T.D.Jakes, the Elephant Room, and Roger Perkins thoughts of the DL Program.

 I recently called into the Dividing Line program, an online radio outreach of Reformed Apologist Dr. James White. This weeks program centered around Pastor T.D. Jakes and His position concerning the Oneness versus Trinity  positions and how that both sides felt that he(Jakes) had compromised his own position by not being clear enough in his  defining language. Except for some participating in what is known as the Elephant Room.  (An elite religious club in my opinion. Composed of mostly Trinitarian Preachers.) You can learn more about that here: http://www.theelephantroom.com/about/

I asked Roger Perkins what he had thought about the whole thing in an email conversation, especially the comments made by White concerning the Oneness position and he was Kind enough to allow me to post his thoughts from the email...

ML Culwell

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I Listened to most of it & read through the article he posted on his blog.  White made some interesting comments on his show such as, "I draw the line where the Prophets drew the line (46:00)".  Really, by his own concession the OT prophets never worshipped a Trinity!?  When did he convert to the winning side :-)?  

He also told you that you would have a "hard time proving that 'Theos/God' appeared in the early GK. MSS," yet on pg. 207 of his book he explicitly states that Theos "has more than sufficient support from the Greek manuscripts" & that he "prefer(s) this reading"??   

He also repeatedly appealed to Athanasius & supposed Church Martyr's....heralding them because they were willing to die for their beliefs.  Wonder if that goes for Michael Servetus & other Oneness believers who did the same...& whom also Tertullian referred to as "the majority of believers" during his day?  Some strange "Cult" that comprised the "majority of believer's" the earlier back to the original apostles we go!?  Wonder where so many "believer's" got their staunch monotheistic beliefs & rejection of a "3-Divine-Individual-ed God??

At least he finally properly represented me (for once) when he said that I would label Jakes a 'heretic'!  Indeed I would...as anyone who is "comfortable" worshipping a God of "3-Separate-Divine-Individuals"!  Interestingly, White says that Oneness folks don't like the word "person" as applied to God, but prefer the term "Manifestation". What were we ever thinking rejecting an unbiblical term in favor of a biblical term in relation to God??  White questions whether or not one can truly ever be converted under Oneness teachings @ about the 28 min. mark (?)...& we say that one is not biblically born again as per Jn. 3:5, Acts 2:38, 10:44-48, 19:1-6, 22:16, etc. ad nauseum!  Thus, it's just the opposite from a biblical perspective!  One is not "converted" if they reject the biblical plan of salvation as demonstrated all throughout the book of Acts & epistles to the NT Church.  They simply (& sadly) are not in the NT Church.  Curiously, he chides Jakes for "continuing to baptize in the Name of Jesus only".....Kinda' like the Apostles that Christ commissioned did!?  Funny thing is, the prepositional construct of Mt. 28:19 (eis in the acc. case....What happened to his "Greek"?) denotes an oral invocation of one-singular "Name," which is what:_________?  If the Apostles ALWAYS baptized in this manner & there's ABSOLUTELY NO TEXT demonstrating a "Trinitarian Formulae," then Jesus' true church will mirror the church we see in the Bible.

I was amused at White's emphasis on the necessity of "repentance"....which Scripture explicitly links w/....are we ready for this (?)....."works"!?  "....and also among the Gentiles, that they should REPENT and turn to God, and do WORKS and live lives consistent with and worth of their REPENTANCE." (Amplified, Acts 26:20; See also the ESV, NASB, KJV, NKJV, etc).  Apparently Dr. White is heading out of "Finished Work" Theology :-)!  Let me guess, more biblical "misuse" right?!  Apparently anytime one quotes a verse that contradicts "Reform" or "Trinitarian" theology....they're automatically "misusing" the Bible that they're simply quoting!?  Ho-Hum.....

Beyond this, I am currently doing a church-plant & I simply am not that interested in White.  I don't mean this to be ugly-spirited, but I am well familiar w/ "Reform" Soteriology (I've heard it ad nauseum) & whole-heartedly reject it as irrational, speculative, & destructive to biblical faith.  I only grieve that some will follow such teachings into Eternity.  May God open their understanding to the Scriptures.  

At least White & I finally agree on something on this Earth!  That is that Jakes has absolutely no business amongst Trinitarians & still claiming to be "Oneness".  Indeed, Jakes does need to "repent."  There is no shared middle-ground betwixt the two camps...other than one recanting false doctrine, at which point we will gladly rejoice!  In this, finally White & I can shake hands!?  2012 MUST BE the end of all things :-)!!

God Bless, 

Roger Perkins