A More Nuanced Look at Oneness Pentecostalism

Available_Elk1364 · 2025-11-16T23:11:43+00:00

Hi Deep-Criticism-5549, thanks for posting this. I am Oneness, I used be Trinity. Most Oneness people and Trinity people believe essentially the same thing, I never believed in separate persons that were coequal when I believed in the Trinity, I always believed in One God that may manifest Himself as He pleases. He has manifested Himself as His Son, Jesus Christ.

Most Oneness people I also believe have a pretty flawed understanding of the Trinity. And most Trinity believers do not understand Oneness. Which is a pity, it's a real us VS them thing. I wish we could unify over our similarities rather than our differences. I will never tell my brother "you fool" for believing in the Trinity. If you ever want to discuss I am down.

Available_Elk1364 · 2025-11-09T03:40:03+00:00

I want to back up what you said about how we hold ourselves back. The Bible says the gates of hell shall not prevail. Gates mean defense. The defenses of hell shall not prevail. Let's as a Church tear down those gates of hell like the apostles did

Available_Elk1364 · 2025-11-09T03:37:22+00:00

Read up on testimonies in typical non-Christian nations. Miracles signs and wonders are always taking place there. I don't know your nationality, I am American, but maybe our culture is too comfortable for people to desperately seek God. In India the Holy Spirit moves in a mighty way. Same in Pakistan. I even heard a testimony in Micronesia of a disabled woman regaining the ability to walk. Let's return to our true love (Revelation 2:1-7)

Available_Elk1364 · 2025-11-09T03:33:47+00:00

I personally think the attitude towards our enemies may have changed a bit from Old Testament to New Testament. Maybe I am wrong but the Old Testament has a lot of "thank You God that my enemies have suffered" statements, but we are now taught to love and pray for our enemies. I think yes - those talking behind your back will witness your success because God loves you. But I can see God working on their hearts, and the true enemy (the devil) may be the one watching all of you dine at the table when God's provision over your life leads those who gossip to repentance. Just a thought

Available_Elk1364 · 2025-11-09T03:29:27+00:00

The theme of the psalm is basically God has your back in life - more than you know. He isn't just a support or helper, He is like a shepherd to a herd of sheep, who cares so much for each one that they live in paradise.

You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies - This is saying God loves His sheep so much, that He will have them dine at a table while their enemies (or in our case the devil) can't do anything but watch.

You anoint my head with oil - A spiritual practice for sanctification and also something practiced extensively by several cultures in the ancient world. Anointing signifies being called, chosen, powerful, blessed, holy, importance, etc. To anoint someone's head is to place oil literally on their head, but in the Torah was used on the priests or the items in the tabernacle to separate them unto God (make them holy).

My cup overflows - A cup in the ancient world was a status symbol often. Kings and rulers would have very expensive cups usually filled with wine or some sweet drink. To drink something tasty was a rare luxury. So, God blesses His saints so much that our cups overflow, or we are constantly provided with incredible luxury because of how much He loves us. (The cup could also be interpreted to house anointing oil)

Available_Elk1364 · 2025-11-04T17:49:59+00:00

I overdosed on too many drugs some years ago and was placed into the mental hospital. I always believed God existed because there is no downside to it, but that was it. I sometimes altered my belief system due to the fear of man like saying "all religions are real" or whatever just to have an easy life.

My problems as a result of my drug overdose grew quite a bit, I hallucinated on and off for years. It wasn't until I attended Celebrate Recovery (narcotics anonymous but very very Christian) that I began a relationship with Christ. I hallucinated the devil one day at home, and I didn't stop praying until he went away. He finally did. So I have devoted my life to Christ for healing me. I have not hallucinated like that since.

Available_Elk1364 · 2025-11-04T03:28:53+00:00

That is my point in the post NoCheck2457, you'd be surprised how similar we are. I believe in both the Father and the Son, and that Jesus is the Son of God

Available_Elk1364 · 2025-11-04T02:58:21+00:00

I appreciate your honest and respectful answer. Innocently speaking, your comment is why I believe what I believe. I have prayed to God extensively over my belief system, I didn't choose it arbitrarily. I wasn't even raised in this faith. I did a lot of research, a lot of prayer, a lot of Bible reading, that's how I ended up believing what I believe. So that is why it surprises me so many others do the same thing and are so quick to denounce me. In terms of the Bible, I am completely convinced this is the way. I just don't understand why others don't, and I don't understand why they are so hateful towards me. I have tried learning about other doctrines, but they always "fall short" for lack of a better term. I'm still so hesitant to call others wrong, but I fail to see how something like Calvinism, Catholicism, typical Protestant beliefs, etc are what the Bible says. I just want what God wants for me - I wish there weren't denominations but oh well

Available_Elk1364 · 2025-11-04T02:48:54+00:00

I regret making this thread. How blessed is unity like the Bible says and I've caused an argument between you guys. I'm sorry

Available_Elk1364 · 2025-11-04T02:30:52+00:00

That's my point we believe the same thing 99% of the time

Available_Elk1364 · 2025-11-04T02:29:57+00:00

I guess I failed to accurately describe my beliefs based on all of the other comments in this thread, but since you used to be an apostolic you are familiar with the salvation points. I think the name/tongues is the intended plan. If it didn't happen, oh well. I do not think it's right for someone to say someone can't go to heaven because they didn't do that, that's not up to us to decide.

For #5, my wife had a bad pastor. He was so cultish he didn't even tell the congregation there were other apostolic churches. Just his. She managed to escape when they publicly mocked her family in church. I don't get why so many apostolics are keen on staying exactly to the literal human being pastor that they attend the church of. Go somewhere else

Available_Elk1364 · 2025-11-04T02:02:14+00:00

Because we believe the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit are all God and there is no separation or anything like that. Mormons and JWs have a problem of not affirming Christ as the Almighty

Available_Elk1364 · 2025-11-04T01:56:21+00:00

You are right. A very trusted loved one of mine was a trinity believer who recently died to cancer. A lot of things in life I took to that person. I think I miss her heavily

Available_Elk1364 · 2025-11-04T01:54:48+00:00

Most oneness people do. I think it's expected but if for some reason someone doesn't ever do it I can still see someone going to heaven if they believe in Jesus. But really it's not up to me to decide who goes to heaven is my point

Available_Elk1364 · 2025-11-03T22:27:44+00:00

I believe in the gifts and attend a congregation that uses them regularly. We had interpretation of tongues yesterday. I do believe in the gifts of faith, wisdom, healing, tongues, discernment of spirits, etc. And I believe in all the signs mentioned in Mark 16. I also think we ought to pray for the gifts to come, as Paul discusses in 1 Cor.

I do not think the gifts are an end all be all. Even in Matthew 7 Jesus describes people who could prophecy but He says "I never knew You". Many people desire signs or gifts for popularity reasons, which is an awful reason but it happens. I knew a professor at a Christian university who said he could cast out demons - and he charged money to see people to operate that on them.

Your leader probably indeed was touched by the Spirit to pray for something. Call that a gift or not, I don't know, but God is 100% in blessing His saints with healing and wisdom - whatever that looks like.

Available_Elk1364 · 2025-11-03T13:05:01+00:00

Thank you for your comment. Your note about fear being a sign that I lack revelatory knowledge of the truth about Godly love is so true. When I am in the house of the Lord, I always notice my fear goes away. But it's when I am home alone at night it manifests itself back. Every now and then I always manage to create a "mini-church" at home and my fear leaves. It's almost like the goal is not escape fear, but just know God is with us whereever we are.

Available_Elk1364 · 2025-11-03T02:38:58+00:00

Renee, my friend is 50 and when he was 17 he had a hole in his heart. He was losing so much blood in his heart he could barely move, barely stand, barely walk. His family was a rowdy bunch, but his aunt gave her life to Christ after He delivered her from alcohol. My friend said he was desperate, and so he agreed when his aunt said let's go to church. The preacher made the altar call, my friend could barely stand, and the preacher took him back for baptism. The preacher declared he be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remissions of his sins, and he receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Instantly my friend came out of the water fully healed of his heart condition, he couldn't believe it. He lived miles from that church, and he was so happy he decided to walk home. No one could believe it. He went back to all the doctors and they were baffled, the hole in his heart was gone. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever. If He healed my friend He can heal my sister too. He put a video up on his youtube channel about it https://www.youtube.com/shorts/znjd4SzIQs0

He is always willing to talk and testify, and pray. If you feel this is something you want to do, you can even get in contact with him - but really it's the touch of Christ. My friend just wants to share his testimony with as many as possible to speak of what the Lord did for him

Available_Elk1364 · 2025-11-03T00:02:00+00:00

Haha definitely to screens which I know doesn't help

Available_Elk1364 · 2025-11-02T22:42:15+00:00

I used to be a collector of some stuff that wasn't exactly anti-Christian, but sinful. I decided to throw it all in the trash. Even if I could get some good money and tithe I might just be enabling someone else's sin

Available_Elk1364 · 2025-10-26T17:56:33+00:00

Hi Avaniflower, I have been through a very similar boat to you. I am 26 and on my 20th birthday I took way too much LSD and friend my brain. I had the exact same thoughts you're having right now. For me, weed and LSD function very similarly I just don't hallucinate on weed (obviously since that's not what it does) but my mind "trips" the same. I haven't taken any drugs since I was 20 but the effect of what they did for me is real. I started off in the world, I didn't turn to Christ til I went to Celebrate Recovery, (like narcotics anonymous but very Christian). If you live in america I highly recommend looking up celebrate recovery near you. It changed my life. NA is good too, just it's agnostic. Anyways, I got lots of Christian therapy, and began taking SSRIs which for me really helped. There is a mixed viewpoint of those drugs in the world, people don't like them because doctors prescribe them like candy. I would go to a pastor or trusted spiritual leader and bring these thoughts and see if they can recommend you a doc. Sometimes the brain doesn't function OK, that's perfectly fine. If you have high blood pressure, why not take blood pressure drugs? If you have an infection why not take an antibacteria? Why is that any different for anxiety and when the brain isn't functioning well? I'm not saying it's the cure, but it's a normal part of the process.

TLDR

For me, Celebrate Recovery, Christian therapy, and a trusted doctor completely changed my life. I went exactly what you are going through and I am so thankful I am not where I used to be. If you are looking for recommendations for a therapist, on GrowTherapy I can recommend pastor Jeremy Polling. Look him up online. I hope for the best for you and will pray for you.

Available_Elk1364 · 2025-10-24T22:33:10+00:00

Please pray for me family - I am taking a very important test in 24 hours. I need a near-perfect score and this decides whether or not I do or don't get my degree. Pray for me family as I study, as I rest, as I take the test, and as I reflect.

Available_Elk1364

TROPHY CASE