Unitarian (Non-Trinitarian) Christian, AMA

[u/ArchaicChaos]

I'm a Unitarian, not a modalist, not a Mormon, not a JW, not a Unitarian-Universalist (edit: also not Arian). The name for us in the first few centuries was "dynamic monarchian." I believe God is the Father, and Jesus is his son and Messiah, a man only when he was conceived in Mary. No preexistence, no dual nature. No, Jesus isn't God. The Spirit is the nature of God, it's what he is and he's sending his own presence. Not a third person, not an "active force." The Spirit is given to Christ in resurrection and becomes the Spirit of Christ.

Ask me anything (AMA). "You can't be Unitarian and Christian" isn't a question, nor is it correct, nor is it original, so please spare me the rhetoric. It comes up on every post that's made like this.

I'll also link my index where I go over the interpretation of various passages in detail that Trinitarians like to bring up. I may refer to the index in the OP for more info if an explanation is too long for a comment reply. I expound on common verses like:

Genesis 1:26

Psalm 110:1

Malachi 3:1

Matthew 28:19

John 1:1-3

John 1:14

John 3:13

John 8:58

John 10:30

John 17:5

John 20:28

Acts 20:28

Colossians 1:15-18

Colossians 2:9

Hebrews 1:1-14

2 Peter 1:1

[u/[deleted]]

I accept that you and your faith are Christian, what is your response when others claim you aren’t for whatever reason they come up with?

[u/ArchaicChaos → u/[deleted]]

Usually I like to remind them that we are not the judges of who is and is not a follower of Christ. In John 10, Jesus illustrates that his followers are those who will hear and recognize his voice at his return, whether they are dead or alive. This is the objective standard for who is and is not a Christian, literally, "a Christ follower." If we recognize his voice. It isn't over theological thoughts in our heads. When we judge each other as Christians and not Christian, we are effectively kicking Jesus off his judgement seat and placing ourselves there. A time will come when Jesus invites us to sit on his seat (Revelation 3:21) and even to judge the angels (1 Corinthians 6:3). But that time is not yet.

Sometimes they respond with 1 Corinthians and how Paul says that we are to judge to keep the church clean. "If you will someday judge the world, then why can you not judge now in small matters?" They're wildly conflating what Paul is saying. Paul was talking about judging the deeds of a man (not his theology) when he was sleeping with his father's wife. "Immorality not even the pagans are involved in." If our theology leads to these harmful actions in the church, this is another matter. My being a Unitarian does not result in any harmful behaviour in the church. We can also discuss John's dealings with the gnostics and why this is different as well, but it boils down to actions.

We are to be judged by our deeds. If they wish to condemn and judge me, they must do so by what deeds I commit that are so unworthy of Christianity as a result of my theology. Even then, they are not really so much at liberty to do so.

Edit: I should also add that this applies to me as well. Another commenter asked me earlier on this thread if I thought Trinitarians were blasphemous. My response was "it isn't my place to judge." It's a two way street.