Jewish and Muslim Neighbors

Monotheism is the belief in the existence of just one God. Most Christians are glad to affirm they are monotheists, but are uncomfortable and unwilling to describe who their One God is. Jews and Muslims, on the other hand, will confidently enter a discussion about monotheism and are prepared to defend their beliefs with logic and Scriptures. To them monotheism is the very foundation of their religion.

But Christians don’t hold to monotheism as a foundation any more. In fact, if you listen to Christians speak with one another today, you’ll hear widespread confusion and sharp disagreement on the issue of monotheism. Because of this, there’s hardly a more important matter for Christians to resolve. Let’s resolve it now because for any of us not to be able to give a clear and concise answer to the inevitable question “Who is God?” would be painfully embarrassing—particularly with our Jewish and Muslim neighbors.

On the other hand, if we can profess without any reservation that we believe in One God, and if we can unwaveringly articulate who that God is, it will be a joy to us and a light to those around us. So, which will you choose: shame or gain? Will you win people to God, or will you lose their respect with a flimsy faith?

Singularity

Emphasis on God’s singularity is found all over the Bible. Some people think that it’s very Old Testament to affirm monotheism, but the New Testament has many stunning statements regarding the One God. All of them point to the Father. None of them confuse the Father with Jesus. None of them call the Holy Spirit the One God. They all affirm what Paul affirms in Ephesians 4:6, that there is ‘One God and Father of all...' Here they are:

... the Lord is One (Mark 12:29).

... God is One and there is no other but him (Mark 12:32).

... there is only One God (Romans 3:30).

There is no God but One (1 Corinthians 8:4).

... there is but One God (1 Corinthians 8:6).

... God is One (Galatians 3:20).

... there is One God (1 Timothy 2:5).

... there is One God (James 2:19).

The beliefs of Christians are founded on the writings of the Apostles, and a Christian should know how to use the New Testament in defense of basic Truths. So, spend some time familiarizing yourself with the verses above. Read them in context. Read them often, and use them in conversation with others. Don’t be caught off guard by those who would challenge the Truth that there is One God, the Father.

But don’t imagine that the only people who will challenge our belief that there is only One God are all from other religions! Quite the contrary. Most of those people will agree with us. The people most willing to dispute with Christian monotheism are inside the Christian Church! Yes, the Church is filled with people who do not believe that the One God is the Father. So, what do they affirm? that the One God is someone they call the Godhead.

Outdated English

The modern term Godhead comes to us from the English spoken in 1611 (more than 400 years ago) when the King James Version (KJV) was published. For the readers of that day (men like William Shakespeare and women like Queen Elizabeth), godhead meant godhood, and godhood means the divine nature. But if the word godhood still means the divine nature, then why don't the Trinitarians use it appropriately instead of using its archaic version? It's because they want to cast confusion and promote their theology.

For you to understand what godhead sounded like to the ears of English speakers 400 years ago, godhead meant godhood in the same way that womanhead meant womanhood. Nobody used to capitalize either of these words because they referred to different natures: the nature of God or the nature of a woman. These words were just as well-known in 1611 to King James as the words manhood, childhood, and brotherhood are to you and me today.

Today’s Trinitarians adopted the King James word godhead and have made it their definition of the One God. If pressed to define who the Godhead is for them, they will state that he is a “Three distinct Persons in One Essence.” In other words, their “Godhead” is their One God. The Father is not their One God. (This is very grave! They deny that the Father is the One God.) Their One God is the union of three co-equal Beings.

Worse off, they don’t give anybody the right to challenge their definition. If anyone dares question their definition of God, they are disparaged as heretics. But who is the heretic, after all? Is it not someone who will deny a fundamental Truth of Christianity?

The Trinitarians will tell you that their One God is mysterious and inexplicable. They claim that the Godhead is the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit together. The Godhead is the Trinitarian’s version of the One God—and they may very well be offended if you point out to them that their word Godhead comes to us from the 1611 KJV, and should rather be translated godhood.

Simple Truth

The truth is that the One God is the Father. It really is that simple. Paul said it this way:

… for us there is but One God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live… (1 Corinthians 8:6)

Jesus said it this way:

… that they may know you, the Only True God… (John 17:3; NASB)

When a Christian responds to the question: “Who is the One God?” it is incumbent upon him to be simple, not theological. To be effective in his declaration of Truth, a Christian must limit himself to a simple answer. When asked about the One God, if he responds with an answer that’s not singular, he is automatically denying monotheism, and he will instantly lose the respect of any Muslim or Jewish monotheist who engages him in conversation. Muslims and Jews have common sense. They know that 1 + 1 + 1 = 3. They will not be persuaded that 1 + 1 + 1 = 1.

Our hope for the lost (Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, atheists, and people from any other background) is that they would turn from their ignorance of God to the truth about God. Our job is to make two things clear to them: 1. that the Living and True God is the Father. 2. For the forgiveness of their sins, they need to believe in Jesus, God's Son. And 3. that God raised Jesus from the Dead!

… you turned to God from idols to serve the Living and True God, and to wait for his Son from Heaven, whom he raised from the Dead (1Thessalonians 1:9-10).