's first doctrinal point, "We believe the Bible is God's word and totally accurate. It is out final authority", (See "Critique of The Crossing's beliefs-The Bible: parts two and and three) it is time to expand into uncharted territory and address what The Crossing believes about the doctrine of the Trinity.

Doctrinal point number two of The Crossing is written as follows, on the "I Love My Church" video...

"We Believe the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit."

Pastor Tom gives his commentary on Crossing belief number two as follows...

" ...We also believe the Trinity. Now notice; God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. God, God, God. Three separate names: inseparable. They are one. 

Then Eric Dykstra interjects the following commentary...

"...And this is what separates us from being a cult. You realize that, people that are cults, that are part of a cult, don't believe the Trinity. That's a good indication your dealing with a cult and not the truth. Well, Christians for two thousand years have believed in this thing called "the Trinity". We're just normal, everyday Christians; it just looks a little different when you come in the door."  

Pastor Tom takes over the commentary now...

"So we package things maybe a little differently, but like pastor Eric said, Christians have been believing this for two thousand years. We're not doing anything, creating anything new now. We're just packaging it differently".

THE TRINITY IS NOT EASILY EXPLAINED

The Doctrine of the Trinity is a very mysterious, complex and often misunderstood doctrine. Throughout church history confusion over the doctrine of the Trinity had spawned many heresies. So it is wise for pastors and theologians to explain Trinitarian doctrine thoroughly and with precision, lest inadequate explanations lead to false conclusions of what the Scriptures teach about the triune nature of God.

THE CROSSING'S COMMENTARY ON WHAT THEY BELIEVE ABOUT THE TRINITY DOES NOT EXPLAIN OR CLARIFY ANYTHING!

The commentary given by pastor Tom and Pastor Eric in the text provided is the most shallow, inarticulate, idiotic, inconclusive, subjective, and philosophically incoherent commentary I have ever heard (Well, not really; there is much worse to come!) ! I mean, this thing is a train wreck! 

THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY IS NOT A CONTRADICTION

Many people misunderstand Trinitarian doctrine, and falsely conclude that the idea of the Trinity is a contradiction. It is not. Remember in "Critique of The Crossings beliefs-The Bible: Part Two..." I  explained the Law of Non-Contradiction . If you are unfamiliar with the Law of Non-Contradiction, then I suggest that you review one or both of the prior two links, just so you don't get lost in the following discussion.


REMEMBER THE FORMULA FOR THE LAW OF NON-CONTRADICTION

•  A cannot be B and non-B at the same time and in the same sense. 

FILLING IN THE VARIABLES:

• "A" is "God", "B" is "one", and "non-B" is "three".

TO PUT THIS IN PROPOSITIONAL FORM:

• "God cannot be one and three at the same time and in the same sense." That is true. If I believe that, "There is only one God" and "There are three Gods", at the same time and in the same sense, that would violate the Law of Non-Contradiction, and you would want to call my psychiatrist! 

• It is essential then, to be specific when defining the variables: "A" refers to "the Christian God", "B" refers to God as "one in essence (or substance)", "non-B" refers to God as "existing as three Persons (or subsistences) ". 

•  The correct way to frame the doctrine of the Trinity in propositional form is as follows. The Christian God is one of "B", and three of "non-B". "The Christian God is one in essence, existing as three Persons". 

•  The sense in which B and non-B differ is in compliance with the Law of Non-Contradiction. Now if I believe that God one of "B" and God is three of "B" at the same time and in the same sense, then I am caught in a contradiction and have abandoned all logic and reason.     

ANOTHER WAY TO FRAME THE DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY IN NON- CONTRADICTORY PROPOSITIONS

• God exists as three Persons
• Each Person is fully God
• There is only one God. 

So by carefully defining the variables and putting it all together in propositional language that is true, clear, and concise proves that the doctrine of the Trinity does not violate the Law of Non-Contradiction. This also prevents false ideas of the Christian God (heresy) from sprouting in the soil of a Church's confusing and inconclusive doctrinal position on the Trinity.  

MORE TO COME ON THE TRINITY

I was hoping I could critique The Crossing's doctrine of the Trinity in one post. Unfortunately There is much more to be said, and I don't want my posts to be too lengthy. So I will finish up my critique on the next post.