Modalism was declared a heresy by the early church centuries ago, but it keeps popping up like a Whack-A-Mole game. Unfortunately, Modalism is rearing its head once again in our time. It is a growing theological error within evangelicalism that twists the very the nature of God revealed to us through His Word, by denying the Trinity.
See our new White Paper, What Is Heresy?
Rather than God being three distinct persons, Modalism states that God is a single person who, throughout biblical history, has revealed Himself in three modes or forms. In other words, God in the Old Testament was Father God. Then He became Jesus 2,000 years ago. At Pentecost, God morphed into the Holy Spirit.
If you have no problem with denying the doctrine of the Trinity, yourself this: To Whom was Jesus praying in the garden? And what about all those other times Jesus was doing what His Father was doing? (There are hundreds of questions you should struggle with as you read Scripture.)
Do you see the problem?
Today’s modalists include T.D. Jakes and others. And as Brandon Hines reports, it appears that Bethel Church’s mega-influential leader Kris Vallotton is joining this growing heretical camp:
Bethel’s Kris Vallotton Embraces Anti-Trinitarian Heresy
Yesterday (September 24th), Kris Vallotton posted a quote on Facebook from a guy named Jack Taylor, who is also a member of the New Apostolic Reformation (See the post here, or the picture below). The quote said, “The Holy Spirit is Jesus without skin.” This claim removes the distinctions between the person of God the Son and the person of God the Holy Spirit, and very closely resembles Modalist heresy (Modalism is the belief that God does not exist in three distinct persons and remain one God, but is instead one person and one being with three different modes or forms that He appears in at different times).
This is not the first time Vallotton has said stuff that pointed to Modalism. In this video, you can see Vallotton teaching that Jesus and the Father are one person and that Jesus is merely a manifestation, whereas the orthodox view is that God is three persons yet one triune being.
But that’s not all. Read the rest of Brandon’s report here.
I have encountered these people before also. They are mostly just confused because they are many times simply repeating something they were told. But, occasionally you will come across one who is honest enough to answer the question; “Who is Jesus talking to when He prays to the Father in scripture?”, by saying “I haven’t figured that one out yet”.
And they never will because the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are the three in one. Three distinct persons who make up the one true God. Thank you Amy for bringing this up. It is a heresy that I have not experienced much of, but is much more common than one might think.
However, the fact that the word “Trinity” is a man-made creation causes me to prefer not to use it when describing the Biblical teaching concerning the “Godhead”.
Blessings:-}
This may be off subject but what about the teaching promoting praying directly to the Holy Spirit? I have encountered this teaching a couple of times recently.
Janderson:
My understanding is that there is no precedent in the Bible for praying to the Holy Spirit directly, although praying to the Triune God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) is acceptable. Scripturally, the Holy Spirit always points to Jesus Christ and not to Himself.
The practices of the NAR include praying to the Holy Spirit directly. This appears consistent with the Word of Faith basis of NAR teaching, which in practice seems to utilize the Holy Spirit as if He is a force that man can command. The NAR has come up with oh so many new extra-biblical teachings because “God is doing a new thing” in this age. Once you go beyond the Bible, then there is no objective basis for practicing discernment, so anything goes.
Pastor Gary Gilley has prepared a thorough study outline of the Holy Spirit (Pneumatology) on his church website:
http://www.svchapel.org/downloads/TheologyLessons/pneumatology.pdf
Hello everyone!
In my opinion, this is why using the pattern set for by Jesus is perfect! I know it does not mean we can pray in other ways, but the focus is always our Father! Just as Jesus prayed to His Father! He did not pray to the Holy Spirit.
QUESTION: is it ok to prayer to the Holy Spirit? I know He intercedes for us.
That is true Amy,
But, many times a person will pour a completely different meaning into the word from the meaning derived from the scripture that the phrase is originally coined to represent, and still use the same man-made phrase. And some commonly used man-made phrases and what they represent are so completely unbiblical that they should never be used by adherents of the Bible(Christians) at all.
By the way, Bible is derived from the Latin word for book, right? So it’s not a man-made phrase we pour a definition into that carries the interpretation of what is found in it. It literally is a book.
I do however agree completely with the heart of your statement.
Blessings:-}
This issue is one of the many reasons why the Greek Majority Text, aka the Byzantine Text aka the Textus Receptus…translated into english by Erasmus, Wycliffe, Coverdale, Tyndale, Beza, the Geneva Bible translators, and the KJV committee of 47 – and used by Luther to blow up the world – is so important. The KJV is the only english Bible that says this:
7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 1 John 5:7
…And this should shut up Jehovah’s Witnesses and Modalists.
https://followingjesuschrist3.com/2015/10/24/the-bible-version-controversy-a-brief-history/
Explaining the ludicrously impossible can only lead to impossibly ludicrous explanations.
Honestly, can anything good come from from Bethel Chrurch? Given who the leaders are, why are we surprised of the swill the oozes from these mega heretics? What’s sad is the countless that follow these charlatans and refuse to see the truth.
So we know that modeling is heresy , can one be saved if they believe this ? I would think if one is truly saved , that the Holy Spirit would guide them in truth not error. So, I say no but need some guidance.
Caren, I wonder how many at Bethel are really saved, since Bethel teaches a gospel of the kingdom on earth (a dominionist agenda) instead of the true gospel of salvation that comes from the repentance and forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ.
Yes, good point. I figure if you have the doctrine of the trinity incorrect, you most likely have “another Jesus.” As an ex-catholic we had that right but everyone esle wrong. God saved my soul and ripped me out of that church fast. That is why I have a hard time believing if you are truly His child he would keep you in a church that is preaching such heresy as modelism.
Amen Maggie……..
So we know that modeling is heresy , can one be saved if they believe this ? I would think if one is truly saved , that the Holy Spirit would guide them in truth not error. So, I say no but need some guidance.
Many are confronted by the truth, but they harden their hearts. It’s pride actually, “no way “my” pastor is wrong, or you are being “judgmental”. People would rather have their ears tickled, so the apostasy grows! I still stand by my assessment 90%+ of what calls its self Christianity is compromised. Starting with the mainline denominations and their acceptance of homosexuality down to “evangelicals” running to ecumenism, denying the trinity, denying the exclusivity of salvation, the jettisoning of scripture and the utter failure of the Furticks, Warrens, Hybels of the world. And don’t forget Rome, who sits on seven hills, the mother harlot of all man made religions, a gross mix of pagan worship and false Christianity. She will be the harlot the rides the beast in Revelation, drunk with the blood of all those who oppose her, she’s done this before, specially during the inquisition. And even some notable Protestants did horrible evil and wickedness in the name of Christ to establish a legacy. Organized institutional religion is not the biblical, in any form!
The cult-like following of the leaders discourages people from being personally discerning. One of the long-time teachings in Pentecostal churches is that the leaders will provide a “covering” to the congregation as a protection from false teaching. The culmination of this type of teaching was the Shepherding Movement, which resulted in many spiritual abuses. If you look at Bethel as a cult, it all makes sense. It has a facade of Christianity, but the core is rotten, full of occult teachings and practices.
That is right Manny1962,
The word of God first and foremost. The cult of personality and the long established whore is to be rejected always.
Blessings:-}
This article is “RIGHT ON TARGET!” Modalism is everywhere! One of the best known Modalist on Christian radio/TV is Irvin Baxter. Many have been duped by him, because he sounds orthodox. Many anti-Trinitarians air on Christian radio/TV. Roy Masters, Irvin Baxter (as mentioned), Ronald L. Dart, Bishop Luke, on and on it goes. Many of these anti-Trinitarians are infiltrating Christian venues. It’s mind boggling! Below is one sad example, where a leader in a cult, duped a Christian school in OR. This school requires all to agree with their “statement of faith”, IE, The Trinity. This leader re-worded the Trinity to make it look like he actually believes this cardinal teaching of the Christian faith (In which he doesn’t). The school administrator, took the bait, and he enrolled his children. You can read the sad response from the school’s administrator here:
http://stfonline.org/a-biblical-unitarian-navigating-through-a-trinitarian-world/
I know of at least 13 anti-Trinitarian programs airing on Christian radio/TV. This is very sad indeed. Speaking of the Trinity, now you have 8 time Dove award winner, author of many well known Gospel songs, Joel Hemphill, of the Hemphill’s adding his voice that the Trinity is pagan, and that Jesus is not God! Many of us sang his well known Sunday school song, “He’s Still Working On Me” I now see his “BLASPHEMOUS” materials on many cult sites.
If you are not sure about a Bible teacher or a ministry, I encourage you to read the following two excellent articles.
http://fredsbibletalk.org/fb018.html
https://9marks.org/article/when-why-where-draw-boundaries/
You can also read Kevin DeYoung’s “The Doctrine Of The Trinity: No Christianity Without It”
James,
A very good comment my brother. And have you thought of the so-called word of faith preachers who say that Jesus was just a man with only a special anointing to do what He did? They say He became a god just as you and I are now if we are born again through His obedience and knowledge. Here is Kenneth Copeland’s account of the creation narrative:
“God’s reason for creating Adam was His desire to reproduce Himself. I mean a reproduction of Himself. And in the Garden of Eden, He did just that. He [Adam] was not a little like God, He was not almost like God, He was not, um, subordinate to God even…. Adam is as much like God as you could get. Just the same as Jesus…Adam, in the Garden of Eden, was God manifested in the flesh.”
Follow along as Copeland puts himself on the same level as Jesus, while at the same time demoting Jesus to simply a reborn man:
The Spirit of God spoke to me and He said, “Son, realize this. Now follow me in this and don’t let your tradition trip you up.” He said, “Think this way: a twice-born man whipped Satan in his own domain.” And I threw my Bible down, like that, and I said, “What?” He said, “A born-again man defeated Satan, the firstborn of many brethren defeated him.” He said, “You are the very image and the very copy of that one.” I said, “Goodness, gracious sakes alive!” And I began to see what had gone on in there. And I said, “Well now you don’t mean, you couldn’t dare mean that I could have done that same thing?” He said, “Oh yeah. If you’d had the same knowledge of the Word of God that He did, you could’ve done the same thing, ’cause you’re a reborn man too.”
Blasphemy beyond belief! But, do you know where he got the information that led him to this conclusion?
He got it by following the sin nature doctrine to it’s logical conclusion. The theory that what man’s basic need was is that of a new nature. And that the new nature would be the nature of God.
Blessings:-}
I ment to add this to my comment to you James,
Like Benny Hinn says, “If you have the nature of God then what are you?”
Yes, I have Edwitness. I wanted to give some other names of teachers confusing/duping those who think these teachers are good Biblical teachers. I have met many Christians who know that something is not right with the Word Faith teachers/teachings, so I wanted to give a few other names. My point was that these anti-Trinitarians are very slick. I have not read many of the Word Faith teachers “statement of faiths” but some of the ones I have read include the Trinity. The names above, if you read their “statements of faiths” it is very clear of their anti-Trinitarianism! I am aware of the Word faith teachers unorthodox, unbiblical statements concerning the Trinity and other Biblical teachings. Below are two excellent articles on the Word of Faith, and some of it’s teachers, including KC.
http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/copelnd2.htm
http://www.letusreason.org/popteac9.htm
Sorry, the correct link to to the article on Freds bible talk is here:
http://fredsbibletalk.com/fb018.html
Bethel founder/pastor Bill Johnson teaches that the Lord Yeshua came to earth as a man only and not the God-man. Johnson believes that Yeshua was no longer God when He walked on earth and that He did His miracles as a mere man.
Given the fact that Johnson has been teaching this for years, it’s no surprise that Vallotton would espouse Modalist teachings.