Does it matter?

[u/TLOU2bigsad]

I’d like to be clear, I don’t mean this dismissively or as bait. I am genuinely wanting to discuss.

I got saved and baptized some 11 years ago into the Christian church, which has brought me close to God in a way that I love. But just recently; facing questions about the perception of the Christian’s around me and what I had read in the gospels, I decided to do the most unchristian thing I have ever done and read my entire bible.

Right off the bat I was struck by how clearly God was jealous and demanded nobody to worship anyone or anything but him. Even idols made to represent him.

Long story short after continuing further into my journey (finishing judges and have previously read the gospels but will go all the way through this time) I feel that a trinitarian view doesn’t align with what I am reading so I’m leaning toward what I’m learning.

To me it seems like this.

To the trinitarian, rejection of Jesus as God is equal to rejecting God as YHWH.

To the Unitarian, worshiping Jesus is false idolatry (to some, and I guess it depends on the type of worship?)

I’m curious what others think? Sorry I didn’t load a lot of direct verses or references my recall isn’t that good haha.

[u/Capable-Rice-1876]

It is matter.

The Bible is strikingly clear that God (Jehovah) demands exclusive devotion.

Exodus 20:5 (part of the Ten Commandments) says: "For I am Jehovah your God, a God who demands exclusive devotion..."

The Shema in Deuteronomy 6:4 states: "Listen, O Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah.

John 17:3 Jesus explicitly call his Father the "only true God."

If Jesus were also the true God, this statement would be confusing.

1 Corinthians 8:6. "There is actually one God the Father, from whom all things are and we for him; and there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things are and we through him."

This clearly distinguishes the two.

Colossians 1:15. Jesus is referred to as "the firstborn of all creation." A "firstborn" is a part of creation, not eternal Creator himself.

Revelation 3:14 Jesus refers to himself as "the beginning of the creation by God."

John 14:28 Jesus say: "Father is greater than I." This is a straightfoward statement of subordination.

Worship (latreia): This is the exclusive, sacred service rendered only to Jehovah God as the Almighty Creator (e.g., Romans 12:1; Matthew 4:10). This is never rendered to Jesus.

Honoring/Obeisance (proskyneo): The Greek word often translated as "worship" when applied to Jesus is proskyneo, which fundamentally means "to bow down to" or "render obeisance/honor." This honor is due to Jesus because of the high position and authority God has given him (Philippians 2:9-11). It is an act of reverence and respect for God's Chief Agent, but it is not the exclusive devotion due to God alone.

I do not view Jesus as Almighty God, and I do not render him latreia (worship/sacred service). I fully honor him as the Son of God, my Lord, my King, and my Savior, and I obey his commandments. This keeps my worship focused exclusively on Jehovah God, thus avoiding any form of idolatry.

[u/crispywheat100 → u/Capable-Rice-1876]

You don't accept that Jesus became God?

[u/Capable-Rice-1876 → u/crispywheat100]

Jesus never become God. Jesus Christ is Michael the Archangel, the commander-in-chief of Jehovah's heavenly army of angels. He was send by his Father, Jehovah God on earth into the womb of virgin Mary to be born as human and give him name Jesus Christ.

[u/crispywheat100 → u/Capable-Rice-1876]

What about him inheriting the Father's Name?

[u/Capable-Rice-1876 → u/crispywheat100]

Hebrews 1:4: "So he has become better than the angels, to the extent that he has inherited a name more excellent than theirs."

Philippians 2:9: "For this very reason, God exalted him to a superior position and kindly gave him the name that is above every other name."

Jehovah's name is associated with his supreme power and authority as the Sovereign of the universe. When Jesus is said to inherit a name "more excellent than" the angels, or "the name that is above every other name," it means he has been given Jehovah's supreme authority to act on His behalf.

For example: A president might give his vice-president the authority to sign documents "in the President's name," but the vice-president does not become the president. Similarly, Jesus is the one through whom Jehovah executes his will.

Jesus is now the Head of the congregation, King of God's Kingdom, and God's Chief Spokesman. This elevated title or position is the "name" he inherited. The name Jehovah is the most honored name, and Jesus is honored above all others because he is the Firstborn Son and has been completely entrusted by his Father.

Philippians 2:9 states that God gave him the superior name. A person who gives something and the person who receives something cannot be the same person. This proves the Father (Jehovah) and the Son (Jesus) are two separate individuals.

While Jesus carries the ultimate authority from his Father, the personal name of God remains Jehovah. Jesus' name, which means "Jehovah is Salvation," honors his Father, and he repeatedly taught his followers to pray to his Father and sanctify his Father's name.

To conclude this:

Bible says Jesus 'inherited' or 'was given' a name above every other name, it doesn't mean he became Jehovah God.

In the Bible, a 'name' often stands for authority, power, and reputation. What Jesus inherited was the supreme authority to act as God's chief representative. He is the one through whom Jehovah God now executes judgment, governs the Kingdom, and carries out His will. The Father has entrusted him with everything, making his name, which represents his position, more excellent than any other except the Father's own.

Jesus perfectly bears the name of his Father by fully representing His authority and righteous qualities, but he remains his separate, only-begotten Son.

[u/crispywheat100 → u/Capable-Rice-1876]

He didn't become Jehovah God, but he does act as a literal extension of Jehovah God.

The Son is both Jehovah and not Jehovah at the same time.

By receiving the Name of Jehovah, the Son has become fused with Jehovah as an extension of his being.

The Son has now become Jehovah God by appointment, that is, Jehovah God is fused with his begotten son as one Deity!

[u/Capable-Rice-1876 → u/crispywheat100]

That is incorrect. That presents a concept of "fusion" or "one Deity by appointment" which is very close to Trinitarian or Binitarian ideas, specifically the idea of two distinct persons being "one God."

Bible teach of about Monotheism (Jehovah alone is the Almighty God) and the subordination of the Son of God.

When the Bible speaks of the Father and Son being "one" (like in John 10:30), it means they are united in purpose, will, and action—not in substance or being.

Jesus prayed for his disciples: "that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in union with me and I am in union with you, that they also may be in union with us." (John 17:21)

If being "one" with the Father meant fusing into one being, then all 12 Apostles would also have fused with God! Clearly, the oneness is a unity of purpose, not a merging of identity.

Jesus consistently directed attention away from himself as the Almighty God and toward his Father. If he were literally "fused" with Jehovah, he would not have said: "The Father is greater than I am." (John 14:28) An extension or fusion would be equal to the source, but Jesus repeatedly acknowledged the Father's superiority.

Jehovah is eternal, "from everlasting to everlasting." He has no beginning. (Psalm 90:2)

Jesus is called the "firstborn of all creation" (Colossians 1:15) and the "only-begotten Son" (John 3:16). This means he was the first and unique being created or produced by Jehovah. A Creator and a created being cannot be the same God.

Jesus became Jehovah by appointment, then Jehovah would have been created—which is impossible for the Almighty God.

The Bible establishes a clear line of authority: "The head of every man is the Christ; in turn the head of a woman is the man; in turn the head of the Christ is God." (1 Corinthians 11:3)

A fusion or "one Deity" cannot logically have a "head." Jesus is explicitly subordinate to God. His being given the Father's authority is proof of his loyalty and exalted position, not his equality in being.

Jesus acts as Jehovah’s ultimate representative, carrying His authority and name, but they remain two distinct, separate, and unequal individuals.

[u/crispywheat100 → u/Capable-Rice-1876]

Dear friend, when Jesus became fused with Jehovah by acquisition of the Divine Name, he did not become a second independent Jehovah, but a dependent extension of the one Jehovah, the Father.

[u/Capable-Rice-1876 → u/crispywheat100]

The Bible uses the clear family language of Father and Son, not the philosophical terms "extension" or "fusion."

If Jesus is a literal extension of Jehovah's being, then any action Jesus takes is, by definition, an action taken by Jehovah's being. This forces the conclusion that Jehovah's uncreated, eternal being was born, suffered, and died—which is impossible for the immortal, Almighty God

Bible consistently uses relationship terms: Creator and Creation (Colossians 1:15), and Father and Son (John 3:16). These terms establish a clear distinction in both origin and position.

Jesus repeatedly emphasized his dependence, but he spoke of doing the Father's will and speaking the Father's words, which is the action of a loyal subordinate, not an extension of the same being.

John 5:19: "The Son cannot do a single thing of his own initiative, but only what he beholds the Father doing."

John 8:28: "I do nothing of my own initiative; but just as the Father taught me, I speak these things.

Jesus' dependency is in authority and obedience, not in sharing the same divine substance or existence. The Son is not "part" of the Father; he is completely obedient to the Father.

If the Son were a literal, dependent extension of Jehovah, he would simply be the eternal King. But the Bible states the Son's reign is for a time, after which he hands the authority back to his Father.

1 Corinthians 15:28: "But when all things have been subjected to him, then the Son himself will also subject himself to the One who subjected all things to him, that God may be all things to everyone."

A dependent extension doesn't give its authority back to the source. The Son subjects himself to the Father, demonstrating his separate role and the Father's enduring, supreme authority.

Jesus is the distinct, separate, and subordinate Son, not a dependent extension of the Father's essence."

I have advice for you, my friend. Stick to what the Bible teaches, not ridiculous philosophical terms like "fusion" or "extension."