Are you still Christian if you don't accept the trinity?

Question

Hello Christian friends, I did a bit of a search and it says that majority of Christians believe in the trinity. Which means not all. So what do the non-trinitarians believe in? Can you still be considered a Christian if you only worship The Father which sent Jesus? I hope none of you are offended by my question, it is just to learn more. And please don't give me an answer based on your opinion.

Acts 3:26 - Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities. -KJV

Acts 3:26 - To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning every one of you away from his iniquities. -NKJV

Here we see that the word used for son can also be translated as servant, so are there Christians who believe that Jesus is a servant sent by The Father teach the people? What is meant by fullness of Christ. Thanks friends.

Answer 1

Yes. I'm a Unitarian, and we think the whole trinity concept simply doesn't work. I'm not up to writing a great deal right now, I'm sick, but wikipedia had a pretty good article on us and our roots.

There are several other denominations that agree with us, but not many.

"Unitarianism is the belief in the single personality of God, in contrast to the doctrine of the Trinity (three persons in one God). It is the philosophy upon which the modern Unitarian movement was based, and, according to its proponents, is the original form of Christianity. Unitarian Christians believe in the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, as found in the New Testament and other early Christian writings, and hold him up as an exemplar. Adhering to strict monotheism, they maintain that Jesus was a great man and a prophet of God, perhaps even a supernatural creature, but not God himself. Unitarians believe in the moral authority, but not necessarily the divinity, of Jesus. They do not "pray to Jesus", but to God directly. Their theology is thus distinguishable from the theology of Catholic, mainline Protestant, Orthodox and other Christian denominations, who generally hold the Trinity doctrine as a core belief.

While there are both religiously liberal and religiously conservative unitarians, the name "Unitarian" is most commonly associated with the liberal branch of this theology."

Answer 2

Neither the word nor the explicit teaching encompassing all three supposed persons of the Trinity are to be found in the Bible. The doctrine is not taught in the OT and must be inferred. Mat 28: 19 Says nothing about their equality or divinity and must be inferred. 2 Cor 13: 13 Says nothing about their equality in substance, power, and eternity Joh 10: 30 only mentions two persons and doesn't speak of unity of substance but unity of thought Nearly all other Trinity proof texts only mention two persons without mention of equality or divinity and must be inferred. What must a Christian do to gain God's favor? Believing is the first step, remaining is the challenge Hebrews 3: 12-14 Those not doing the will of the Father will be rejected by Christ Mathew 7: 21-23 Survival is contingent on Endurance Mathew 24: 13

Answer 3

When the subject of the trinity comes up, it is helpful to understand the definition of the trinity. There is a very specific and unique definition and it involves much more than just believing in "the father, the son and the Holy Spirit."

The central doctrine of religions of Christendom. According to the Athanasian Creed, there are three divine Persons (the Father, the Son, the Holy Ghost), each said to be eternal, each said to be almighty, none greater or less than another, each said to be God, and yet together being but one God. Other statements of the dogma emphasize that these three “Persons” are not separate and distinct individuals but are three modes in which the divine essence exists. Thus some Trinitarians emphasize their belief that Jesus Christ is God, or that Jesus and the Holy Ghost are Jehovah.

Thus, according to this doctrine, the Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God. They are all three co-eternal and co-equal and co-almighty.

There are many professed Christians who reject this doctrine.

A Christian is defined in the Bible as one who follows Christ. The first to become Christians were Jews. They followed Christ. They did not believe that Christ was God Almighty. This was an idea wholly foreign to the Jews who believed in the Shema: Hear O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord. Deuteronomy 6:4.

In The Encyclopedia Americana we read:

“Christianity derived from Judaism and Judaism was strictly Unitarian [believing that God is one person]. The road which led from Jerusalem to Nicea was scarcely a straight one. Fourth century Trinitarianism did not reflect accurately early Christian teaching regarding the nature of God; it was, on the contrary, a deviation from this teaching.”—(1956), Vol. XXVII, p. 294L.

The New Catholic Encyclopedia states: “The formulation ‘one God in three Persons’ was not solidly established, certainly not fully assimilated into Christian life and its profession of faith, prior to the end of the 4th century. But it is precisely this formulation that has first claim to the title the Trinitarian dogma. Among the Apostolic Fathers, there had been nothing even remotely approaching such a mentality or perspective.”—(1967), Vol. XIV, p. 299.

The New Encyclopædia Britannica says: “Neither the word Trinity, nor the explicit doctrine as such, appears in the New Testament, nor did Jesus and his followers intend to contradict the Shema in the Old Testament: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord’ (Deut. 6:4). . . . The doctrine developed gradually over several centuries and through many controversies. . . . By the end of the 4th century . . . the doctrine of the Trinity took substantially the form it has maintained ever since.”—(1976), Micropædia, Vol. X, p. 126.

Clearly, all professed Christians do not accept the doctrine of the Trinity as it is formally declared.

Hannah J Paul

Answer 4

The Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses,
Are Christians.
We reject the Trinity teaching as it is NOT Biblical.
The Holy Scriptures give us the personal name of God--Ps:83:18
And the name of Jesus Christ; the Son of God---
Luke 1:31,32.
NO where in the scriptures are we given a name for the Holy Spirit.

Also, Mormons and Unitarians Do Not accept the Trinity;
and they are also, Christians.

Answer 5

True Christians do not believe in trinity. Why? Trinity is not a biblical teaching. It is infact, a man made teaching.

Here's the true teaching of the Almighty God, His son Jesus, and His power Holy Spirit.

(Psa 83:18) That men may know that thou, whose name ALONE (not 2 or 3 but ALONE) is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth. --Deut 6:4; Psalms 148:13.

The Almighty God has no begining but Jesus has begining. He was created by God's own hands as the very first creation. Then he (Jesus) helped his Father (the Almighty God) create other things-- the angels and the universe. --Col 1:15, 16.

See that Jesus after the Almighty God Jehovah (Jesus' Father) resurrected him back to heaven. He sits on the right hand of God in: Col 3:1; Rom 8:34; Hebrew 1:13; 10:12-13; Matt 22:44; Mark 12:36; Luke 20:42; 22:69; Acts 2:34; 1 Cor 15:25; Psalms 110:1.

Think for a moment, why would God himself sits on the right hand of himself?

Look at the prophecy of Isaiah 9:6, it states: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." This prophecy was given to the nation of Israel to give them hope that God will give them a king to deliver them. See how this child was described? Wonderful, Counsellor, The MIGHTY God (not the ALMIGHTY), The everlasting Father (he takes the place of Adam), The Prince of Peace (not king yet not until his Father gave him the throne). Jesus will always be second to God in power.

Almighty God = Jehovah (the Father)
Mighty God = Jesus (the Son because he gets his power from his Father)
Holy Spirit = the Source or power (not a person)

Here's an illustration:

God = a wealthy man
Jesus = the wealthy man's son
holy spirit = the wealthy man's resource (money)

One day the wealthy man wants to start another business. Owning a Hotel comes to the man's mind. The man being so busy with other work, he asks his son to help out with the building of the Hotel. Since the son knows his father's plan very well, he uses his father's money to get the Hotel business started. The son being so obedient and trustworthy and loves his father very much, he does not use his father's money for his own personal gain or for other purposes. The son follows through with what the father asks of him. In essence, the father and the son are one because they work together to get the Hotel done the way that suits the father.

Some Bibles rendered, "the father and the son are one" this actually means that they are one in purpose and very much alike, reflecting each other.

The wealthy man and his son are one (alike in personalities and in qualities) but are not literally one person. They are two seperate people. The man's son is a human because his father is also human. Whatever the man's son is doing, it reflects his father so well that the father would trusts his son to do all the hiring of people to work in the Hotel, and run the business. Perhaps, when the father sends his son to go negotiate a deal with another company, the boss of that company might be rude and say, "How can I negotiate a deal with you for your father's business?" The son might respond, "My father and I are one, my words are as good as his. When you are talking to me, you are talking to my father." (Meaning the son is given authority by the father to negotiate and the son will do what the father asks of him. The son is actually carrying the father's thoughts but they are not the same person.)

God = Father (the Almighty God that has no beginning).

Jesus = Son of God (Mighty God that has beginning because he was created by the Almighty God. See Proverbs 8:22-31.) "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation..." (Colossians 1:15). No man has ever seen God at any given time. When Jesus was born as a perfect human, he can say that if you see me you see the Father (Almighty God). That doesn't mean God is living inside Jesus or Jesus is literally the God Almighty.

Holy Spirit = Active Force, not a person (power that is used to create things just like money that is used for buying products and services to build the Hotel).

God created Jesus, then Jesus assisted his Father (using the holy spirit) to create other things in heaven and on earth. Jesus being God's son, he is also called a god (known as Mighty God) but never the Almighty God. The son and the father can never be equal in power because without God there is no Jesus, but without Jesus the Almighty God still exists. So, God is far more greater than anything else whether in heaven or on earth.

Answer 6

My experience has been that a lot of Christians do not understand the trinity concept. Never-the-less the Bible does not say that you don't have salvation unless you completely understand everything. People know enough to worship Christ and to call on his name. I doubt that whether or not you know him as a member of the Godhead will keep you out of heaven. Everyone knows he is the son of God, but people get confused about Christ being God also.

Answer 7

No. youa re NOT a christian if you don't believe and accept that Jesus is the son of God. Hence God the Father God the Son (Jesus) and God the Holy spirit. How can you be a Christian if you don't beleive in the Christ? The good news is that it's not too late until you're dead! You have to put the three in one at the HEAD of your life.

Answer 8

Depends on who you ask. Arian Christians and Donatans didn't believe in the trinity.

People who don't believe in the trinity are known as "Unitarians" rather than trinitarians. However, they are a minority within Christianity itself. (and I'm not talking about unitarian univeralists, a different group)

One could argue that Muslims are a kind of Unitarian christians.

Answer 9

Was Jesus a Servant/Son of the Father, Yes.. The Father is also greater than Christ in His flesh. These are all Biblical statements. Jesus also claimed to be God. "Before Abraham was I AM".. What those who reject Jesus as God are doing in ignoring most of the Bible to hold to their pet doctrines. The Bible tells us that there is ONE God. Not three.. Yet the Father is called God, Jesus claimed the Title, and the Holy Spirit is called God... Since the whole of the Bible must be true the teaching that has been known as the Trinity is the only explaination that fits the whole of scripture.... Jim

Answer 10

I would think it's impossible, for the simple reason it takes belief in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to fulfill and execute the plan by which we are saved. One's lack of belief doesn't mean They don't exist........but it does mean you couldn't believe the whole concept of how to be saved. Believing God about how to be saved is the crux of salvation. He says to believe in His Son, there's no other way. The Holy Spirit brings the understanding of that concept into your heart.....without the Holy Spirit's work, you cannot understand or even have the faith to believe. Whether you call Them the Holy Trinity or not is not important, but you have to believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Three persons in one. All God, yet individual in purpose.