Hello all,
This is a letter that I have written to Mr. Greg Stafford. I would like as many opinions as possible. The letter has to do with a debate that Mr. Stafford had with Dr. James White on the issue of wether Jesus is God or a god.
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> I just had a couple of questions concerning the debate you had with Dr. JAmes White. First of all I would like to tell you that I'm not trying to argue or prove a point. I am actually a sincere seeker just looking for answers and like it was put on the debate, "searching for the TRUTH."
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> My mother in-law is a member of the Jehovah's Witnesses and we discuss issues all the time. I've been raised a "Trinitarian" so unfortunately it is impossible to address the issue w/out having a preconceived notion that the trinity is real. So I would like answers to help figure out if I'm wrong in my belief or if I right.
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> During the debate you brought up John 17:3 and affirmed that Jesus said "...you are the only true God." Now it has been established that Jesus did say this. We all know that. The hermeneutics is in question however. In other words, the text is not the problem because the text has not changed. The problem is with the interpreter. Now if Jesus said that the Father is the only true God(with the word only meaning specifically what it means, no other) than what kind of God or a god is Jesus. To say that there is only one true Almighty God and other small true gods or god is unwarranted in the scripture. It is not allowed in that text. It says that the only true God is the father, than by inescapable logic, the son who is another god, cannot also be a true God or god, therefore must be a false God or god. A reasoning that I'm sure we both disagree with.
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> Another point or question that I have has to do with the immutability of God. We agree that God is immutable. He does not change. He does not add characteristics to Himself because if He did he would be changing. (This is not the same as the incarnation. That we can discuss in another time) We know that God loves because He is love. In His nature there is love. Is it possible for someone to love something that does not exist. In other words, can you love nothing? No! How can you love something that is not there for you to love. If at one point in time, the Father was without the Son, what then did He love? Himself? We love our self and that is a character of sin. Also we love ourselves but we first learn what love is by loving someone or something else, like our parents as children. So the question is, who did the Father love when there was no Son?
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> I assume or presuppose that you believe as well as I do, that in Isaiah 9:6 it is referring to the Son, or the Logos. I also acknowledge that you believe that Mighty God referring to the Logos is not the same as Almighty God when referring to the Father. So I don't want to ask you about that because I know that you acknowledge that Jesus is a "Mighty god" but not "Almighty God". But what I do want to ask you, what does "eternal Father" mean to you in that same verse. Does it mean that The Logos is the Father? I don't believe you would say that. So what does "eternal Father" mean. We know that yes, the Logos is a "Mighty God or god" He is the "Wonderful Counselor" He is the "Prince of Peace". But now we need to know what "Eternal Father" is. Does it mean that He is the father of eternity? If this is the case, by definition and logical reasoning and conclusion, then the Son must be before eternity (hence father) therefore be himself eternal.
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> For now my last question deals with asking you a personal question. Are you a Jehovah's Witness or are you just defending what they believe but are not actually a Witness? The reason for me asking, is that my mother in law has told me that Jehovah's Witnesses are not permitted to debate or argue or try to win arguments like one might do in a formal debate. Also I was under the impression from what my mother in law told me and what I've read in "The Watchtower Magazine" that Jehovah's Witnesses are not permitted or should not read lite> rature that is contrary or against the watchtower. That doing so, is like reading or looking at pornography. Also, one who is a Jehovah's Witness is not allowed to put out literature unless it has been written by the governing body or of someone who works in the watchtower. And also that the literature that is acceptable for study are the ones that are published or written by the watchtower. Granted I may be wrong because things might have changed from when I last spoke to my mother in law.
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> Thank You In Advance For Your Reply
Greg Stafford's Debate James White
by Bostero 2 Replies latest jw friends
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Bostero
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DevonMcBride
Hello Bostero and welcome. I don't have the time right now to read your letter but later on I'll read it and let you know my opinion.
Devon
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gitasatsangha
I once read a paper on who was stronger, Silver Surfer of Superman. It was about as important and timely.