POLYTHEISM IS THE WORSHIP and support of two or more gods. Not many people will dispute this conclusion. Polytheism is
the support and worship of multiple gods, many gods in any context. And the worship of these many gods is an abomination to
the only true God, Yahweh our Elohim. He is the true God and there is none beside him. Even Jesus the Christ testifies
to this in John 17:3. Although I think not many persons will argue that the definition of polytheism is correct as stated here,
I know of some who do strongly disagree. THEY SAY that worshiping multiple "Gods" in a "Godhead" or a "Family" of "Divine Beings"
is NOT polytheism, but monotheism, or the worship of one God. Somewhere, I think, there has been a disconnect between reality
and cultic, slavish doctrines in the minds of these folks, wherein logic and reasoning have taken an extended holiday, and they are
not due to return any time soon. The folks I have in mind cannot be argued out of their conclusions. These people have
their personal gods encased in a Yellow Submarine. The name of that Yellow Submarine is variable, even "legion," however, and
applicable as they see fit. Sometimes this Submarine is called "The God Family" as though it were a family of god-beings with
the last name of "GOD." There at the helm is "Joe God" and looking through the periscope is "Betty God." "David God" is in the
galley with his helper "Elmer God" making a pot of soup. Notice how quickly these kitchen "Gods" can cut carrots. Hundreds
more "Gods" can be found below decks.
Now, those who are standing on the shore, you and me, look out over the water and only see one
Yellow Submarine riding the waves or tied up to the dock. But out of our sight, inside the submarine, the decks will be crowded
with "God-people." The binitarian folks have a special name for this Yellow Submarine that is teeming with gods. They
simply call it "God"! Or they might call it "Family"! They claim, with no embarrassment at all, that "God IS a Family,"
that God is NOT one being. They snort that it is a mistake to think of God as one singular being. Sometimes they call
their Yellow Submarine "The God Family" or they might call it "The Kingdom of God." Now, the "God Family" is not the same thing
as "the family OF God." Be careful of the wording here. The little word "OF" denotes possession or ownership. But
alas, these people do not permit God to HAVE a family; they foolishly and blindly insist that he IS a family. The corruption
into polytheism in this case is dependent upon a slight twist of a common idea. (Truth mixed with error!) But according to the
Bible, God does indeed HAVE a family, and further, it is a growing family. Those he adds to His family are called "the children
of God." But they are not "God-beings"; they are God's born again children (Jn.1:12-13, 1Jn.3:2, 10).
To whom do these people
pray when they say, "Oh God..." thus and such? Since they teach that God is not an individual, it is self-evident that they
are not praying to an individual God! This is not rocket science, folks. I suggest that not even they know to whom they
pray. It has been suggested by those in the "poly-binitarian" (two-gods plus) camp that people "usually" think of the Father
when they pray. This may be true. It is true with me. But this in no way sheds light upon the question, "To whom
do they pray when they deny that God is an individual?" These poly-binitarian folks claim that millions and millions of human
beings (notably out of their camp) will also become Gods. These are the teeming multi-level "Gods" found in the Yellow Submarine. They have God the Father, God the Son, God the family, God the Kingdom, and God(s) the kids, all tucked into their Yellow Submarine. It is rather like an ocean. All you see is one large body of water but underneath the surface will be found millions and billions
of fish. Where does it end for these people? I can imagine a certain horrific end.
The "family of Armstrong gods" concept
comes directly from Rome and Greece. The Armstrong "binitarian-plus" camp (Armstrong Movement) promotes polytheism with a vengeance. The Greek pantheon model is one with a father or supreme god, like Zeus, and a bunch of lesser gods snapping at his heels. The
lesser gods were frequently regional deities, village gods, or gods of the elements. These are the "gods of other nations" that
Almighty God told the Israelites not to get involved with. Armstrong disciples have regional gods and teach that these regional
gods are themselves transformed into millions of "Herbert W. Armstrong gods." (They do not call themselves "Armstrong gods,"
of course.) The Greek regional-type gods are the same "gods" that the poly-binitarian camp has appropriated and serve up to
their followers—they just changed the names. They are the gods of polytheism, no matter their new-found name. Those Armstrong
disciples who claim they will become gods always place themselves in charge of others—they are the "chief gods" among the millions
of gods they advocate--it is all a power trip. They are NOT "historic binitarians." They do NOT practice monotheism! They practice "Historic Polytheism." They practice a polytheistic form of worship and teach an anti-biblical, repugnant polytheism. (END)
