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Pythagoras summarized the risk of speaking one’s mind in such a circumstance:
“To tell of God among men of prejudicial opinion is not safe.” Unitarians throughout
history noted that Jesus himself predicted, “They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. And these
things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me” (John 16:23).
The establishment of Trinitarian doctrine by the inquisitor’s chamber, fire, sword
and the headman’s axe does not threaten us today. Instead of the horrors of the past, we are now faced with a variety of emotionally provocative justifications, coupled with a systematic avoidance of relevant issues.
Disarmed as they now are, much of the modern Christian world follows the example of Myser of Nicholas, a bishop at the Council of Nicaea who boxed his own ears whenever Arius spoke. Some would suggest the response of Trinitarians to Unitarian challenges is not much different today. Clergy tend to avoid debate and cloak their theology in a mantle of emotionally charged, manipulative oratory, embroidered with the glitter of selfrighteousness.
Some are swayed by the sanctimonious presentation and parroted sectarian lines;
others are not. More than a few Godfearing people tire of such psychological ploys, and seek to reexamine the unfounded tenets of the past in the light of modern knowledge and
openminded analysis.
To this end, let us now consider the relevant issues one by one.
Continueyour name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart
from me, you who practice lawlessness!’”
This passage clearly predicts a time when Jesus will disown seemingly pious
“followers,” despite their impressive prophecies, wonders, and exorcisms. Why?
Because, as Jesus said, they practiced “lawlessness.” These are the followers who, despite
their miracles of ministry, disregarded “the Law.” What law? God’s law, of course—the
Old Testament Law Jesus upheld. The same Old Testament Law Paul negated. The same
Paul from whom Trinitarian theology took root. The same Trinitarian theology founded
largely upon nonbiblical sources.
“Hey, wait a minute,” the reader may say. “Who did Jesus say he would disown,
and why?”
Let’s take a closer look.
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