Semi-Arian Writes Book, Doesn't Know She's Semi-Arian

This landed in my spam mail last night. If you don't want to labor through the whole thing, just read the line I have bold-faced below. It tells you everything you need to know about the cause of the farrago of nonsense that constitutes the rest of the spam. If you are a masochist who wants to see but one example of what happens when you try to read Scripture while studiously ignoring Sacred Tradition, read the rest of the spam:

Hello - I'm wondering if you might enjoy reading a pretty unconventional creative nonfiction book I've written (169 pages), entitled, PIVOT POINT: Is Jesus your God or the SON of your God? It's just leaving the editing phase at Tate Publishing, so I'm guessing the release date will be in April (around Easter). I describe it as a book written by a layperson for laypeople. The book is meant to encourage ordinary people to set aside what they've been taught to believe and re-examine the Bible along with their personal understanding of God. When I did this myself, I would ask a question, then read through the whole New Testament with just that one question in mind, taking notes as I went along. After going through this process many times, something began to take shape that I'd never seen there I believe I've uncovered an element that is missing in today's Christianity, which might explain the widespread trend toward Jesus-Only, 'Jesus is our God' religion.

Fern Holm

Addressing the relevancy and timeliness of this book:

What is missing in today's Christianity?

Fern Holm, author of PIVOT POINT, a creative nonfiction study intended to be the first of a series, believes GOD is missing - or soon will be - unless hearts are turned to the Father.

The widespread trend among Christians toward a Jesus-Only, "Jesus is our God" religion has sidestepped very important point - a pivotal point, in fact. PIVOT POINT nails it down by asking, "Is Jesus your God or the SON of your God?" Many Christians would say He's both.

Tradition teaches that Jesus is the Son of the Trinity. From there, one can extrapolate that - as one of the three Persons of the Trinity - Jesus basically sent Himself to earth, which makes Him both "God" AND "Son of God". According to the unconventional view expressed in PIVOT POINT, both logic and the Bible would have an equally hard time supporting this theology since Jesus is - as logic would tell us - the Son of the Father, and - as Holm reminds the reader of 1 John 4:14 - "the FATHER (not "the Trinity") has sent the Son as Savior of the world".

Does the author deny the divine nature of Christ?

"Not at all! God (also called 'Father'), the "Son of God", and the "Spirit of God" share the same divine (everlasting) nature, but not the same office or function. I have the same human nature as George W. Bush, but that doesn't make me President."

What about the Trinity?

"Yes, there is a Trinity, a 'tri-union', defined even in the Old Testament: "The LORD God and His Spirit have sent ME (the Messiah)" Isaiah 48:16, but it is undeniable, at least to the objective reader, that 'the LORD God' is the Father alone."

So, what happens when people make Jesus their God? Ever heard of the Antichrist? Well, as PIVOT POINT explains it, if you can believe 1 John 2:22, "He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son." "For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ" Jude 1:4. By this standard, there's a whole lot of "Antichrist" going on. and not much worship of the only true God, according to Fern Holm, author of PIVOT POINT.

Summary:

Do you dare to compare popular teachings with scriptural truths? This author did, and it led to evidence of a missing element which, she believes, could set end time events in motion and usher in the return of Christ! PIVOT POINT reveals the absence of the "everlasting gospel" in much of today's evangelism. As Fern Holm sees it, when this gospel of the Father's kingdom is preached - together with the message of salvation through Christ - the resulting synergy will release the prophetic, worldwide outpouring of the Holy Spirit (mankind's final revival). "and then the end will come" Matthew 24:14.

Excerpts from my book, PIVOT POINT:

Is Jesus your God or the SON of your God?

from the Introduction:

"As I took a fresh look at the Bible over the past several years, I was surprised to find that something seems to be missing from the typical Christian gospel as it is preached today, an omission which I believe is also the probable cause of the "Jesus-Only" trend that is gaining ground, and not just in the Oneness Pentecostal churches. I'm not saying the widely-accepted gospel of salvation through Christ is wrong, but that it is incomplete. What we are missing is the inclusion of the "everlasting gospel" of Revelation 14, the one that has always been so: the gospel of the king-dom of God.

Jesus said this gospel of the kingdom of God will be preached in all the world, and then the end will come. An angel preaches the everlasting gospel to every nation in Revelation 14, and then the end does come: Babylon falls! The disciples, after Jesus' resurrection and ascension, preached both "the kingdom of God, and the things concerning Jesus" to the unsaved-something much of today's church is neglecting to do. This imbalance has finally swung theology around to a point where Jesus is no longer the Son, and God is no longer the Father."

Chapter 3:

"The Popular Christian Gospel"

September 11, 2001: The horror of that day and the images we saw as the twin towers fell are permanently imprinted on our brains. It was as unexpected as the bombing of Pearl Harbor, actually more so. At least that attack happened during a world war and targeted a military base. This one came out of nowhere and was meant to kill many thousands of innocent civilians. In the days afterward, we were told the perpetrators performed this atrocity in the name of their God. Then commentators pointed out that Muslims and Christians worship the same God-the God of Abraham, a Jew, is also the God of Ishmael, Abraham's son who birthed the Arab nation.

Christians were aghast at this unwanted association. Christian spokespeople went on television, trying to differentiate between the two religions. Unfortunately, in some cases the terrorist fanatics were seen to represent the entire Muslim faith, which would be similar to linking all Christians with the Crusaders who would plant a Jew in the sand and cut off his head if he didn't confess the name of Jesus Christ. Rather than acknowledging that Jews and Arab Muslims worship the same God and both are in need of the same Savior, Yeshua (Jesus), Christians publicly denied the God of the Muslims, calling him false. The problem became a false God, not false teachings about the true God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and, yes- Ishmael.

"And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation." Gen. 17:20. God also gave, to the Hebrew tribe of Benjamin, Hittite wives from the Arab country of Syria. Later, King David married Bathsheba, also a Hittite, who became the mother of Solomon. Was this a way that God chose to include the descendents of Ishmael in His covenant with Abraham, and to make a place for them in the New Jerusalem of Revelation?

In an attempt to disassociate themselves from the God of the Muslims, Christians began looking for a way to make an absolutely clear distinction. I witnessed its shocking culmination when a man with a world-famous ministry looked at his audience from the TV screen and declared, "'God' is too generic a term. We go around saying 'God this' and 'God that.' People need to know exactly who our God is-that our God is Jesus."

This statement and other public professions like it, seemed to open the way for the local churches, especially the nondenominational or charismatic churches, to come right out and say what they had previously only implied. Wherever I went, whomever I listened to, whatever songs were sung and prayers prayed, the underlying message would often be that Jesus is our God.

This distinction has very effectively eliminated the God of Ishmael from any association with Christianity, but in so doing, I am afraid it has also eliminated the same God as that of Abraham. My concern is that "The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers," who "glorified his servant Jesus" (Acts 3:13), "the God of our Fathers" who "raised Jesus" (Acts 5:30), is to be God no longer in the Christian church. Can Christians who say Jesus is their God still stand beside Paul as an adopted child of God and say, "I worship the God of my Fathers"? (Acts 24:14). Did those Jewish fathers worship the coming Messiah as their God? Jesus has been exalted to sit at the right hand of God, and God has given Jesus the position of the great "High Priest." Did Jews traditionally worship the high priest of the temple as their God?

Even before the reaction to 9/11-long before-the evangelistic church at large has preached a gospel that has at least the potential to lead people to Christ alone. Some samples of the gospel message and the recommended prayer of salvation, publicly displayed on the website of each of these organizations, are quoted below.

AFLC: Association of Free Lutheran Congregations:To receive Christ as Lord and Savior right now, you might pray a prayer like this:

"Lord Jesus, I come to You a lost and lonely sinner. I confess that only You can take away the burden of my sins. I believe You died on the cross for all my sins. Come into my life right now. Forgive all my sins. I surrender my life to You and want to receive You as Lord of my life. Please give me the assurance of the Holy Spirit that I belong to You. Amen."

SBC: Southern Baptist Convention: "Salvation"

Salvation involves the redemption of the whole man, and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, who by His own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer. In its broadest sense salvation includes regeneration, sanctification, and glorification.

Salvation Army:

"Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and receive You as my Savior and Lord. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of the throne of my life. Make me the kind of person You want me to be."

BGEA: Billy Graham Evangelistic Association:

"Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I now invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name. Amen."

TBN: Trinity Broadcast Network:

Prayer of Salvation: "Dear Jesus, I believe in You. I believe You are the Son of God, that You died for my sins, and that You were buried and rose again as written in the Bible. I'm sorry for the things I've done that hurt You. Forgive me for all my sins. Come into my heart, take charge of my life and make me the way You want me to be. With Your ever present help, I renounce all my sinful practices of the past. Cleanse my heart with Your precious blood. Write my name in Your Book of Life. I confess You now as my Lord and Savior. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Thank You, Jesus! In Jesus' Name, Amen."

Can you see the total focus on Jesus in each one, even praying to Jesus in Jesus' name? Something is definitely missing in this circular prayer that seems to fold in upon itself. Jesus is "the Way"-not the Destination. An arrow, not a circle. There's a mystery here, one that's begging to be solved. Something is missing, but what is it?

In my own attempt to be a Berean, I think I've come across a possible solution. The answer to this mystery could be contained in what Jesus called, "this gospel of the kingdom of God"-the gospel Jesus says He was sent to preach and did preach, the one to be preached in all the world before the end comes. This gospel was apparently lost somewhere back in history-let's see if we can find it back.

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(End of Chapter Four)This gospel of the Kingdom of God will be preached in all the world-and then the end will come. The everlasting gospel will be preached to all nations-and then Babylon will fall. The everlasting gospel proclaims three things: We are to fear God, give glory to Him, and worship the One who made the heavens and the earth. As you may have seen in this book's addendum, Jesus, as our example and Forerunner, lived the gospel of the "King-dom" of God. He feared, glorified and worshipped the Father, whom He acknowledged as "greater than all," and "greater than I"-and He still calls the Father His God, all the way to the end of the Book. Jesus says, "He who believes AND is baptized will be saved" (Mt 16:16). Whoever believes this gospel of the kingdom of God AND is baptized into the death and resurrection of Christ will be saved from eternal separation from God. This is the gospel of the Father, preached together with the gospel of the Son. Both are necessary for salvation and, ultimately, are inseparable.

Somehow, somewhere in history, there was a separation, and even an elimination, and the repercussions are snowballing as we come closer to the end. Where has it led? What lies ahead? Get ready to consider a very disturbing possibility.

CHAPTER 5:

"Today's Gospel, Today's World"

At a Christian conference held in Jerusalem in 1986, a word from the LORD came forth, which included this devastating prophecy, presumably from the heart of God: "And there will be Christianity without ME." What? Could we possibly have "Christianity" but not have God? I'm afraid it is not only possible, but it is already happening-most blatantly in the "Jesus Only" Oneness Pentecostal churches but even, to a growing degree, throughout much of Christendom.

The incomplete, lopsided gospel we now see so many preach is like a wagon missing a wheel. Many have already jumped off this wagon as they see it veering off the path and careening into a ditch, where Christianity is sitting, stuck in the mire of ineffectiveness. According to the U.S. Center for world missions, the number of people in the world who were "adherents to the Christian religion" in 2000 was at 33% and dropping, despite pockets of phenomenal growth in previously unreached countries, such as China. That same study showed Muslims at 20% and rising, the only established religion which is actually outstripping the world population growth rate.

This alarming trend is even more distressing when you pair it with the fact that so much of the world is hearing the Christian gospel preached-many more people than ever before-but it is believed and received by fewer and fewer. Christians see themselves as certainly being obedient to the call to "go and preach the gospel," but understand they can only present it. It is then up to the Holy Spirit to bring that person's heart to the act of belief, then surrender. If Christians are doing their part, why isn't God, from whom the Holy Spirit proceeds, doing His? Do you think God might be trying to tell us something? How can He bless the sowing of a gospel that has the potential to actually turn people away from Him?

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(Chapter Five, continued)

If the church as a whole (not just the Oneness Pentecostals) is moving toward a Jesus-only, "Jesus is our God" theology, then we need to ask why this is happening. I think, if we dig beneath the surface, we will see its roots in the early Christian creeds, which first correctly made this profession: "I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, our Lord," but later responded to man's inclinations by formulating creeds that proclaimed Father, Son, and Spirit to be equally "God." Making the Persons of the Trinity equal in office and title, as well as nature, effectively removed any distinction between them. It becomes just as fine to worship and pray to the Son if one so chooses. What does it matter? As I've been told, "It's all 'God,' anyway!"

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The subtitle of this book asks, "Is Jesus your God, or the Son of your God?" If you answered, "He's both!" I'd like you to think that through. We've been conditioned to see Jesus as the Son of the Trinity, and therefore "God" in His own right-but is that what the Bible actually says? Did Jesus, as part of the Trinity, send Himself to earth? No, "The FATHER has sent the Son as Savior of the world" (1 John 4:14); "For GOD so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son" (John 3:16); and "Him (Jesus) God has exalted to His right hand to be PRINCE and Savior" (Acts 5:31).

The Prince of heaven, Himself, has told us His Father is the only true God-the eternal King of the king-dom of heaven. Our thinking got off track when someone decided that 'God' equals 'the Trinity', which makes Jesus the Son of the Trinity (basically the Son of Himself!), rather than who He really is: the Son of the FATHER. Can you see how this popular teaching became a pivot point that turned us away from the Father? And put Jesus in the position of God?

I'm particularly curious to know who all these Christians are who have been "conditioned" to "see Jesus as the Son of the Trinity". I've never met one in my life. The whole book seems designed to answer notions that are so far out they don't even have the dignity of being wrong.