God as One or Trinity

[Ron Alexander]

The Trinity or God as One
By Ron Alexander

The Trinity became a major issue early in the 1900’s as the Pentecostal “fellowship” moved across the country. On one side you had the “Oneness” group quoting Acts 2:4 for their Jesus only campaign. On the other side you had the Trinitarians quoting Matthew 28:19 with their Trinity campaign. The oneness campaign “represented serious departure from biblical teachings and historic Christian doctrine.” (People in the Spirit pg 121). This lead to a major division in 1916 in which 25 percent of the ministers withdrew from the religion. This marking debate came after the earlier debates over tongues as initial evidence and sanctification, further dividing the religion. This movement caused marking moments in foundational statements and decisions made by the Assemblies of God.
The following passages have strengthened my believe in the full Trinity:
Matt 28:19 Baptism by all parts of the Trinity
Luke 3:22 Jesus’ baptism including the Trinity
1 John 2:17 The son and the father
John14:6 No one come to the father except through the son

[julieann]

I have to wonder if the 25 ministers who left ever came back or did they become so disillusioned with religion that they left it all together?

[Jeremy]

The 25% who left formed their own fellowship, called Oneness Pentecostals or Pentecostal Holiness Movement. This particular issue was incredibly heated at the time of division, and has not cooled off in the decades since. Many of the old-line Oneness Pentecostals believe that speaking in tongues is proof of salvation, so one is not even saved if they have not spoken in tongues.
I'll ask you the same question I asked Dave; since the split, the Assemblies of God has grown significantly in worldwide influence, while the Oneness movement has grown at a much slower pace. Is this proof that God approves of one kind of baptism over another? If not, what else could it be attributed to?

[Ron Alexander]

I believe that God will greatly bless those who follow scripture and advance the gospel by folowing biblical models. Example, our brother and sister Scott and Cynthia. The pretense for their ministry I feel was unbiblical in their approach. Does this mean that God will not bless any part of their ministry? Will people not be blessed or healed with works of faith done in his name? No, God will still bless aspects of that ministry. However, ministries done according to God's word and will can be so much more blessed and prosperous. I believe the biblical doctrine of the AG, therefore, has been blessed more that the counter part.

[Julie Zeck]

I agree that the Lord can use anyone and even use ministries that have been put together by the hand of man. I wonder the harm done to people when they find out about the particulars of the ministry. How does it affect their faith and how they view Christians in the ministry.