Is Christianity really monotheistic?

[Wickabee]

who worships the holy spirit or Jesus?

Anyone who follows the trinity worships all three. "In the name of" suggests deity and worship thereof. The fact three are mentioned seperately suggests one would be worshipping all three, separately.
So anyone who goes by "In the name of the father, the son and the holy spirit" is worshipping three entities.

[mrveggieman]

Anyone who follows the trinity worships all three. "In the name of" suggests deity and worship thereof. The fact three are mentioned seperately suggests one would be worshipping all three, separately.
So anyone who goes by "In the name of the father, the son and the holy spirit" is worshipping three entities.

Exactly. Someone once told me that if I am praying to God directly and if at the end of the prayer I do not say in Jesus name the prayer is null and void and God will not hear it. If God is all powerful and knowing, created Jesus why would he need him to accept or hear anyone's prayers?

[centrehice]

Well according to the Mouth Breathers, if Jesus is not the path, then there is no path.

[Wickabee]

Well according to the Mouth Breathers, if Jesus is not the path, then there is no path.

Which is why Christians practicing proper Christianity would pray "through" Jesus, not in his name. Since Jesus lived here, he actually has a perspective on certain things that God arguably would not. As such, Jesus is supposed to act as the go-between for man and God. Every prayer is to go to God, and only God, through Jesus Christ.

If you're practicing proper Christianity.

[mrveggieman]

According to Jesus in Matthew 6:8-13 he gives the proper method of prayer. Funny thing he seemed to forget about the part where you should pray to him or in his name.

Matthew 6:8-13

New International Version (NIV)

⁸ Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
⁹ “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
¹⁰ your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹ Give us today our daily bread.
¹² And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³ And lead us not into temptation,^[a]
but deliver us from the evil one.^[b]’

[Wickabee]

According to Jesus in Matthew 6:8-13 he gives the proper method of prayer. Funny thing he seemed to forget about the part where you should pray to him or in his name.

Matthew 6:8-13

New International Version (NIV)

⁸ Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
⁹ “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
¹⁰ your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹ Give us today our daily bread.
¹² And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³ And lead us not into temptation,^[a]
but deliver us from the evil one.^[b]’

He doesn't need to pray for himself. He can speak directly to God. We don't quite know how and, apparently, God needs a translator. He did say that only through him could you be saved by God, who is the only one you're supposed to actually worship.

[shrewsbury]

From the Gospel of Thomas (I realize it was not accepted into the canon but it is easy to see why)

His disciples questioned him and said to him, "Do you want us to fast? How shall we pray? Shall we give alms? What diet shall we observe?"
Jesus said, "Do not tell lies, and do not do what you hate, for all things are plain in the sight of heaven. For nothing hidden will not become manifest, and nothing covered will remain without being uncovered."

Jesus said to them, "If you fast, you will give rise to sin for yourselves; and if you pray, you will be condemned; and if you give alms, you will do harm to your spirits. When you go into any land and walk about in the districts, if they receive you, eat what they will set before you, and heal the sick among them. For what goes into your mouth will not defile you, but that which issues from your mouth - it is that which will defile you."

[Wickabee]

That all tells me it's more important to genuinely want to be a good person than to act like one.

[centrehice]

You cannot quote the bible, it's simply literature. It's meaningless. It's like me quoting Michael Connelly and expecting you to follow that doctrine.

[Wickabee]

He can quote whatever he wants and no one is asking you to follow it, so it's not the same as whatever you said.