If you believe there are many true gods (plural, poly, many), how can you also be mono- (singular, one) -theistic? Or do you believe that since Jesus would be called a mighty god (lowercase "g") instead of "Mighty God" that means you aren't believing in multiple gods? (Isaiah 9:6)
I don't believe Jesus is called "Mighty God" or "a mighty God" though I wouldn't have a problem with it. All others who are called gods derive their godship from the one true God. There are not gods in the order of the Greek gods, etc.
I am just trying to get a clear picture of what your beliefs are. You seem to vascilate between polytheism and monotheism in your replies, as though you are unsure precisely what you believe about God.
I believe that there is only one who is truly and completely God in every sense of the word. We have to remember that the word god (el, qeos) meant more than one thing. It had more than one application. So the term could be used of others in a lesser, secondary sense, without conflicting with the thought of their being one god. Moser brought this out: “Moderns are often unaware that T??? [God] had a much broader semantic range than is allowed for G/god in contemporary Western European languages. “
Polytheism does not require the worship of more than one god, it only requires belief in more than one god. So, judging by your posts here (if you actually believe the angels are gods, that Jesus is a god separate from the god you worship, etc.) your stated beliefs show you are polytheistic, yet you call yourself monotheistic or at the outside Henotheistic.
Well, as I said, I am no more henotheistic than say, the Jews of the Qumran community. From the Dead Sea Scrolls we read this: “And exalt his exaltation to the heights, gods of the august divinities, and the divinity of his glory above all the august heights. For he is God of the gods … Sing with joy those of you enjoying his knowledge, with rejoicing among the wonderful gods … Praise him, divine spirits, praising for ever and ever the main vault of the heights … The spirits of the holy of the holy ones, the living gods, the spirits of everlasting holiness.”
So if you want to classify it as henotheism, I guess go ahead, but as the 1st century Jews demonstrated this same belief, what more needs to be said? I call myself a monotheist because of how I believe these others are gods and of course because my views parallel those of the 1st century Jews and yet they are classified as monotheists.
I hope you would agree that if any faithful Christian in the Bible record prays to Jesus, then it must be okay for any Christian to do so. To your knowledge, is any Christian in the Bible recorded praying directly to Jesus?
I think the entire issue is open to debate, but there is no explicit case of prayer to Jesus within the NT.
Mondo