Dear
@TomL and
@synergy
Thanks for your posts. You have mentioned only three specific
actions: 1) to participate in the Lord’s Supper, 2) to participate in religious services based on the Deity of Christ, and 3) praying to Jesus.
So Let’s examine these behaviors:
PARTICIPATING OF LORD’S SUPPER
We know Christian Unitarians also participate in the Commemoration of the Lord’s Supper. Therefore, if that were a distinctive sign, you could say that Christian Unitarians worship Jesus.
ATTENDING RELIGIOUS SERVICES BASED ON THE DEITY OF CHRIST
I won’t be surprised to know that more than 95% of the sermons or speeches said in Trinitarian and Unitarian churches have nothing to do with affirming or denying Jesus deity, and the brethren are not thinking on whether Jesus is God or not when they are attemding the service.
But even when this happens, what is the impact of such sermons on the life of the brethren? Are the Trinitarians going to behave different from the Unitarians once they get home from the church? Will they eat differently, have a gentler family talk, watch less mundane TV shows, or help more those in need? Will they have different naps, dinners, or make love to their spouses differently?
PRAYING TO JESUS
Millions of Trinitarians do not pray to Jesus, but to the Father in the name of Jesus, just like Christian Unitarians. Therefore, praying to Jesus cannot be considered an action that separates those who claim to worship Jesus from those who don’t.
Now, I can pray to Jesus right now. Please find my public prayer to Jesus on next post.
PRELIMINARY CONCLUSION
We still don’t have
one single example of what worshiping Jesus means in the way we live every day.
@synergy says “
there is much more”… is that so?
OK, let’s see. Please go ahead,
@synergy.
Here are some more differences, not in detail. There are more topics than these.
1.
Christology (View of Christ's Nature)
Trinitarians:
Fully Divine and Fully Human: Trinitarians believe that Jesus Christ is both fully divine and fully human. He is the Second Person of the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and is eternally God, who became incarnate through the Virgin Mary to accomplish the salvation of humanity.
Savior and Atoner: Jesus' role is central to salvation. His divine nature and atoning death on the cross are crucial for reconciling humanity with God.
Unitarians:
Human Jesus: Unitarians reject the divinity of Christ. They view Jesus as a human being, a moral teacher, and prophet who serves as an example of how to live a righteous life. He is not seen as the divine Son of God.
No Atoning Death: Jesus' death is viewed as a tragic event, but not as an atoning sacrifice for sin. It may be seen as an example of self-sacrifice or a martyr's death rather than a necessary means of salvation.
2.
Pneumatology (View of the Holy Spirit)
Trinitarians:
Third Person of the Trinity: The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. Trinitarians believe the Holy Spirit is fully God, co-equal with the Father and the Son, and active in the world, empowering believers, convicting them of sin, and guiding them into truth.
Indwelling Presence: The Holy Spirit dwells in believers, enabling them to live holy lives, manifest spiritual gifts, and engage in ministry.
Unitarians:
Impersonal Force: Unitarians generally do not recognize the Holy Spirit as a distinct person. Instead, they may view the "spirit" as God's presence or influence in the world. It is often seen as a force that inspires goodness or guides people to moral behavior, but not as a divine person of the Trinity.
3.
Ecclesiology (View of the Church)
Trinitarians:
The Church as the Body of Christ: The Church is viewed as the universal body of Christ, a divinely instituted community of believers, united through faith in the triune God. The Church’s purpose is to proclaim the gospel, administer sacraments, and support believers in their spiritual growth.
Sacramental and Doctrinal: The Church is seen as a means of grace, and it adheres to creeds, sacraments (e.g., baptism, the Eucharist), and authoritative teachings (e.g., Nicene or Apostles' Creed).
Unitarians:
A Community of Ethical Living: For Unitarians, the Church is more a fellowship of like-minded individuals who seek to live ethical lives based on reason and personal spiritual experience. There is no formal, universal body as seen in traditional Christianity, and Unitarian congregations tend to have a non-creedal or flexible approach to doctrine.
Focus on Social Justice: The Church may emphasize social justice, human dignity, and environmental concerns, but without adherence to specific doctrinal beliefs about God or Christ.
4.
Sacraments (View of Sacraments)
Trinitarians:
Means of Grace: Trinitarians view sacraments (such as baptism and the Eucharist) as instituted by Christ and essential for the life of the Church. They are means of grace, spiritual acts that convey divine blessings to the believer.
Baptism and Communion: Baptism is seen as the initiation into the Christian faith, and the Eucharist is central to worship, symbolizing the body and blood of Christ, often seen as an actual participation in Christ’s life and death.
Unitarians:
Symbolic and Optional: Unitarians may observe some rituals like communion, but these are generally symbolic and not seen as essential means of grace. They may not hold to a sacramental theology, focusing more on moral teachings than ritual acts.
Emphasis on Ethical Living: While rituals may be observed, they are seen as a way to reflect on moral values rather than a necessary part of spiritual life.
5.
Annunciation (View of the Announcement of Christ’s Birth)
Trinitarians:
Divine Conception: The Annunciation, where the Angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she will conceive the Son of God by the Holy Spirit, is viewed as a central moment in the story of the Incarnation. It signifies the beginning of the divine taking on human nature in Jesus Christ.
Unitarians:
Human Birth: Unitarians do not see the Annunciation as the divine conception of God becoming human. Instead, they see it as the announcement of the birth of a child who will grow into a great moral teacher, but not a divine being.
6.
Incarnation (View of Christ’s Incarnation)
Trinitarians:
God Becoming Flesh: The Incarnation is the belief that God the Son took on human flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. This union of divine and human natures is essential for the salvation of humanity, as only a divine Savior could atone for sin.
Unitarians:
Jesus as Human: Unitarians believe Jesus was a human being who embodied divine moral wisdom but reject the notion that he was God incarnate. They see the Incarnation as a symbolic or non-literal concept.
7. The
Cross (View of Christ’s Death)
Trinitarians:
Atoning Sacrifice: The death of Christ on the cross is central to Trinitarian theology. It is seen as the necessary atoning sacrifice for the sins of humanity. Through His death, Jesus reconciles humanity to God, making salvation possible.
Unitarians:
Sacrificial Example: For Unitarians, the cross represents Jesus' ultimate act of sacrificial love. It is seen as an example of moral fortitude, not as an atoning sacrifice for sin. Jesus’ death is viewed as a tragic event but not essential for human salvation.
8.
Resurrection (View of Christ’s Resurrection)
Trinitarians:
Bodily Resurrection: The resurrection of Jesus is a literal, bodily event that signifies His victory over sin and death. It is the foundation of the Christian hope in eternal life and a central part of salvation.
Unitarians:
Spiritual Resurrection: Unitarians may see the resurrection of Jesus as a symbolic event that points to spiritual renewal or the continuation of His teachings, rather than as a literal bodily resurrection. The emphasis is often on moral and ethical transformation.
9.
Ascension (View of Christ’s Ascension)
Trinitarians:
Return to the Father: The ascension of Jesus marks His return to heaven, affirming His divine authority and the completion of His earthly mission. It signifies Christ’s continuing role as the mediator between God and humanity.
Unitarians:
Symbolic Event: For Unitarians, the ascension may be seen as a symbolic event, representing Jesus’ ultimate return to the divine or his ongoing spiritual influence. They typically do not interpret it as a literal event involving physical ascent to heaven.
10.
Salvation (View of How One is Saved)
Trinitarians:
Salvation Through Christ: Salvation is understood as a gift from God, offered through faith in Jesus Christ. Through His death and resurrection, Christ provides the means by which believers are reconciled to God and saved from sin.
Unitarians:
Ethical Growth and Moral Living: Salvation is seen as a process of moral and spiritual development. Unitarians emphasize living a good life, making ethical decisions, and striving toward personal improvement and social justice as the path to spiritual fulfillment.
11.
Prayers (View of Prayer)
Trinitarians:
Trinitarian Prayer: Trinitarian prayers are typically addressed to God the Father, through the Son, in the power of the Holy Spirit. Prayer is a means of communion with the triune God, and it is often structured and formal, especially in liturgical settings.
Unitarians:
Direct Prayer to God: Unitarians generally pray directly to God without invoking Jesus or the Holy Spirit. Their prayers focus on personal spiritual reflection, moral guidance, and petitions for wisdom and justice. There is often an emphasis on reason and intellectual engagement in prayer.
12.
Eschatology (View of the End Times)
Trinitarians:
Second Coming: Trinitarians believe in a literal second coming of Christ, where Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead. This includes a final judgment, the resurrection of the dead, and the establishment of God’s eternal kingdom.
Heaven and Hell: Those who accept Christ will experience eternal life in heaven, while those who reject Christ face eternal separation from God (hell).
Unitarians:
Symbolic or Ethical View: Unitarians tend to interpret eschatology more symbolically or ethically. The focus is on the ongoing work of redemption in the world through human effort, progress, and social justice.
No Literal Judgment: Many Unitarians reject the idea of a literal hell or eternal punishment, instead emphasizing spiritual growth and moral progress over time.
