Spirit and Truth

October 6, 2021

I first encountered Spirit and Truth via their content-rich, long-running website biblicalunitarian.com. I returned to this often as I wrestled with disentangling my understanding of Scripture from distorting later traditions. And as far as I know, they coined and/or popularized the term “biblical unitarian,” a helpful and more accurate replacement for the moldly oldy “Socinian.”

Nowadays they are up to a lot more, including online fellowships, Jerry Wierwille’s Words of Wisdom podcast, teaching videos on the Bible and Christian living by John Schoenheit, and devotional blog posts by Rene Duggan and others.

You’ll be able to meet John and Jerry at the Conference; be sure to stop by the Spirit and Truth table to find out more about what they’re doing and how it can benefit you.

Finally, I must mention their amazing, ongoing REV project – an unabashedly unitarian translation and commentary. (Yeah, with phone apps too!) I leave you with their translation of John 8:58 and a sample of their very helpful and accurate comments on that much-misunderstood verse.

Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am the one.”

Comments: “I am the one.” Many Trinitarians argue that this verse states that when Jesus said “I am” that he was claiming to be God, (i.e., Yahweh, the God who revealed Himself to Moses in the Old Testament). But saying “I am” does not mean a person is claiming to be God. The Greek that is translated as “I am” is egō eime (ἐγὼ εἰμί), and it was a common Greek way for a person to identify themself. For example, only ten verses after Jesus said, egō eime (“I am”) in John 8:58, the man who had been born blind identified himself by saying exactly what Jesus said; egō eime (“I am;” John 9:9). Thus, Jesus and the man born blind both identified themselves by saying egō eime (“I am”), only ten verses apart. . . . Jesus said egō eime (“I am”), in a large number of places, but it is usually translated “I am he,” “It is I,” or “I am the one,” which are good translations . . . Examples of Jesus using egō eime include: John 13:19; 18:5, 6 and 18:8; Jesus identifying himself to the apostles on the boat: Matthew 14:27; Mark 6:50; and John 6:20; and Jesus identifying himself to the Jews, saying egō eime, translated “I am the one I claim to be” (NIV84, John 8:24 and 8:28.). All these places where Jesus says egō eime but it is not translated “I am” shows that the translators understand that just saying egō eime does not mean the person is claiming to be God.

. . . It is also important to notice that many people misread John 8:58 and think it says Jesus saw Abraham. We must read the Bible carefully because it says no such thing. It does not say Jesus saw Abraham, it says Abraham saw the Day of Christ. A careful reading of the context of the verse shows that Jesus was speaking of “existing” in God’s foreknowledge. John 8:56 says, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it, and was glad.” This verse says that Abraham “saw” the day of Christ (the day of Christ is usually considered by theologians to be the day when Christ conquers the earth and sets up his kingdom—and it is still future). That would fit with what the book of Hebrews says about Abraham: “For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Heb. 11:10). The Bible says Abraham “saw” a city that is still future. In what sense could Abraham have seen something that was future? Abraham “saw” the day of Christ because God told him it was coming, and Abraham “saw” it by faith. Although Abraham saw the day of Christ by faith, that day existed in the mind of God long before Abraham. Thus, in the context of God’s plan existing from the beginning, Christ certainly was “before” Abraham. Christ was the plan of God for man’s redemption long before Abraham lived.

Jesus did not claim to be God in John 8:58. In very strong terms, however, he claimed to be the Messiah, the one whose day Abraham saw by faith. Jesus said that before Abraham was, “I am the one,” meaning, even before Abraham existed, Jesus was foretold to be the promised Messiah. Jesus gave the Jews many opportunities to see and believe that he was in fact the Messiah of God, but they were blind to that fact, and crucified him.

Spam, a sign of success(?)

October 5, 2021

In the last few days you may have gotten an email through the UCA “Contact” system that was suspicious. It was. We are now large enough to be of interest to spammers… Yay!

What should you do if a message looks suspicious?

Ignore it for a while, then if you are still curious, check the person’s profile page (there’s a link in the email). If their profile is BLANK, then we’ve already spotted them and removed them. All good. Move on.

If there is information on the profile page, then we haven’t deleted them (yet). Let us know that the contact was suspicious. You can forward your strange email to support@unitarianchristianalliance.org, or you can message Mark Cain through his Profile page.

We’ve put some more triggers in place so it will be harder to use our directory as a spamming system. There’s a good chance we’ll detect the odd behavior and have the account deleted soon.

So, if you really are unsure about a message, you can ignore it or wait a while for us to clean it up.

Tips

When you get a Contact message, check the profile and see where they are from. If they are in your area, it is more likely to be real. If they are far, far away, they probably are NOT interested in having coffee with you.

Don’t click on links that someone puts in their message. If it seems like a legitimate contact, look at their profile, reply, and then get to know them through some conversation.

Conference registration closes October 7

October 3, 2021

There’s still time for you to register here.

Living Hope International Ministries

Why the end of October 7 deadline? Because on October 8 we need to give our caterer a head-count. (Yes, the price of admission includes two dinners and a lunch, plus snacks and drinks!)

Atlanta Bible College

In recent days the Board and our wonderful conference coordinator Stacey have been tweaking the schedule and making sure we have all the right safety and audiovisual equipment. The speakers are putting the final touches on their cutting-edge presentations, and host Mark Cain has been honing his knock-knock jokes.

We’re very blessed this year to have an incredible line-up of unitarian Christian ministries serving as Conference Partners. By their generosity, we’re able to keep costs low for everyone and to help those to attend who would otherwise find the cost prohibitive. Stay tuned for some upcoming blog posts highlighting our 2021 Conference Partners.

Allegiance to the King

You can meet these amazing people at the conference at their tables at the back of the room and find out what they are doing to advance the cause of Christ in today’s world and how you can be a part of it.

Many will have books or other materials for sale and their table, and there will also be a book raffle, with all attendees receiving tickets to play with.

This year’s Conference Partners include: Allegiance to the King, Atlanta Bible College, Spirit and Truth, Living Hope International Ministries, Williamsburg Christadelphian Foundation, IntegritySyndicate.com, 21st Century Reformation Online, and the trinities podcast.

Hope to meet you or see you again there!

– Dale Tuggy, UCA Board Chair

UCA Conference 2021 – Safety

August 26, 2021

We absolutely can’t wait to see you at the historic, first-ever UCA Conference in beautiful Nashville!
As we prepare for a terrific weekend full of fellowship, food, and important information, it will be helpful to keep health and safety in mind.

While masks or vaccinations are not required for attending, we are requesting that all attendees be symptom-free and expect everyone to take appropriate measures to maintain their own health and the health of others. If you are concerned, please rest assured that the UCA Board of Directors is committed to maintaining healthy practices, including appropriately spaced seating, attendance limitations, safe food service procedures, free hand sanitization products available on every table, and free masks for those who choose to utilize them. In helping you to monitor your own health, there will also be a thermometer at the front table for your convenience.

We are very much looking forward to seeing you on October 15-17th. Again, seating is limited, so don’t miss out!

Introducing Theophilus Press… and a new book!

August 23, 2021

We are very excited to announce the debut of a new imprint: Theophilus Press!

Theophilus Press is a publisher of theological, philosophical, and historical scholarship aimed at academic excellence and the advance of new perspectives in Christian thought.  In addition to partnering with contemporary scholars, Theophilus Press will also be publishing works from the unsung voices of Christian past, producing updated and critical editions of scholarly works which deserve another look.

Members and partners of the UCA will definitely want to keep their eyes on this new venture, as issues of monotheism, Christology, Trinity, and Church History will be front and center.

Its very first publication is available right now—an updated, scholarly edition of English unitarian Thomas Emlyn’s famous little essay on the deity of Christ, An Humble Inquiry into the Scripture-Account of Jesus Christ (1702).

Emlyn’s book, which led to his conviction and imprisonment by the English government for blasphemy, is a succinct and erudite argument for the subordination of Jesus Christ to God the Father. Beloved by several generations of unitarian Christians in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, its arguments are no less powerful now than when it was first published. This new updated edition features modernized language, improved citations, a detailed historical introduction, and a treasure trove of fascinating notes by Dale Tuggy and Kegan Chandler. You won’t want to miss Emlyn’s insightful and useful argumentation and the inspiring story of his faithful and courageous passion for the truth!

UCA members who are Partners (those who have graciously donated more than $120 per year) will be receiving this book a thank you gift for their significant help in advancing our two-fold mission to advance unitarian theology and to connect like-minded believers. Those in the continental United States and Canada will receive the paperback version by around the middle of September 2021, and other Partners will receive the ebook in two formats.

If you have not yet partnered with the UCA, the book is now available for purchase here, and will also be available at the upcoming UCA Conference in Nashville, TN, October 15-17. Be sure to grab your copy of this insightful and important book, and be on the lookout for more great books by Theophilus Press.

Many blessings!

Tickets on Sale! First UCA Conference: October 15-17, 2021

July 19, 2021

The UCA Board of Directors is beyond excited to announce that TICKETS ARE NOW AVAILABLE for the first annual UCA Conference, October 15-17, 2021!

We are looking forward to finally coming together in beautiful Nashville, Tennessee, USA. While our first conference had to be postponed last year, the extra time has allowed us to build an even better event! You’re going to love the programming we’ve got in store, including great speakers from a variety of academic and denominational backgrounds, each with insightful and compelling presentations. There will be plenty of time to network and enjoy friends new and old. You’ll also get to meet our very own Mark Cain, host of the UCA Podcast and many of the wonderful guests he’s had on air! We can’t wait to see you there and to share in the truth of the one God and his human son, Jesus.

Space for this event is limited. We have a wonderful venue, but only 200 openings. It’s first come, first served, starting RIGHT NOW. Sign up right away to guarantee your spot!

Visit the Conference page to register for this awesome event.

We can’t wait to see you there!

How do I sign up myself and my church?

Thanks to UCA podcast host and Board member Mark Cain, there are excellent, step-by-step tutorials on the UCA YouTube channel. First, how to join the UCA as an individual person.

Second, here is how to add your church, home fellowship, ministry, or internet fellowship.

Please do this today; we want Christians who have reformed their understanding of God and Jesus to be able to find you and your group for fellowship!

Yes – even in your area. As I write this, the UCA has members in 35 countries. But we believe that there are many more unitarian Christians and churches out there. We’re trying to build a sort of online highway to bring people to them.

Real People, Real Stories

December 30, 2020

We are delighted to announce the new official podcast of the Unitarian Christian Alliance: The UCA Podcast. A mix of interviews and original content, it is hosted by the friendly and sometimes impish Mark Cain.

The podcast is off to a very strong start. After some Introductions, we’re invited into The Perilous Trinity Deep Dive. Then we meet a faithful mom and lifelong Bible student and teacher. What happens when your grown kid comes home and announces that he no longer believes in the Trinity or that Jesus is God – and this because of the Bible, not despite it? Find out about the journey she embarked on, and how the situation was resolved (part 1, part 2, part 3). Next, Mark Cain explores when we feel like God has put a lump of coal in our stocking. After this, we meet a smart and ready to laugh young lady who was raised biblical unitarian and yet ended up working for the Colson Center. She finds out about the limits of evangelical ecumenism, and yet has fond memories of her time there.

As you listen, you will no doubt want to leave some spoken feedback for possible inclusion in an episode.

If you’re not sure what a podcast is, here is a beginner’s guide. I listen to many on my Android phone using this popular app; you just search for the name of the podcast and hit the Subscribe button. If you have an iPhone, it comes with a built-in podcast app. Either way, you just need to click a few buttons to subscribe. Many of us love to listen while commuting (playing through the car stereo using Bluetooth) or just working around the house. It is so much better than radio.

And if all else fails, you can just listen through this webpage on any computer or smartphone. Just find a triangular Play button and click it; you know, like ye olde tape recorder.

We look forward to hearing many of your voices and many of your stories!