Is the question of Monotheism ambiguous?

I have always wondered what a poll could tell us about the average LDS understanding of doctrine and other things regarding Mormonism. I once took an institute class, and I remember thinking to myself, "if I were to ask everybody in this class how many Gods exist, how many various answers would I get?" It seems to be a tricky question to LDS, and I think it’s because they think there are multiple answers, and they think the answers are not mutually exclusive. They may think that in one sense there is only one God, and in another sense there are three Gods, and in another sense, there are an infinite number of Gods, it all depends upon the context that the question is placed. For example, one may think I’m really asking the question, “how many God’s are there for this earth?” This LDS might say “1” or “3”, but not an infinite amount. Or another may think I’m really asking the question, “How many God’s have ever existed?” That person may return an answer of “1”, “3”, or an infinite amount. And another person may think I’m really asking the question, “how many Gods are in the Godhead?” That LDS person will most likely say “3”, or at least “2” (the Father and the Son), but probably not “1” or an infinite amount.

To a Christian, the question regarding the number of Gods is quite simple, and the answer is always the same: there is only one God. It isn’t ambiguous to us because the Bible gives us the answer very clearly (e.g., 1 Timothy 2:5, Isaiah 43:10; Isaiah 44:6-8). I find it interesting that the same question to an LDS person is so ambiguous when it should be very clear. I think it’s perhaps a reflection of widespread misunderstanding of scripture on the LDS part, and because the Mormon church teaches its members to believe in a self-contradictory system - to be both monotheistic and polytheistic.

A good example of this can be taken from Mormon Doctrine, a source written by Bruce McConkie before he was an apostle of the Mormon Church, which is very popular among LDS and is a good summary of various topics. The following quotes demonstrate how LDS could naturally be confused on how exactly to answer the question: “How many God’s exist?”

There are three Gods–the Father, Son and Holy Ghost-who, though separate in personality, are united as one in purpose, in plan, and in all the attributes of perfection…. By definition, God (generally meaning the Father) is the one supreme and absolute Being; the ultimate source of the universe; the all-powerful, all-knowing, all-good Creator, Ruler, and Preserver of all things.
[He then goes on to quote D&C 20:17 which says, “There is a God in heaven, who is infinite and eternal, from everlasting to everlasting the same unchangeable God, the framer of heaven and earth, and all things which are in them.”] (“God”, p. 317-318).

Monotheism is the doctrine or belief that there is but one God. If this is properly interpreted to mean that the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost-each of whom is a separate and distinct godly personage-are one God, meaning one Godhead, then true saints are monotheists. (“Monotheism”, p. 511).

Three separate personages-Father, Son, and Holy Ghost-comprise the Godhead. As each of these persons is a God, it is evident, from this standpoint alone, that a plurality of Gods exists. To us, speaking in the proper finite sense, these three are the only Gods we worship. But in addition there is an infinite number of holy personages, drawn from worlds without number, who have passed on to exaltation and are thus gods. [He then goes on to quote Joseph Smith teaching that there are many Gods, and moreover, that God the Father has a Heavenly Father.] (“Plurality of Gods”, p. 576-577).

So , you may be scratching your head wondering which is it, is there one God, three Gods, or an infinite amount of Gods? Unlike Bruce McConkie and the Mormon Church, I believe the Bible is very clear that there is only one God, it's not an ambiguous issue. Never does the Bible give an option that more than one true God exists, nor does it create the qualification that "God" can mean a team of separate Gods. Take, for example, the amount of scriptures in the Bible where God refers to himself with singular pronouns like "Me" or "I". A prime example is Isaiah 43:10 as cited below; God uses the pronoun "me" when he says there were no Gods formed before "me" or after "me".

There are, however, a few instances in the Old Testiment, such as Genesis, that use the pronoun "us" and "we" in reference to the creation of man, but it's very important to remember that the sentence is clarified by the third person singular verbs and the singular pronouns. For example, "God created (singular Hebrew verb "bara") man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them," This is one of the reasons why Hebrew scholars translate the passage to read "God" and not "gods"; the context forces the translation to be such.

Christians are monotheists and we are also trinitarians, but that isn't a contradiction in terms because we believe there is only one God composed of three persons, who are distinct persons but not separate Gods. God is not a man (Hosea 11:9), He is a Spirit (John 4:24). Thus, God can exist in an all together different way than a man can. The Bible says in Isaiah 46:5, "To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?" So, we can expect God to be of a sort that is uncomparable in nature and essence to any thing in this world. Please see more clarification on the trinity at Alpha & Omega Ministries, MormonInfo.Org or PerfectRighteousness.Com.

Also, see my other post titled "LDS Arm Wrestling", to see the problems with believing there is more than one true God. Also, if you are unsure if the Bible really teaches there is only one God, please read the following references:

DEUTERONOMY 4:35,39 — Unto thee it was shown, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him. (39) Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.

DEUTERONOMY 6:4 — Hear, O Israel: The LORD thy God is one LORD. [Note in Mark 12:28-34 how Jesus and a Jewish scribe he encountered understood this text.]

DEUTERONOMY 32:39 — See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.

2 SAMUEL 7:22 — Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God; for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

2 KINGS 19:15 — And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth.

NEHEMIAH 9:6 — Thou, even thou, art LORD alone...

PSALM 86:10 — For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.

ISAIAH 37:16,20 — O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou has made heaven and earth. (20) Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD, even thou only.

ISAIAH 43:10,11 — Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no savior.

ISAIAH 44:6,8 — Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. Fear ye not, neither be afraid; have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.

ISAIAH 45:21 — Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time: who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Savior; there is none beside me.

MARK 12:29-34 —And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord... thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he...

JOHN 17:3 — And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

21. ROMANS 3:30 — Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

1 CORINTHIANS 8:4-6 — As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

1 TIMOTHY 1:17 — Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

1 TIMOTHY 2:5 — For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

JAMES 2:19 — Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.