Maybe pastors assume Jesus will be pleased if they exalt him above the Father. Actually they’re playing along with Church Councils.
This distortion of Jesus’ relationship with the Father happens in two main ways: through Oneness theology and Trinitarianism.
Oneness teachings merge Jesus and the Father into a single person, denying the distinction Jesus Himself made. By doing this, they erase His humble subordination to the Father and contradict His own words, such as when He prayed to the Father, acknowledged the Father’s greater authority, and submitted to His will. This view ultimately distorts the relationship Jesus taught, making it impossible to understand the true order within God’s design.
Trinitarianism, on the other hand, claims to maintain distinction but still elevates Jesus to be fully coequal with the Father in a way that goes beyond His own teachings. While Jesus is given divine authority, He never claimed absolute equality with the Father but instead affirmed that He was sent, taught, and empowered by the Father. Trinitarianism, shaped by Augustine and later councils, made this equality official doctrine, reinforcing a theological framework that serves church hierarchy rather than Christ’s own words.
Both views, in different ways, remove Jesus’ eternal submission to the Father, replacing it with concepts that fit human philosophy more than the original gospel. Instead of teaching as Jesus did—that the Father is the ultimate authority—these doctrines create confusion and shift the focus away from the true relationship between Father and Son.
Stephen D Green with ChatGPT, March 2025
