Half of Christians don’t believe Jesus is God
Christianity’s fundamental tenets have stood the test of time, making their way through the centuries with relative consistency. Among these, the doctrine of the Trinity—one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is an enduring cornerstone. However, recent data suggests that the understanding of this doctrine among American Christians may be more fragmented than expected. While a majority still profess belief in the Trinity, closer examination reveals a curious disconnect in their understanding.
The American Perspective on the Trinity
Recent statistics from Ligonier Ministries indicate that about 72% of Americans affirm their belief in the Trinity. It’s a reassuring number that seems to suggest a deep-rooted adherence to this foundational Christian belief. But as we delve into specifics, the picture starts to shift.
One interesting observation emerges when we consider the perception of Jesus Christ. While half of Americans (52%) regard Jesus as a great teacher, they stop short of acknowledging His divinity, a fundamental aspect of the Trinitarian doctrine. This gap widens with the discovery that 55% of Americans believe Jesus to be the first and greatest being created by God, directly contradicting the historical Christian belief in the eternal nature of Jesus as God the Son.
The Holy Spirit: A Force or a Person?
Further complications arise in the perception of the Holy Spirit. Historically viewed within Christian tradition as a divine person equal to the Father and Son, recent data indicates that the majority of Americans (59%) perceive the Holy Spirit more as an impersonal force than a personal being. This view aligns more with certain New Age or non-Christian perspectives than with traditional Christian doctrine, again underscoring the discordance between professed belief in the Trinity and specific doctrinal understanding.
The Paradox of Belief and Understanding
Interestingly, this fragmentation doesn’t seem to extend to the resurrection of Jesus, as two-thirds (66%) of Americans affirm their belief in the biblical accounts of Jesus’ bodily resurrection—a central claim of Christian faith. It’s as if the more tangible, narrative aspects of the faith hold greater sway than the complex, philosophical elements like the nature of God.
Conclusion
Despite a high-level affirmation of the Trinity among American Christians, a closer look paints a picture of a more nuanced, sometimes contradictory, set of beliefs. It seems that many American Christians, while asserting belief in the Trinity, hold views that deviate from the traditionally accepted definitions of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This disconnect presents a challenge for Christian educators and clergy, who may need to engage their congregations more effectively in understanding the essential doctrines of their faith. At the same time, it serves as a reminder that faith is a personal journey, and our understandings of the divine may be as diverse and complex as we are.
Hi ,
Your web article is ‘,
## Half of Christians don’t believe Jesus is God ##
Let me show, the consistent verses that highlight _:Jesus is God_:
1) ( Matthew 1 : 23 )
‘Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.’
2)( Hebrews 1 : 8 )
‘But unto the Son God, The Father saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.’
3) ( Matthew 28 : 19 )
‘ Jesus said to the desciples, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,” ( That is Jesus is a God, in Trinity).
4) (Philippians 2:5-6)
“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.”
5) (John 1:18)
“No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.“
6) ( John 1:1, 14)
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God
14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.“
7) ( 1 John 5:20 )
“And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.“
8) ( Isaiah 44:6 )
“Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.”
9) ( 2 Peter 1:1 )
“Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.“ ===========
A unitarian may present the counter argument…
Matthew 1:23: “Emmanuel” means “God with us,” symbolizing God’s presence through Jesus, not that Jesus is God himself.
Hebrews 1:8: The Father speaks to the Son about his throne, but this can be seen as a figurative use of “God,” as authority and divinity are not synonymous.
Matthew 28:19: This verse mentions the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit but does not define them as a Trinity or as being equal in nature.
Philippians 2:5-6: This verse actually suggests Jesus did not grasp at equality with God, implying he is distinct from and subordinate to God.
John 1:18: If no one has seen God, yet people saw Jesus, then Jesus cannot be God himself.
John 1:1, 14: “The Word was God” can be understood as divine in nature, not as Jesus being God the Father, especially since he is with God.
1 John 5:20: This verse distinguishes between the true God and Jesus Christ, who is his Son.
Isaiah 44:6: This verse underscores monotheism; it says nothing about Jesus, emphasizing instead that God is one.
2 Peter 1:1: Some manuscripts read “our God and the Savior Jesus Christ” as two distinct entities, not equating Jesus with God.
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John 14:28: “The Father is greater than I.” Jesus clearly distinguishes his status from God’s.
Mark 10:18: “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.” Jesus denies being God.
John 17:3: “That they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” Jesus speaks of God as distinct from himself.
1 Corinthians 11:3: “The head of Christ is God.” This shows a hierarchy, with God above Jesus.
John 20:17: “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” Jesus refers to God as his God.
Matthew 24:36: “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” Jesus doesn’t share God’s omniscience.
1 Timothy 2:5: “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” Jesus is distinct from God, serving as a mediator.
Acts 2:22: “Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him.” Jesus is presented as God’s instrument.
Hebrews 5:7: “In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death.” Jesus prays to God, showing dependence on Him.
The person and nature of Jesus as revealed in the Bible is indeed a complex subject and neither resolved adequately by the various councils of the past nor in debates by scholars on YouTube. These seem always to drift into the abstract of doctrine and theology, and the practical issues are neglected. One of those practical issues is salvation and forgiveness. One of those is this: If Jesus is not Divine then God sent someone, but not himself, to die for my sins.
That violates the forgiveness transaction that is central to forgiveness. Briefly, forgiveness requires that the one forgiving takes upon himself to bear the price of forgiveness and the cost of the wrong done thus freeing the one forgiven from bearing that price. If an angel or anyone but God alone bore the cost of my sin, then he might claim to have forgiven, but God cannot make that claim because he did not bear the cost of my sin. If Jesus is not Divine, he bore the price or my sin, but what sin was forgiven? It is against God that I have sinned and to whom I must give account, not someone who is not Divine, whether and angel or other being. If Jesus is not Divine, the debt of my sin remains.
K
Jesus is not God Almighty. He is Gods Son.
Let’s keep it straight. Holy Spirit is the gift from God. The gift of Holy Spirit.