God-man Problems of the Local Church
When God created man, He
called him "man." He never called him God and yet he was created in the likeness
of God. Notice that man was created in the "likeness of God" and not as a "God."
When man sinned, I would say man lost the real essence of the "man" God
originally created. If I am not mistaken, this is the goal of salvation in
Christ - restoring man's lost original essence to him (i.e., likeness of God).
As the Christian mature in his faith, he will attain "to the measure of the
stature which belong to the fullness of Christ" (Eph. 4:13) and "he will grow up
in all aspects into Him" (Eph. 4:15). Yet even if this is the goal - restoring
man back to his original essence and stature, it is just bringing him back to
what God called him originally - "man."
Therefore, to say, "I am a God-man" is very misleading since the Bible neither
says that Adam was a "God" in his original (perfectly sinless) state nor the
writers of the Scriptures called any believer a "God-man." The Christian's
becoming more "like Christ" or becoming "like God" is always understood only in
character/spiritual growth and not in any other sense. To say, "I am a God-man"
only implies that one claims he is fully man and at the same time fully God
because when the title "God" is used in Scriptures it always refer to fullness
of Deity not to "the likeness of God" to which man was originally created.
It is enough to say we are created in the "likeness of God" in "true
righteousness and holiness" (Eph. 4:24). To say, "I am a God-man" is indeed
misleading and somewhat having a "hidden agenda" in it. Why did I say
that? Because of this: why not just use the term that the majority Christians
use, that is "Christ-likeness" if what they mean is spiritual and character
growth? Why "God-man"? That is perhaps they mean "something more" than
"character and spiritual growth."
In my estimation, those who take the liberty of calling themselves as "God-men"
are going to evolve into another level of doctrine. Today they are merely
saying, "It is the process of transformation by the Spirit into the mind,
emotion and will of the believer, to make him the same as Christ." But later the
use of the phrase "he becomes God in life and in nature" will evolve into
a more complicated doctrine, perhaps it will be: "I am a God." Is this possible?
Of course it is possible for this kind of doctrine to evolve into another form
of deception. Teachers of this doctrine could be probably saying now to their
constituents that in heaven they will become God. That is because their being
"man" is over. Remember that in their doctrine of Christ, Christ is
already through with His humanity. Applying the same principle of doctrine
to their "God-man" teaching, they could say that man in heaven is no longer man
but he is now God! And this is very frightening because this is unbiblical if
not demonic.
Justyn and Dexter, I think this is the doctrine that SOAR holds
which caused the division on a large-scale basis of the two well known churches
in Metro Manila. The Body of Christ suffered tremendously indeed because of this
doctrine.
The Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC) has already made a stand.
Here is part of the statement made by the Executive Committee:
"Their (SOAR) teaching on the Church consequently
reveals their view of man. If the Church, which is composed of men and women,
can become God in the process, it follows that man (or at least those who belong
to the Church) will not remain human forever but will evolve to become God
Himself... That's why proponents and followers of this teaching now greet each
other with, "Good morning Jesus," or "How's the God of Davao?" What blasphemy!"
PCEC Executive Committee
01 October 2001