Expert: Dr. Tim Gladu - 9/18/2007

Question
QUESTION: Today a member of the Episcopal Church said to me, "Catholics, Episcopalians and Lutherans are the only trinitarians".
I grew up Baptist. I want to know what Baptists believe concerning the trinity.  I know they don't use the creeds in church.  But do they believe the Nicene creed?..that in the trinity all three are co-equal?

ANSWER: Jill,

This is the first time I have seen this word use. There is no where in the Bible where the term Trinity is used. This is something we use to describe God. The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are equal and one. We may have a hard time understanding that, but God should be a hard concept for us to get. he is the creator and we are the creation. God needs to be hard to understand. I want a God that is all powerful and that supernatural being that I really do not understand. The baptists do not recite any ritual like the orthodox religions do. We try really hard to stay away from anything that is a ritual that can get to the point that you are just doing it to do it and it does not really mean anything. Baptists only have baptism, the Lords supper as something that we do, because they are both in the Bible and so we practice them. I did look the Nicene creed and it does appear that it is recited by Catholics and other religions that are similar in nature. Most of the evangelicals do not have rituals that are practiced except The Lords supper. I hope this helps answer a question and don't hesitate to ask more.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Yes, I understand that the word "trinity" isn't in the bible.  I was questioning the statement that was made to me that Catholics, Episcopalians and Lutherans are the only ones that believe that the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are equal.  I thought that most protestant denominations believed that they are equal...which is what was declared/stated in the Nicene Creed.  As you know, the reason for the Nicene Creed was to decide once and for all what the church believed concerning the nature of Christ.  The church formalized, put on paper what they believed.  I think whether the protestant denominations use the creeds or not they probably believe what is written in them?
Last winter I was attending a Baptist Bible study.  I asked my teacher about the creeds.  I told her I grew up Baptist and all the years I attended church...I never saw or even heard the creeds mentioned. I asked her if our church believed in the creeds.  Her answer was, "the creeds are scriptual but we don't use them, we use the bible.   I understand that the reformers wanted to get back to the basics...and that we (Baptists)use the Bible.  In the last ten years I have been to alot of churches..it is educational...plus I have done alot of reading...so I am more knowledgeable.  So I was surprised when a man last Sunday made that remark to me.  
Getting back to the Nicene Creed...didn't some people believe that Jesus proceeded from the Father?   which would not make Him co equal.  Also, there were other heresies.  Anyway, I didn't comment when that remark was made to me...I came home and did some research on the Internet and then emailed you my question.

Answer
Jill,

I am not sure what you really want me to tell you. We do not use these creeds in worship. I do believe that God is Three in one. The creed as you know was a ritual use in worship by the Catholics and again we do try to stay away from ritual. I can see that you did a lot of research and I am glad to see that you are willing to search the scriptures for answers. Most people just take the teachers or preachers word for it and move on. Most Baptists would not know about the creeds unless they grew up in a Catholic or other orthodox faith. This creed was not even mentioned in all my seminary classes, so you got one on me. I can tell that the Holy Spirit is deep in you and helping you to be able to discern the truth from the lie. Keep on with you studies and God will continue to mold and shape you into the great witness you need to be. Remember the most important thing we can do as Christians is to bring people to Christ and while where we were long ago may be interesting if we are not bring others to Christ then it is empty. I had to resign from ministry because the church I was with lost their way and forgot that the details were not the important pert but the result. I pray that God will use you to bring many lost souls to Christ.