October 2000
Over the last couple months a controversy has raged between various Christian ministries and Gwen Shamblin’s Weigh Down Workshop (WDW). The issue is over a central doctrine of Christian faith, the Trinity. Gwen does not believe the Trinity is a Christian doctrine but was invented, or originated, in the fourth century.
The Weigh Down Workshop weight loss program is in many thousands of Christian churches. Rather than focusing just on weight loss, Gwen Shamblin is also teaching doctrine through her books, Internet website (www.wdworkshop.com), speaking opportunities, and periodic emails. Pastors, whose responsibility it is to guard the flock (Acts 20:28-30), and to prohibit anyone to teach who “abideth not in the doctrine of Christ,” (2 John 10) should be alerted to the false doctrine that is being taught to their flocks behind their backs.
When the first alarm bells were sounded about WDW heresy several Christian organization were quick to respond. Thomas Nelson Publishers immediately canceled publication of Gwen’s newest book , Out of Egypt. Christian Communication Network has removed her from their speakers roster. Articles have been published in Christian periodicals such as Christianity Today, and Baptist Press. When the first reactions began to come in Gwen reacted defensively by saying, “People don’t care about this. They don’t care about the Trinity. This is going to pass. What the women want is weight loss.”
The problem in Gwen’s view of the Trinity is basically one of ignorance. She has never had any formal theological training where she could have learned the nuances of plurality within unity, the difference between Persons and Being, the eternality of each Person, and the infinite perfections shared by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
She has posted her views on her website in response to her critics. In that posting a theologically trained person can see the lack of understanding. For instance, she says, “Some believe the Trinity teaches that God and Jesus are the same being, so that when you get to heaven, you will only see one being, not both Jesus and God, while some other Trinitarians are teaching that there are separate beings.” The confusion in this statement is over the words “being” and “separate.”
The fallacy she illustrates is confusion of the Trinitarian formula with that of Modalism and Tritheism. Modalism holds that there is only one Person in the Godhead who is at one time the Father, at another time the Son, and at another time the Holy Spirit. This is the teaching denied in the Athanasian creed when it says, “Neither confounding the Persons,…” Scripture denies this view at John 1:1 when it says of Christ that He was “with” God (the Father and Spirit). It is also denied in the baptism of Jesus when we hear the voice of the Father from heaven, the Spirit descending in the form of a dove, and Jesus in the water. All three Persons are simultaneously manifested.
Tritheism holds that there are three gods who are one in purpose only. This is denied in the next phrase of the Athanasian creed which says, “Nor dividing the substance.” Scripture denies tritheism at Deuteronomy 6:4 where it says, “Hear O Israel, the LORD our God is one Lord.”
Gwen Shamblin also denies the eternality of Jesus. Like Jehovah’s Witnesses she understands the term “firstborn” in Colossians 1:15 to mean Jesus had a beginning. She said, “I believe that God is the Source of all and that the Son ‘was firstborn over all creation.’ (Col. 1:15) They are one in purpose and all power and glory has been GIVEN to the Son” (page seven of website reply to critics). The primary meaning of “firstborn” is preeminence. The son who was born first in Israel received a double share of the inheritance because he also had the responsibility of family leadership in the absence of his father. Hence, he was preeminent over his siblings. The term firstborn can be used of a disease (Job 18:13) or of the last born son of Jesse (Psalm 89:27), because preeminence is given them. In Colossians 1:16, 17 Jesus is said to be “before ALL things” and the One Who made “all things.”
How can he be first created and at the same time one of the things created? How can God give his glory to another when He said He would not (Isaiah 42:8)? How can “all power” be given to a creature as Shamblin said above? Would that not mean there were two Almighty’s?
Such problems arise when the whole context of scripture is not considered. Further, none of us has such enlightenment that we don’t need input from others. Gwen Shamblin seems unteachable, and offended that her doctrine would be questioned. Teachers hold a tremendous place of influence over people for good, or ill. For this reason James said, “My brethren, be not many masters (Gr. ‘didaskaloi’ teachers), knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation” (James 3:1).
I urge you to share this article with your pastor. I also urge you to examine for yourself what the WDW teaches on its website.
By David Henke
