What are they talking about?

Church readerboard signs don't come cheap. One like that pictured above will cost well over $5000.00 these days. Church readerboards are an investment and should be used wisely.

A church nearby to where I live has the trite saying pictured above on its sign. The sign is on a busy thoroughfare and could be used to cause people to think, to consider the gravity of their present situation, to encourage, to uplift, and a dozen other useful things. But this sign is just plain stupid!

In the first place it is bad theology. It is almost — perhaps it is — blasphemous. Jesus is an investment? Who came up with that one? Jesus is the Lord of all mankind, not an investment. Jesus is not something to be used, not something to be banked on, not a subject of commerce and trading.

Secondly, Jesus doesn't pay interest. He has value, to be sure. That value rests within himself. He doesn't have a percent sign attached to him. Or does it mean he will never be bored?

If you have a readerboard, use it wisely. Put something on it that at least makes sense. Don't use it for frivolous and nonsensical sayings. Make sure what you do put on it is the truth and can be supported with Scripture or biblical principles. A statement such as "Jesus is Lord of all" would be of much more value than the inane statement on this sign.

The best things you can put on your readerboard are quotes from the Bible — like, "God commands men everywhere to repent. Acts 17.30"; or "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof. Psalm 24:1." I could give you a page full of other excerpts from the Bible that would be thought-provoking or edifying.

These are perilous times. Let's not give people an excuse to turn away from God because of our mindlessness.

One God — or many?

The Bible, which is the word of God and the only authoritative and authentic revelation which we have of God, affirms from beginning to end that there is only one God. This one God eternally exists in three persons. This, too, is taught throughout the Bible.

In the creation narrative (Genesis, chapter 1) God is called Elohim. Elohim is the plural form of El, a generic name for God or a god. Elohim is always translated in the singular, as God, when referring to the Creator. This is necessitated by the singular verb.

Deuteronomy 6:4 is recited by every practicing Jew. It says, "Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God is one LORD. Literally translated it reads: "Hear, O Israel, Jehovah our Gods is one Jehovah. Notice that the name Jehovah and the verb "is" are both singular while "Gods" is plural.

Some use the creation account to promote a theory of many gods. Others, citing Deuteronomy 6:4, say there is but one God. Who is right?

One axiom is always true: Scripture does not contradict scripture. Truth is not self-contradictory. Therefore, when an apparent contradiction appears, one must dig a little deeper and compare scripture with scripture.

Many passages can be cited wherein God says he alone is God. In Isaiah 45:5 God says, "I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God besides me." There is but one God. Those that believe there are many gods, those that believe they are a god, and those that believe they may become a god are mistaken.

That this one God exists in a plurality of persons is also true. Both the creation story and Deuteronomy 6:4 indicate that. Biblical revelation is progressive and it is not until the New Testament era that this truth is made clearer. Limited space prevents a thorough presentation of the Trinitarian belief at this time.

The Bible teaches that God is one. The Bible teaches that God the Father is God. The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God. The Bible teaches that God the Holy Spirit is God. This is a mystery and we cannot fully comprehend it. But lack of understanding does not negate truth. As God grants us opportunity, we shall develop these statements in the future.

When Jesus Christ was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River (Matthew 3), the heavens opened and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove. He also heard a voice from heaven saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."  In this scene God the Father speaks to God the Son while God the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, lights upon Him. Here, the Trinity is present: the One God, the three Persons.