Father-Centric Christianity

by Albert Emanuel

The Bible is Father-Centric, not Christocentric. The entire bible revolves around the central role of God the
Father in the plan of salvation. God the Father is the God of Israel, the God of Jesus, and the God of
Christians. It was God the Father who sent His Son, sacrificed His Son, and resurrected His Son. The Bible is primarily about God the Father and secondarily about Christ the Son. The biblical emphasis is upon God the Father. Jesus constantly and continuously emphasized God the Father. The Lord's prayer is entirely about God the Father. The kingdom and the power and the glory belong to God the Father. The kingdom of God is the kingdom of God the Father, not the kingdom of Christ. The time has come for the theological restoration of God the Father to His rightful place as the one ultimate and absolute God of Gods.

Christianities extreme emphasis upon Christ is understandable but not justified by scripture. Jesus spent his entire ministry revealing the Father. He believed in monotheism and said that the Father was His God. Jesus worships the Father, submits to the Father, and does the will of the Father. While God the Father and His Son are equal in some respects, they are not equal in power and authority. Jesus derives His power and authority from God the Father. The Father derives nothing from the Son. Jesus was begotten of the Father but the Father was never begotten. Jesus died on the cross but the Father cannot die. The differences between the Father and the Son are radical and extreme. The fact that the Father is unbegotten places Him above and beyond any being, including Jesus. The Father and the Son are not the same being. They are two separate divine beings and God the Father is the one ultimate and absolute God. This is true monotheism. Christians should be Father-Centric because Christ was Father-Centric. We worship Christ, but not as the ultimate God. The highest position belongs exclusively to God the Father.

Centering the entire bible on Christ cannot be justified by scripture. God the Father is the central figure in the bible. It is theologically irresponsible to exalt Christ to the same level as God the Father and claim that they are equal in every respect. The fact that the Father is unbegotten and the Son is begotten shows that they are unequal in that respect. If the Father and the Son are the same being, then the Father would have been begotten also. The same being cannot be unbegotten and begotten at the same time. The Father and the Son are one but not one being. Christians are one with Christ but remain separate beings. A husband and wife become one flesh but are still individual beings. Being one does not mean one being.

Jesus is equal to God the Father but not equal in every respect. Humans are equal to one another but with profound differences. They are not equal in authority, intelligence, creativity, strength, and wisdom. Jesus is equal to the Father but not equal in power and authority. And God the Father is the God of Jesus, but Jesus can never be the God of God the Father. Therefore, God the Father is greater than Jesus. The Bible does not teach that the Father and the Son are completely equal in every respect. The fact that only God the Father can claim to be unbegotten makes Him unique and unequaled. We must return to the original "Father-Centric" Christianity and worship God the Father as the one ultimate and absolute God of Gods. Father-Centrism must replace Christocentrism as the dominant doctrine of Christianity.