{"id":30909,"date":"2022-09-10T15:09:21","date_gmt":"2022-09-10T20:09:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/why-were-still-confronting-the-same-christmas-heresy-as-st-nick\/"},"modified":"2022-09-10T15:09:21","modified_gmt":"2022-09-10T20:09:21","slug":"why-were-still-confronting-the-same-christmas-heresy-as-st-nick","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/why-were-still-confronting-the-same-christmas-heresy-as-st-nick\/","title":{"rendered":"Why We\u2019re Still Confronting the Same Christmas Heresy as St. Nick"},"content":{"rendered":"
Medieval Greek Orthodox Icon of the Council of Nicaea – Wiki Commons <\/p>\n

By Aaron Earls<\/em><\/p>\n

Christians may need Jolly Old Saint Nicholas more than ever this Christmas\u2014not to bring presents to good boys and girls, but to confront heretics denying the deity of Jesus.<\/p>\n

Saint Nicholas, a historical precursor figure for Santa Claus, is said to have attended the First Council of Nicea in A.D. 325, where early church fathers debated the relationship between God the Father and God the Son. Additional legends assert Nicholas became so enraged by the comments of Arius, who taught Jesus was not equal to God the Father, he slapped Arius across the face.<\/p>\n

Saint Nicholas, a\u00a0historical\u00a0precursor\u00a0figure for Santa Claus,\u00a0is said to have\u00a0attended the First Council of\u00a0Nicea, where he allegedly slapped Arius for arguing that Jesus was not equal to God the Father. Click To Tweet <\/p>\n

Recent Lifeway Research studies have indicated that many Americans, including some Christians, are embracing at least some of the concepts of Arianism, the heresy that allegedly caused St. Nick to lose his cool.<\/p>\n

Old errors, new day<\/strong><\/h3>\n

As a church leader in Alexandria, Arius began teaching that God the Son had a beginning, unlike God the Father. The early church debate between Arius and other leaders like Athanasius centered around the difference of one Greek letter. Arius argued that Jesus and God the Father are \u1f41\u03bc\u03bf\u03b9\u03bf\u03cd\u03c3\u03b9\u03bf\u03c2 or homoiousios<\/em>, meaning \u201cof similar substance,\u201d while Athanasius contended all members of the Godhead are \u1f41\u03bc\u03bf\u03bf\u03cd\u03c3\u03b9\u03bf\u03c2 or homoousios, meaning \u201cof the same substance.\u201d<\/p>\n

The First Council of Nicea condemned the teachings of Arius, which became known as Arianism. Within a decade, however, Roman Emperor Constantine convened another gathering, at which Athanasius was exiled and Arius exonerated. Though in the end, Athanasius and those defending Trinitarian orthodoxy were restored to their positions and Arianism lost its sway.<\/p>\n

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That doesn\u2019t mean the beliefs popularized by Arian have disappeared, as many still struggle with the eternal relationship of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n

The 2020 State of Theology Study found almost 3 in 4 Americans (72%) say they believe in the doctrine of the Trinity, but most struggle with specifics surrounding Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Majorities also agree with statements that contradict Trinitarian theology, including one that mirrors Arianism\u201455% say Jesus is the first and greatest being created by God.<\/p>\n

Americans who attend a religious service at least monthly are more likely than those who attend less frequently to say Jesus is the greatest being God created (68% to 44%), according to Lifeway Research. Click To Tweet <\/p>\n

And that belief, unfortunately, is more common in church than outside it. Americans who attend a religious service at least monthly are more likely than those who attend less frequently to say Jesus is the greatest being God created (68% to 44%).<\/p>\n

Similarly, 80% of Americans say Jesus Christ is the Son of God the Father, but half that (41%) say the Son of God existed before Jesus was born in Bethlehem, according to a recent Lifeway Research study.<\/p>\n

In this instance, church attendance does help clear some of the confusion, but many churchgoing Americans still aren\u2019t sure Jesus existed as the Son of God prior to coming to earth on the first Christmas. Those who attend four times a month or more (63%) and those who attend one to three times a month (54%) are more likely than those who attend less frequently (33%) to say the Son of God existed before Jesus was born in Bethlehem.<\/p>\n

Even among those who attend church at least weekly, only 63% say the Son of God existed before Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Click To Tweet <\/p>\n

Regardless, a sizable percentage of weekly churchgoing Christians are at the very least confused about core biblical doctrines. For Brandon Smith, a theology professor at Cedarville University, this is the result of both pastoral and hermeneutical issues within the church.<\/p>\n

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Smith said it can be understandable why pastors don\u2019t often wade into Trinitarian waters on a regular basis. \u201cThe Trinity can feel \u2018impractical\u2019 to a pastor who is often just trying to help his folks get through the week,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Smith, who has published research on the Trinity and the early church, also suggested that pastors may lack the confidence to tackle such an imposing doctrine. \u201cPastors often avoid the topic other than perhaps a hat-tip here and there or a line in the church\u2019s doctrinal statement,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Pastors often avoid the topic of the Trinity other than perhaps a hat-tip here and there or a line in the church's doctrinal statement \u2014 @brandon_d_smith Click To Tweet <\/p>\n

Smith went on to say that the person in the pew can become a Christian without any formal training but working through the doctrine of the Trinity requires some training, practice, and intentional contemplation. Churchgoers often \u201cknow the right answers to the doctrinal test,\u201d he said, which is why almost all affirm the Trinity. Yet they can\u2019t articulate the doctrine themselves, which leads to confusion of Jesus\u2019s existence prior to Bethlehem.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s fair to say that pastors are not intentionally training people on the Trinity\u2014perhaps the most difficult yet important doctrine of the Christian faith\u2014and thus people know they should affirm it but have no clue how to articulate it or even recognize it in their Bibles,\u201d said Smith.<\/p>\n

Slapping solution?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

So, should modern Christians follow the legendary example of Nicholas and slap someone expressing unorthodox views on Jesus\u2019s deity? Probably not. More often than not, people just don\u2019t fully understand complex theological concepts like the Trinity. They aren\u2019t trying to spread heresy.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think your average evangelical pastor is a functional Arian,\u201d Smith said. \u201cI\u2019ve just seen time and again a negligence to teach the doctrine meaningfully.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe insult our church members when we think they can\u2019t handle or aren\u2019t interested in thinking more deeply about Scripture and the theology therein.\u201d \u2014 @brandon_d_smith Click To Tweet <\/p>\n

Pastors have many expectations about their responsibilities within the church, but Smith said this falls under the biblical requirements for the role. \u201cPastors first have to \u2018be able to teach\u2019 (1 Timothy 3:2) and \u2018hold to the pattern of sound teaching\u2019 (2 Timothy 1:13), so they are actually prepared to \u2018guard the good deposit\u2019 (2 Timothy 1:14) and correct those who are either untrained or \u2018will not tolerate sound doctrine\u2019 (2 Timothy 4:3),\u201d he said. \u201cSimply put, the pastor\u2019s responsibility is to be a theologian.\u201d<\/p>\n

Churchgoers are looking for this, according to Smith.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost Christians want to understand their Bibles better, and most of them trust their pastors to help them do that,\u201d he said. \u201cWe insult our church members when we think they can\u2019t handle or aren\u2019t interested in thinking more deeply about Scripture and the theology therein.\u201d<\/p>\n

"The church\u2019s concern for sound doctrine will largely go as far as the pastor\u2019s concern for sound doctrine.\u201d \u2014 @brandon_d_smith Click To Tweet <\/p>\n

Smith said pastors and church leaders must be more intentional in providing opportunities for the congregation to learn, whether it\u2019s a sermon series, Sunday School curriculum, special \u201ctheology nights,\u201d or other ideas. \u201cThe pastor has to set a culture of theology at the church where it\u2019s expected and hungered for,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is easier said than done, of course, but the church\u2019s concern for sound doctrine will largely go as far as the pastor\u2019s concern for sound doctrine.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Aaron Earls<\/h2>\n

@WardrobeDoor<\/p>\n

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Aaron is a writer for LifewayResearch.com.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n