Unitarian Universalists: Biblical Teaching
Biblical Problems: Trinity
Historically, Unitarianism was a denial of the Trinity. Though UUs today do not necessarily believe in a God, the foundation of their religion was not truly Christian either.
Though the word “Trinity” does not occur in the Bible, the concept does— there is one God in three persons
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” (Dt 6:4)
Jesus Christ is God
“I and the Father are one.” Jn 10:30
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Jn 1:1
Holy Spirit is God
“But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?…You have not lied to men but to God.’” (Acts 5:3-4)
All three Persons of the Trinity listed together in the Scripture
“And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Mt 3:16-17)
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt 28:19)
“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.” 1 Co 12:4-6
Existence of God
Many UUs deny the existence of God, but the Scriptures are clear that God is known to all people through creation and their own moral senses that reflect the image of God.
“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” (Ps 19:1)
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.” (Rom 1:18-23)
“For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them.” (Rom 2:14-15)
Bible
The Bible is a self-attesting authoritative and perfect revelation of God.
“The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether.” (Ps 19:7-11; cf. 2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:19-21)
Sin
UUs think that man is mostly good, and occasionally does bad things. The Bible teaches that man is inherently bad and occasionally does “good” things.
“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Ps 51:5)
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Rom 3:23)
“Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.” (Rom 5:12)
Salvation
Salvation is not merely personal growth and change, but is a rescue from the slavery of sin and a transfer to the kingdom of Christ. Salvation is limited to those who have put their trust in Jesus Christ, which means that not all people will be saved.
“He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son.” (Col 1:13)
“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
“I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 12 while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matt 8:11-12)
“And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Rev 20:15)
Inclusivity
Despite what religious pluralism claims, the Bible teaches that there is only one way to heaven.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (Jn 14:6)
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” (Jn 3:36)
UUs are not truly inclusive, because they do not accept those who believe they have found truth. As long as you are continuing to search you are accepted, but the minute you claim to have found answers you no longer fit in.
Common problems with “inclusivity”
The idea that there is no truth
“There is no such thing as absolute truth. Everything is relative”
Problem: The only way for that statement to be true is if there is such a thing as truth. In essence, that claim is: “The only thing that is absolutely true is that nothing is absolutely true.” Therefore the idea is not logically coherent.
The idea that no one can have all of the truth
“There may be absolute truth, but no one should ever claim that they have found it. Everyone just knows a portion of it.”
ILL: It’s like four different blind men who come across an elephant. Each blind person describes the elephant using the section he has grabbed (trunk, leg, tail, etc.) Though each is true to a point, he only understands a part. Religions are like the blind man—each contributes some truth, but none of them have it all.
Problem: The only way a person would know that the blind men are only seeing a portion of the elephant is if he is able to see the whole elephant. Therefore, the only way to know that everyone only has a part of the truth is to actually claim that you have all of the truth.
The idea that it is humble to not claim to have truth
“It is arrogant for you to claim that you have truth that I don’t have. It’s divisive and creates conflict.”
Problem: Those who claim to continue to be searching for truth often proudly look down upon those who are “naïve enough” to claim to know truth. Thus, pride is as much an issue with those who claim inclusivity and those who claim exclusivity.
If there is such a thing as truth, it is not pride to try to tell others about it. If a doctor determines that someone has cancer, it is not pride to inform that person of the truth they found. In the same way, if someone realizes that the only way of salvation is through Jesus Christ, it is not pride to tell others.
Conclusion
Unitarian Universalists are by no means Christian, and provide no real answers to some of the crucial questions of life (because they can only search for truth.)
- Who am I?
- Why am I here?
- Where am I going?
We must hold fast to the exclusive claims of the gospel in an increasingly pluralistic society