Featured Richard Rohr’s explanation of the Trinity

From gotquestions.org:

Related to Process Theology, panentheism is essentially a combination of theism (God is the supreme being) and pantheism (God is everything). While pantheism says that God and the universe are coextensive, panentheism claims that God is greater than the universe and that the universe is contained within God. Panentheism holds that God is the “supreme effect” of the universe. God is everything in the universe, but God also is greater than the universe. Events and changes in the universe affect and change God. As the universe grows and learns, God also increases in knowledge and being.

Panentheism is most definitely not biblical. In fact, it is extreme heresy that impugns the character of God and makes Him more like a man. God is present everywhere (Psalm 139:7-8), but God is not everything. God knows everything, whether actual or possible (Psalm 139:1-6; Romans 11:33-35). God does not learn because He already has all knowledge. God is “affected” by things that occur in the universe, but only in that sin angers Him and holiness pleases Him. Our actions do not change God or impact His essential being.

The Bible presents God as holy (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8), sovereign (1 Chronicles 29:11; Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 83:18; Isaiah 37:20), omnipresent (Psalm 139:7-10), omniscient (Job 28:24; Psalm 147:4-5), omnipotent (Job 42:1-2), self-existent (Exodus 3:14; Psalm 36:9), eternal (Psalm 90:2; Habakkuk 1:12), immutable (Psalm 33:11; James 1:17), perfect (Deuteronomy 32:3-4), and infinite (Job 5:9; 9:10). None of these attributes are compatible with panentheism. God transcends all of His creation, and is in no sense limited or changed by events in His creation.

 

I'm in the same situation that you are with no local Primitive Baptist near you. The closest Easter Rite Catholic Church is in Eugene Oregon, which is a schlep.

 

Needless to say I disagree with gotquestions.org. They have a very limited view of what Christianity is.

Yes. Panentheism is monotheism plus pantheism.

Pantheism is basically spiritualized atheism/materialism that claims God is equivalent to the physical universe and that the universe is equivalent to God. While true, pantheism does not go deep enough into the true nature of God.

Monotheism is belief in one God in the form of a supreme being. While it's true that God is one, this limits the variety of manifest forms that God can take if God so chooses.

I would argue that neither monotheism nor pantheism alone is sufficient for the Christian. And where there is a need our loving God provides a solution: enter panentheism.

I find it extremely strange that so many Christians are opposed to a panentheistic theology, precisely because the Trinitarian doctrine that so many of our brethren adhere to flourishes best in such a theology.

There is a zero percent chance of me ever believing in the Trinity if I was a pantheist or a monotheist.

But if our God is a panentheistic God, then all things are possible. God is truly free and limitless in such a theology. So, if I was to argue for the Trinity then I would build that doctrine on the theological foundation of panentheism. And then I would scour through the Bible for any reference about the nature of God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

Without panentheism, you don't have any ground for the Trinity.

 

These verses could be used to argue for the unity between God and Christ, the Father and the Son.

 

They are the very same God. But not the same Persons.
John 4:21-24, ". . . Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet atJerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. . . ."

Romans 8:9, ". . . But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. . . ."

Romans 8:16, ". . . The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: . . ."

Now the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ and the Spirit Himself are different Persons. But the same God in John 4;24, ". . . God is a Spirit: . . ."

 

God is omnipresent, Acts of the Apostles 17:28, ". . . For in him we live, and move, and have our being; . . . " Richard Rohr cited this.

The Russian icon depicting the Trinity is worse than his Santa God example.

 

The . . . us . . . .

Genesis 1:26, ". . . Let us make man in our image . . . .

Genesis 3:22, ". . . the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil . . . .

Genesis 11:7, ". . . let us go down, and there confound their language . . . ."

Isaiah 6:8, ". . . Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? . . ."

 

No, that is Christina1’s belief system.

 

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It does not formulate into Christianity.

 

No. That's not the correct definition. Belief in all god's is not how either of those words are usually defined.

Rohr is a panentheist. NOT a pantheist. There's a huge difference.

 

It's very unfortunate really, because mystics have so much to offer the church. The progressive churches are so married to their leftwing political ideology and the conservative churches are so married to their strict doctrinal thinking that people like me have a difficult time finding our role. Many of us go to our graves never having truly contributed to the Body of Christ using our unique gifts. I think two hundred years from now things will be very different.

 

There are two ways to go about this. I can show you what I would do or you can show me what you would do and where you're stuck and I can help you get unstuck. Which would you prefer?