With Respect and Love Dr. White, You’ve Got It Wrong

Shawn McCraney asserts his belief in the deity of Jesus Christ, affirming that Jesus was the "I Am" but challenges the conventional interpretation of the biblical texts used to support the Trinity, arguing that these texts, including the account of Thomas calling Jesus his Lord and God, do not conclusively prove the Trinity doctrine. Despite his critiques of Trinitarian views, he emphasizes his commitment to fellowship with Christians of differing beliefs and rejects the notion that theological disagreements make someone a lesser Christian.

Shawn challenges the traditional Trinitarian interpretation of John 20:28, arguing that the context of Thomas's declaration to Jesus as "My Lord and my God" is misunderstood and instead supports the view of Christ's distinct role as the Son of God, emphasizing the importance of understanding scripture through the broader context of seeing and believing rather than isolated verses. He highlights surrounding passages, particularly John 20:17 and John 20:31, to advocate for a perspective that distinguishes between God and His Christ, urging listeners to rely on the scripture and the Spirit for discernment.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus repeatedly teaches that seeing Him is equivalent to seeing the Father, emphasizing that His presence is an expression of both Himself and God, thus underscoring the unity between Himself and God. Thomas’ declaration in John 20:28, "My Lord and my God," signifies his realization of this truth, a point Jesus highlights earlier by indicating that belief in Him simultaneously means belief in the Father.

Jesus teaches His disciples that knowing and believing in Him is the direct way to know and see the Father, as He is the embodiment of the Father and serves as the path to the divine relationship with God. Despite His departure, Jesus assures them that through believing in Him, they will have ongoing access to the Father, emphasizing that His resurrection will affirm His connection to the Father, who abides in Him.

Jesus taught that His resurrection would reveal that He is in the Father and the Father is in Him, emphasizing that seeing Him is akin to seeing God the Father, rather than supporting the concept of the Trinity. This realization led Thomas to recognize Jesus as both Lord and God, illustrating that Jesus embodies the path to understanding the presence and unity of the One God, the Father, through His teachings.