What is Modalism?

According to CARM, Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry, "Modalism is probably the most common theological error concerning the nature of God. It is a denial of the Trinity which states that God is a single person who, throughout biblical history, has revealed Himself in three modes, or forms. Thus, God is a single person who first manifested himself in the mode of the Father in Old Testament times. At the incarnation, the mode was the Son. After Jesus' ascension, the mode is the Holy Spirit. These modes are consecutive and never simultaneous. In other words, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit never all exist at the same time, only one after another. Modalism denies the distinctiveness of the three persons in the Trinity even though it retains the divinity of Christ.

Present day groups that hold to forms of this error are the United Pentecostal and United Apostolic Churches. They deny the Trinity, teach that the name of God is Jesus, and require baptism for salvation. These modalist churches often accuse Trinitarians of teaching three gods. This is not what the Trinity is. The correct teaching of the Trinity is one God in three eternal coexistent persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."

This was deemed heresy in 325 at the Council of Nicea. Some high profile modalist of our times are, Arnold Murray from The Shepard's Chapel. I've only ever seen them on TV early in the mornings. Another example is, as some say, one of the most influential leaders in evangelical Christianity today, T.D. Jakes.

Why do I bring this up? Because it is one of many false teaching that we have to fight against today, and like many false teachings today, they are nothing new. Most of today's false teachings are just old heresies being reintroduced to Christianity. Difference is, back then they saw it, and condemned it, today, well today the church seems to have a problem calling a false teaching a false teaching. Do not make a compromise when it comes to false doctrine and heresy. Believing in a heresy will send people to Hell.

2 Timothy 4:3 "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires"

If you like what you read, please subscribe via RSS or E-mail for free today. If you have some feedback, please leave a comment below. All comments are welcome.