A Response to John Mark Comer's "Clarification" RE: Creational Monotheism

Postmodern Word Games and the Setup for the Argument

These are the sounds of the emergent postmodern philharmonic orchestra conducted by Doug Padgett and today we have a special treat. Sitting in with the orchestra is John Mark Homer of Solid Rock Church, Portland, Oregon he will be playing first chair cello today as they well, let the spirit guide them in their homage to the nihilistic philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche via Strauss's Fantastic work also Sprach Zarathustra, and you'll notice that they have freed themselves from those limiting Definitions of notes and are just being led by the spirit to to play whatever just comes to them.

Oh, it's just Fantastic here listen to this Wonderful, they don't have those little definitions of notes getting in the way of the spirit pooey on modernism. We hate modernism modernism is stinky. This is better.

Now. Now some of you may be surprised that I have put John Mark Comer in lumped him in with the well the emergent crowd. The reason I've done that is because of his recent Clarification and the way I said that you should have seen me using my fingers to put air quotes around clarification regarding whether or not he's teaching monotheism or Polytheism now before we get to that clarification, we're going to actually do Something that needs to be done.

Okay, we are going to spend a little bit of time looking at the definition of words and there's a reason why we need to do this because once we get a solid understanding of the definition of Particular words We will be able to determine whether or not John Mark Comer of Solid Rock Church in Portland, Oregon has been teaching monotheism or Polytheism, okay now.

So I'm gonna have to argue this like a prosecuting attorney, which by the way is not my favorite way to do things. But it's got to be done. Okay, so I would like to submit to you like exhibit a okay Miriam Webster's dictionary.

Okay, Miriam Webster's dictionary, which you can find it M-w .com when I go to the Miriam Webster's dictionary website and I type in the word Polytheism, okay. Polytheism is the word that we're looking for.

Here is the definition given by Miriam Webster's ready? Polytheism is the belief in or worship of more than one God let me read it again Polytheism is the belief in or worship of more than one God. Okay, it's real simple so if you believe in Yahweh Allah Shiva and Vishnu all different names of deities you are a Polytheist, okay now I would like to submit to you then the next one and that is Monotheism, okay monotheism according to Miriam Webster's dictionary, which again is found at M-w .com Monotheism is defined as this Monotheism is the doctrine or belief that there is but one God, okay.

Real simple, okay. So if you believe that there is only one God you are a Monotheist if you believe that there is more than one God even if it's two or three or a hundred you are a Polytheist remember words have specific meanings now.

I know this sounds basic. But there's a reason why I'm doing this, okay now With these definitions in hand, we're going to ask ourselves a question. I'm gonna go back and I'm going to play Selected sound quotes or sound bites from the sermon.

We reviewed recently here at fighting for the faith John Mark Comer, you know, what is it named? Yahweh Elohim? That was the name of the sermon? Okay, and we're going to determine whether or not he was teaching monotheism or whether or not he was teaching polytheism and we're going to use as the indicator as whether of as to whether or not he was teaching monotheism or polytheism the Definitions of those words given by the Miriam Webster's dictionary.

Okay, so that way I mean, here's the deal Miriam Webster concocted their dictionary long Before I came on the scene or John Mark Comer came on the scene. Okay, because well words have specific meanings in the English language.

John Mark Comer's Teaching on the Gods, Demons, and the Divine Council

Okay now we're going to start off with John Mark Comer and we're gonna listen carefully to what we're gonna do here because there's several things we need to get from this particular Quote, okay. Here in this quote, he's gonna say we think the gods.

Okay, and then blank blank blank. Okay, you're gonna fill in the blank I want you to listen carefully to this segment from John Mark Comer sermon entitled Yahweh Elohim. We reviewed it in its entirety here at fighting for the faith and let's determine his theology based upon what?

John Mark Comer said here's what he said. We think the gods are powerful spiritual beings with Authority over kind of nations and the demons are lower level spiritual beings who work for the gods. That's kind of theory, but we kind of that's the consensus but whether or not that is true.

We know for sure that the That the biblical authors are all making the same point. There is listen. There is one creator God Who made the universe who spoke all that is real into existence. But there is a multiplicity of created gods or real spiritual beings.

Think of them as lesser gods or in the language of Gary Bashir's gods with a lowercase G. Okay. That's the quote. Let me play it again, and I'm gonna point out some things along the way. Okay, John Mark Comer from his sermon Yahweh Elohim said we think the gods listen again.

We think the gods are Powerful spiritual beings with Authority over kind of nations and the demons are lower level spiritual beings who work for the gods. Okay. Now this is important. Okay. What did he just say?

We think the gods are Powerful spiritual beings and notice what he said and the demons work for the gods, okay now Using our definitions of the word monotheism and polytheism given to us by a Independent third party that would be Miriam Webster's dictionary.

Okay, again monotheism is the doctrine or belief in that there is but one God. Polytheism is the belief in or Worship of it doesn't matter if you worship more than one guy. It's the belief in or worship of more than one God.

Okay is John Mark Comer according to those definitions teaching monotheism or Polytheism, okay. Listen again. We think the gods are powerful spiritual beings with Authority over kind of nations and the demons are lower level spiritual beings who work for the gods.

That's kind of theory, but we kind of that's the consensus but whether or not that is true we know for sure that the That the biblical authors are all making the same point. There is listen. There is one creator God Who made the universe who's okay, so there's one God right there Spoke all that is real into existence but there is a Multiplicity of created gods or real spiritual beings think of them.

Okay. So what he said there is one creator God and a multiplicity of Created gods now again. I have to make this point. He made the distinction earlier in this quote between those created gods and demons.

That's what he said. The demons work for the gods we continue them as lesser gods or in the language of Gary Bashir's gods with a lowercase G and These gods have a measure of free will and autonomy just like human beings.

They can obey God and serve God or they can rebel and fight God. Some love God others hate God. Some are good. Others are evil. But the fact is There is an invisible world all around you. That is just as real as the visible.

Okay? Now, what do we learn from this quote? According to John Mark Homer We think this is his quote. I want to know who the we is here. We think the gods Okay that these are powerful beings. Demons serve them.

Some of them are good. Some of them are evil. Okay, so based upon what he's said here again the definition of the word monotheism is the doctrine or belief that there is but one God. Okay Polytheism is defined as the belief in or worship of more than one God.

Based on those definitions is John Mark Comer in this sermon teaching monotheism or Polytheism, let me play the quote again I'm not trying to beat a dead horse, but I want you to hear again what he said.

We think the gods are powerful spiritual beings with Authority over kind of nations and the demons are lower-level spiritual beings who work for the gods. That's kind of theory, but we kind of that's the consensus but whether or not that is true we know for sure that the That the biblical authors are all making the same point.

There is listen. There is one creator God Who made the universe who spoke all that is real into existence but there is a multiplicity of created gods or real spiritual beings think of them as lesser gods or in the language of Gary Breshears gods with a lowercase G and These gods have a measure of free will and autonomy just like human beings.

They can obey God and serve God or they can rebel and fight God. Some love God others hate God some are good. Others are evil. But the fact is there is an invisible world all around you. That is just as real as the visible.

Okay. Based on just that quote alone It's very clear to me that if we go with the very specific definitions of the words monotheism and polytheism That John Mark Comer in this sermon is teaching polytheism and it's important to note that he makes a distinction between demons and These gods which he's which whom he says some of them are good.

Some of them are evil. Some of them love God. Some of them hate God and the demons work for The gods they are created Gods, that's what he said now since he mentioned Gary Jerry Breshears. Okay I think it's important to bring something into and to play here.

Jerry Breshears is the man who co-authored with Mark Driscoll the book called doctrine what? Christians should believe I want to make something very clear here that in this book Jerry Breshears is not teaching Creational monotheism.

Okay. In fact, I want to read to you a quote now if John Mark Comer had taught What's in this book? regarding one true God I'd have no beef with what he said. But he didn't. He taught that there is Literally, if you were to kind of put the hierarchy in place, there's the Creator God Yahweh.

Underneath him are the created gods. Okay, these powerful spiritual beings the God some are good. Some are bad and beneath them since the demons serve them are The demons and the angels and then humanity, okay.

But here's what Jerry Breshears co-wrote with Mark Driscoll. You can find this in the book doctrine by the way starting about halfway down from Halfway down the page of page 13. Here's what he wrote.

Okay first there is only One true God. The Old Testament contains a number of clear statements that there is only One God and then the footnote gives some fantastic Scriptural references that teach that there is only one God.

Likewise the New Testament clearly states that there is only one God together. The unendering unending thunderous chorus of scripture from beginning to end is that there is only one God. Scripture also clearly teaches that there is no one like God.

Scripture teaches that any claim to be like God is a satanic lie. Practically this means that in addition to there being only one Trinity and no other there is no other God who is eternally Existent and uncreated all-powerful all-knowing or all-present.

The biblical emphasis on the existence of only one true God Raises the question of what is to be made of the other quote gods Unquote that are worshipped by people in various religions in the days of the Bible and in our present day.

The Bible states that these quote gods are very powerful fallen angels who rebelled against God. They hate Jesus and seek worshippers whom they reward if they serve them. Well, they perform powerful signs Wonders and miracles and can deceive people into thinking that they are equal with God.

Practically, this means that they are incredibly powerful Demons with names such as Ba 'al, Shemash, Molech, Brahman, Allah, Mother Earth Mammon and Aphrodite that are all wrongly worshipped by multitudes as Gods.

Okay. Now that's what Jerry Breshears Co-wrote with Mark Driscoll in the book called Doctrine, which by the way was only published a few years ago in 2010. Okay. Now that's not What John Mark Comer is teaching?

Okay. Let me play this quote again and see I mean again Is he saying the same thing as Jerry Breshears says in Doctrine with Mark Driscoll answer? No, he says something different we think the gods are powerful spiritual beings with Authority over kind of nations and the demons are lower-level spiritual beings who work for the gods.

That's kind of theory, but we kind of that's the consensus but whether or not that is true we know for sure that the That the biblical authors are all making the same point. There is listen. There is one creator God Who made the universe who spoke all that is real into existence but there is a multiplicity of created gods or real spiritual beings think of them as lesser gods or in the language of Gary Breshears gods with a lowercase g and These gods have a measure of free will and autonomy just like human beings.

They can obey God and serve God or they can rebel and fight God. Some love God others hate God some are good. Others are evil. But the fact is there is an invisible world all around you. That is just as real as the visible.

The Divine Council, Psalm 82, and the Claim of Polytheism

Okay, so Let me play another quote here. Okay, and this and the reason I'm gonna play it in this order is because in this quote well, John Mark Comer again makes a point of distinguishing between these Created gods these powerful beings.

He makes a distinction between them and Angels and demons listen in if the language of gods makes you nervous. That's okay. I'm sorry for that Modern kind of Christians in the West prefer the language of angels and demons.

Now there are two problems, okay. There are two problems with that kind of language first off the language of angels and demons comes with all kinds of baggage from culture. By angels people think of blonde Swedish supermodels, you know with a 10-foot wingspan.

Right, and I'm sorry to break it to you. But every single angel in the Bible is male. I just ruined your Christmas decorations for next year. I'm sorry. All right. And by demons, you know, we think of the cartoon character on the you know shoulder with the pitchfork or Will Ferrell on Saturday night live or Whatever right?

I mean, that's how we think of angels and demons. But the second problem is that the language that is used by the biblical authors at least in Hebrew at least in Genesis to Malachi Is Elohim or the gods and in the story of first Kings Solomon's heart is turned away.

Not by a cartoon character on a shoulder, but by the gods. Okay, so He's arguing that We're not talking about fallen angels or demons. He's trying to make an argument that these are a different class of spiritual being altogether and notice in the story turned away to Evil on that note turn to Psalm 82 to the right right to kind of smack dab in the middle of the scriptures.

Okay this now by the way in the when I reviewed this entire sermon I Demonstrated that what's going on in Psalm 82 is that God is judging? Human. Basically heads of state kings and princes and stuff like that.

That's what this Psalm is really about but watch what he does with this. This is going to blow your mind up. Gosh, I get excited about weird things Psalm 82 by the way. This passage Psalm 82 is one of the favorite passages of the Mormons who are unashamedly polytheists.

It's a weird text. It starts off some of ASAP starts off by saying God presides in and my Bible says the Great Assembly if you're reading the ESV. It's the Divine Council, which we think is a better way to Translate the text God presides in the Divine Council which you read about right here.

You read about in Job 1 you read about in 2nd Kings and it's all over the literature of ancient Mesopotamia, it's all over Greek mythology think of. Was that horrific movie a few years ago rise of the Titans and that weird genre of movies of like?

Greek and Roman mythology and hard rock music. It's really bad. But you know, there's that scene with the gods I Liam Neeson and company who are up in the heavens having a conversation About what to do and the earth is down below about what to do on the earth.

Okay, that's the Divine Council. That's what it's called in Greek mythology. Now the main difference between the Divine Council and kind of Greek mythology and Hebrew. God bless you. You know which comes from the German gesundheit.

Which is which is what you would say because they thought a demon was leaving your body, which is great news for you right now anyway. That was great, yeah. But the main difference between Greek between Greek mythology and Hebrew theology.

Is that in Hebrew theology Yahweh is? Over the Divine Council read the text God presides in the Great Assembly. He renders judgment among the gods now my Bible puts it in quotes in Hebrew. There's no such thing if you're reading the ESV or the New American Standard.

It says rulers. That's flat-out wrong in Hebrew. It's Elohim presides in the Great Assembly. He renders judgments among the Elohim. What the heck God renders judgments among the gods? Then listen to what God Yahweh the Creator Says to the gods in the Divine Council quote.

How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked? Defend the weak and the fatherless uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

Fascinating. What are the gods doing? Injustice. Okay, I'm gonna again pause it here based upon the specific definition of the word Monotheism and the specific definition of the word polytheism, which is objective.

It's outside of you. It's outside of me. We're quoting an authority on what that those words mean is John Mark Comer here teaching that there is more than one God or that there is only one God. That's the decision you have to make.

I'm hearing him and correct me if I'm wrong that he's arguing for the existence of more than one God now granted Yahweh is the chief guy. He's the head of that. He's the head honcho. He's the super duper creator God who created the other gods and notice again he makes a distinction between angels and Demons being gods.

He does not he does not equate the demons with Gods here. What he's doing is basically saying that this is a Completely different level all together and as he said earlier the demons serve the gods. Some are good.

Some are bad some love Yahweh some hate him. Okay. So is he teaching monotheism or polytheism based upon the specific definition of the word of those words answer? He's teaching flat-out Polytheism and he's not teaching the same thing that Jerry Brashear's Co-wrote in the book doctrine with Mark Driscoll, which by the way what he co-wrote in that segment.

That's Absolutely what the but what the Bible teaches there is no God, but one there is only one God and anything that exalts itself To the status of God is that that's a satanic lie. Those are just that's Jerry Brashear's Those are his words.

Unmistakably, so it makes me wonder has Jerry Brashear's changed his view has his Theology evolved to where he now is a closet polytheist. Well, let me go back a little bit in the sermon and play for you another segment.

Why does Yahweh need a name? Well, according to John Mark Comer, there's a reason listen in. The question for today is why does God need a name in the first place? What's wrong with God? And why is it that God is almost never called God in the scriptures?

Almost never he's almost always called Yahweh Elohim or the Lord your God my Bible right here. The NIV says the Lord the Lord the gracious and compassionate God, but that's actually out of order in Hebrew.

It's Yahweh Yahweh Elohim or the Lord the Lord God. Gracious compassionate slow to anger on down the list. Why is that? Why does God need a name? Short answer is because there are many gods. Monotheism or polytheism.

Again, you know, I'd hate to be redundant here. But we live in a postmodern age where people play with the definitions of words Monotheism the doctrine or belief that there is but one God polytheism the belief in or worship of More-than-one God.

Is he teaching monotheism, or is he teaching polytheism? Here's one more Sound by quote for you to consider he lays it out pretty succinctly here. Listen in. There are three worldviews that I bump into all the time.

In the city of Portland, there are way more kind of across the globe. But three that I bump into all the time if you're taking notes the first next slide. Is kind of model feet monotheism. And it's the idea, you know the idea well that there is one God and kind of the imagery of a mountain right gods at the top of the mountain and Jesus is how you get to God and all the other gods in the major world religions and Islam and Hinduism and all that stuff are False gods and by that the majority of Western Europeans mean non kind of non entities.

Okay, so is he teaching monotheism? Nope. He says he runs there's three worldviews that he runs into all the time. One of them is monotheism. The idea that there's one God and the other gods are false gods.

He's distinguishing what he's teaching from Monotheism by his own admission. What he's teaching is not Monotheism. Listen again. There are three worldviews that I bump into all the time. In the city of Portland, there are way more kind of across the globe.

But three that I bump into all the time if you're taking notes the first next slide. Is kind of model feet monotheism? And it's the idea, you know the idea well that there is one God and kind of the imagery of a mountain right gods at the top of the mountain and Jesus is how you get to God and all the other gods in the major world religions and Islam and Hinduism and all that stuff are False gods and by that the majority of Western Europeans mean non kind of non entities.

I would argue that worldview is actually not the worldview of Jesus. Okay, so he's distinguishing his position from monotheism using his own words. We can rule out that John Mark Comer is a monotheist.

The second worldview I bump into all the time is Kind of universalism, which is a junk drawer title. I apologize for that. Reality is that there are different people all around the world. Worshiping different gods which leads me to the worldview of Jesus and the scriptures.

Next slide. The technical title in theology is creational Monotheism. Now, I'm gonna stop there Universalism basically, you know all roads lead to the same God, you know. He rejects that so he rejects Monotheism he rejects Universalism, okay.

And now he's arguing for what he calls Creational Monotheism, by the way, I made the statement on the issues, etc radio program the other day and I'll make it here if Your monotheism needs a modifier like the word Creational it isn't monotheism.

It's a form of polytheism basically being trying to be smuggled into the language as if it is monotheism. So again, let me back this up just a little bit so you can hear his take on his view. Which leads me to the worldview of Jesus and the scriptures.

Next slide. The technical title in theology is creational Monotheism and it's the idea that there's not one mountain. There's many and Allah, I'm sorry Islam is the way to Allah and Buddhism is the way to Nirvana and Hinduism is the way to the Brahman and Mormonism is the way to Elohim.

Interesting. That's the Mormon title for God and you have Wicca and you have spirituality and that's a sample. I mean you literally have however many dozens of mountains with dozens of gods and world religions and spirituality that is set up as the way to the gods but next slide.

There is one creator God Who made all the others who spoke the universe into existence? He's one creator God who made all the other Gods, he's called Yahweh in the Hebrew scriptures or what you and I call the Old Testament.

He's called God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ in the writings of the New Testament. And this God next slide is nothing like the others this God Comes down the mountain in Jesus he comes down the mountain in the incarnation of Jesus of Nazareth.

It's not that all paths lead up the same mountain. Universalism so there are different paths up different mountains and it's not that Jesus is the only way to God. Monotheism. He he is don't get me wrong.

He is. But it's more like he is God. Come to us get the difference. He is Yahweh. Think back to last week the creator of the universe. Born in flesh and blood. He is Yahweh come to you and me. That is the gospel of Jesus and that I would argue is the worldview of Jesus and the scriptures.

John Mark Comer's Clarification and the Charge of Obfuscation

Okay so Quick question is John Mark Comer based upon the definitions given to us by an objective third party Miriam Webster's polytheism the belief in or worship of More than one God. Is he a polytheist or is he a monotheist.

The doctrine of belief that there is but one God. Answer based upon his own words. Based upon what he taught. There is no other conclusion that you can draw. Then that John Mark Comer taught polytheism the belief in More than one God even though he's saying we need to only worship the creator God.

He teaches the existence of more than one God and What we heard from his own mouth. He taught this. I didn't force him to say these words. Nobody was holding a gun to his head. He did this of his own volition.

He said that the demons serve the gods and That there are good gods and there are bad gods. There are gods who love Yahweh and there are gods who hate him and that God sits as the head of the council of the gods and He's not talking about demons.

Okay. With all of that now as our backdrop. Okay, we now come to John Mark Comer's Recently published on his Facebook wall Clarification about this controversy. Okay, and remember words have specific meanings.

Here's what John Comer. John Mark Comer wrote. Solid rock family some of you have been asking some great questions about my recent teaching Yahweh Elohim and solid rocks theology to clarify. We are not polytheists we are Monotheists, we believe there is one real true Creator God with no equal or parallel.

By using the language of Creational monotheism we are saying there are real spiritual beings in the universe. Under the Creator God Yahweh. The demonic powers we read about in the scriptures are not Non-entities, but are real.

The New Testament calls them demons angel spirits powers princes and principalities. But the primary Hebrew word used in the Old Testament is Elohim or gods. These beings are gods with a lowercase g they are not on par with the Creator God Yahweh.

The they are created but have rebelled against their Creator to wreak havoc on the earth. This is the worldview of Jesus and of the scriptures by using the language of creational monotheism versus modern monotheism we are challenging the post-enlightenment Western European View of monotheism from the last 300 years that says there are no other spiritual beings in the universe.

We don't buy it and we don't think Jesus does either at solid rock. It is our deepest conviction to know and pursue the ways of Jesus. To understand and adopt his way of thinking and his worldview stay rooted in the scriptures.

Keep asking questions and above all follow the Creator God in Jesus now that was his Clarification, but you'll notice what happened there. His clarification glossed over what he said and in some cases reinforced what he said.

Remember the definition of polytheism is belief in or worship of more than one God. That's polytheism. Monotheism is the doctrine or belief that there is but one God in his Clarification. I'm going to read to a section of it again.

Is he affirming monotheism or teaching polytheism. Here's what he says. We believe there is one real true Creator God with no equal or parallel. By using the language of creational monotheism. We are saying there are real spiritual beings in the universe under the Creator God Yahweh.

Now remember he made a distinction between demons and gods. Let me play it for you again so that there is no Confusion whatsoever about what he said. We think the gods are powerful spiritual beings with Authority over kind of nations and the demons are lower level spiritual beings who work for the gods.

That's kind of theory, but we kind of that's the consensus. But whether or not that is true we know for sure that the That the biblical authors are all making the same point. There is listen. There is one Creator God Who made the universe who spoke all that is real into existence.

But there is a multiplicity of created gods or real Spiritual beings think of them as lesser gods or in the language of Gary Bashir's gods with a lowercase g and. These gods have a measure of free will and autonomy just like human beings.

They can obey God and serve God or they can rebel and fight God. Some love God others hate God some are good. Others are evil. But the fact is there is an invisible world all around you. That is just as real as the visible now.

This actually folds rather nicely with what he's what you know. His clarification is just a reiteration of what he said. We believe there is one real True Creator God with no equal right because he's the Creator God by using the language of creational monotheism.

We are saying there are real spiritual beings in the universe under the Creator God. The demonic powers We read about in the scriptures are not non entities, but are real. Now again I point out I read I quoted that for you because.

Not not once but twice. He makes a distinction between demons and the gods and even went so far as to say that the demons serve the gods. Okay, so basically what we're dealing with here is John Mark Comer Claiming to not be a polytheist or to put it bluntly I he basically saying I'm a monotheist who believes in more than one God.

That's not monotheism. That's polytheism and on top of it. He says that the modern mono the modern concept of monotheism. Is that? Here's what he says. Western European view of monotheism from the last 300 years says that there's no other spiritual beings in the universe.

What are you talking about? What are you talking about are you talking about the deists. I Mean Christian monotheism has always taught that there is one God and that these so-called gods are demons. Basically masquerading as gods, but they're not really gods.

They're they're satanic beings. Angels demons you get what I'm talking about here. So I mean not only not only is he Engaging in postmodern obfuscation basically arguing listen, I'm a monotheist who believes in more than one God.

These are not gods who are equal to the Creator God whether or not they're equal by the way has nothing to do with it. That has absolutely nothing to do with it. By the way in the ancient Greco-Roman world.

Okay, they were polytheists. Zeus was the the chief of the gods right the chief of the Olympians. They had this pantheon of all kinds of deities and some were more powerful than others they even had a deity that they that that you could make offerings to who was the deity who could cure your house of common mold and fungus.

Okay, there was literally a Greco-Roman. You know God of mold and fungus now. No one would argue that that God, you know even though it was supposedly in their way of thinking a deity was on par with our had the same status or power or authority as Zeus.

Okay, that's not the issue. Polytheism is the belief in more than one God. It doesn't have to be the worship of more than one God nor does polytheism. Say that I believe in more than one God and they are all of equal status.

The what makes you a polytheist by definition is whether or not you believe in the existence of more than one God and John Mark Comer is engaging in obfuscation. He's engaging in obfuscation and what this reminds me of it while is a couple of things.

See if this sounds familiar to you, but I want to say one thing to the American people. I Want you to listen to me. I'm gonna say this again. I Did not have sexual relations with that woman miss Lewinsky.

I Remember that one. Yeah, that's a former president Bill Clinton. During the whole Lewinsky scandal and he swore up and down and you know what that he was telling the truth.

Remember, but I want to say one thing to the American people. I Want you to listen to me? I'm gonna say this again. I Did not have sexual relations with that woman.

Miss Lewinsky now, despite the fact that hmm They didn't actually have intercourse They engaged in a well, they engaged in behavior that resulted in a well as genetic material being Left on Miss Lewinsky's blue dress.

But he did not have Sexual relations with that woman miss Lewinsky. Remember. This is postmodern word games That Bill Clinton engaged in. Let me give you another example of post Modern word games. See if this rings a bell.

This was from January of last year now I wasn't allowed to it view this while it was happening, but I eventually got to see it. But listen to this this is Mark Driscoll and TD Jake's discussing whether or not TD Jake's believes in one God and three persons or One God three manifestations.

Listen.

Well there we all would agree in the nature of God. There's mystery and it's like a dimmer switch, you know, how much certainty how much mystery? Thank you. But within that Bishop Jake's for you, you know.

The issue between Trinitarianism and modalism at its essence is one God manifesting himself successively in three ways or one God three persons.

Simultaneously Existing eternally. So so the question that was put to Jake's do you believe in one God? Manifesting himself in three ways. Or one God in three persons. Because remember modalists. Believe that there's one God who's manifested himself in three ways Father Son and Holy Spirit, but there's that the one God there's only one person.

It's like basically changing costumes.

Listen to the answer your best understanding now, and I understand there is some mystery for sure. Would you say it's one God? manifesting himself in three ways or one God in three persons that I.

Believe that neither one of them totally get it for me. But I think the latter one is where I stand today one God three persons.

No one God three persons. Now everybody was you know excited. Oh, we got TV. Jake's to say he believes in one God three persons.