IN ONE ISSUE OF The Fellowship Commentator (FC#2002-1) we explored some facets of biblical monotheism versus polytheism as usually presented by a certain segment of Christendom.  In this issue (FC#2002-2), we will respond to a number of objections put forth by supporters of "Two-Gods-Plus" form of polytheism called binitarianism, and comment on the soundness of their doctrinal positions and teachings.  "Two-Gods-Plus" is a term meant to picture the binitarian position of "two Gods now plus millions of gods later."

The "One-God" subject will run into future issues of the Commentator.  But before any exchange of ideas can take place, it will be necessary to restate working definitions applicable to the subject at hand.

The definition of monotheism is the worship and support of one God.  The definition of polytheism is the worship and support of two or more gods.   Polytheism is what the Armstrong Movement churches practice.

These are standard definitions and they are accepted by scholars, laypersons, religious leaders, teachers, and lexicographers the world over.  If your definition of either of the two as stated above is different than presented here, you are out of touch with reality and we have no common ground.  Oddly enough, some folks on the fringes of Christianity do indeed reject the standard definitions of mono- and polytheism.  Rejecting even Webster, some have even claimed that these are my definitions, not theirs and certainly not God's!  These folks are in practice polytheists, but to the world (like orthodoxy) they falsely present themselves as monotheists.  And they arrive at this position (like orthodoxy) position by redefining or rejecting standard accepted terminology in order to accommodate eccentric personal or church doctrines.

Surprisingly, some otherwise bright religious practitioners, leaders and laypersons alike, strongly object to the notion that God is a single, solitary being. And they have been blunt about this.  Others, in the same camp, strongly object to being called "polytheists" and want to be known as "monotheists" although they readily admit to the worship of two separate gods.  In particular, many of those following this route are part of the churches and fellowship groups that have split away from the Armstrong-era Worldwide Church of God (WCG). While not every member of these diverse organizations had been previously affiliated with the old WCG (before it repudiated most Armstrong teachings including the Sabbath), they are nevertheless being indoctrinated with the errant approach characteristic of that organization. They are generally Armstrong disciples of the "Armstrong Movement."

One facet of the "Two-Gods-Plus" Armstrong polytheistic tradition is that "God" is two individual Gods now with many millions of gods to come in the future, which is a "God family" (pantheon) and also called "God."  That is what they sincerely believe.  But they also, at the same time, in nearly the same breath, put forth the claim that God is one "being."  This is irrational.  How do they manage this puzzling feat?  They do so (1) by reinventing and redefining "God" to suit their purposes in certain passages, and (2) by ignoring the context of thousands of personal pronouns that declare multiple-god proposals to be in error.

Poly-Binitarianism is generally and loosely defined as the support of multiple "Gods."  A relatively small Sabbatarian Movement (the Armstrong Movement) has adopted an ancient form of polytheism, essentially fashioned by the late H. W. Armstrong and his Worldwide Church of God (WCG), as their worship model.  The doctrine allows for two separate and individual Gods now.  One is supreme and the other is a lesser God.  This doctrine represents the typical Greco/Roman model as characterized by Zeus and minor Greek gods.  Binitarianism will be referred to here as representative of this polytheistic Armstrong church model, although admittedly there are some variations on the theme within the "binitarian camp." As you will see, the poly- binitarian position, in any of its permutations, is at once deceitful, confusing, unscriptural, and self-contradictory.

First, poly-binitarian advocates claim God is one, then two, then a family, then the kingdom of God in embryo or not, then ultimately God will be millions and billions of god-beings.  But through it all, God is one, they say.  Hard-core Armstrong disciples ardently support God the Father, God the Son, God the Family, God the Kingdom, the God "kind," and Gods, the Children.  Armstrong: "For remember, the word 'God' in Genesis 1:1, comes to us from the Hebrew word Elohim.  Elohim means one God—not many gods. But that one God is a divine Family—a Kingdom." (HWA Booklet, Why Were You Born? 1957, 1972).  Continuing: "The original Hebrew word is 'Elohim,' a uni-plural noun like the word family, church, or group.  The family is God. There is one God—the one Family, but more than one Person." (The Ten Commandments booklet, HWA, 1960).  But, on this point, HWA IS WRONG!  The word "elohim" is NOT "uni-plural" and does NOT represent "family of Gods" at all.  This point will be covered in more detail later.  (Continued...)

(c) Copyright 2007, F. Paul Haney, CFM