Wednesday, July 26, 2017

WEEKLY COMMENTARY: Is The Trinity An Optional "Extra" About God?



At Central Presbyterian Church, several times a year we conduct a ceremony of Ordination for new Elders and Deacons.  A key question asked by the officiating Minister is:

                           "Do you trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior, acknowledge him
                            as Lord of all and head of the Church, and through him believe
                            in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit ?"

I have never heard anyone say "No" to this question, but I sometimes wonder if one or more of the nominees is a bit puzzled by the reference to what we call "The Trinity,"  (Father, Son and Holy Spirit)?  It seems to me that reference to The Trinity is cited less and less these days, except perhaps by our Pastors.  Presbyterians talk about "following Jesus" and listening to the "Spirit." but far more rare are references to all three persons of The Trinity in an integrated way.

My  impression is that we have not actually rejected The Trinity outright ---- we simply do not seem to need it anymore.  If we can express our faith fully by referring only to "God," perhaps we have thankfully simplified our lives.  Wouldn't it be easier for us, perhaps more efficient, to talk about our faith through a simple, direct appeal to God:  God loves you, God forgives you, God will be with you.  Perhaps the "gracious God" in many of our prayers is all we need.

Given the time, energy and controversy devoted to The Trinity in the history of the Church, how could we just let it slip away?  Perhaps part of the answer is a conviction that nothing should stand between us and God.  This thought is a basic principle of Protestantism, dating from the Reformation.  We are unlike Roman Catholics for whom the parish priest and the Saints are one's intermediaries with God.

Secondly, many people today seem to have moved beyond rejection of the church and doctrinal systems.  They seem to have become somewhat ambivalent about the specific need for the work of the Son and the Spirit.  We are "spiritual, but not religious" they say, finding God within themselves.  So, some believe they do not need the mediation of the Son or the continuing work of the Spirit, to connect with God.  They would say, "When we speak about the Spirit, are we not just using a shorthand for "God"?

Thirdly, what about the challenge today of religious pluralism?  We recognize that we share much with Jews and Muslims.  These two faiths are closely related to our own faith, but reject a Trinitarian notion of God.  Wouldn't our lives be much less complicated if we did not have a three-fold God to explain?  Wouldn't we be one step closer with others who worship God?

However, Christian faith does affirm that the work of all three persons of the Trinity is essential to our relationship to God.  It is the grace, love and communion of this one God in three persons that draws us into divine life.  So, The Trinity is not an optional "extra" to  God, but is the very nature of God as revealed to us in Scripture.

For example, the Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 1 - 5, 21 - 22:

                          "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who
                           consoles us in our affliction, for just as the sufferings of Christ
                           are  abundant for us, so our consolation is abundant through 
                           Christ, sealed in our hearts through the power and constant 
                           presence of the Holy Spirit."

While not a quote from Scripture, Presbyterian early faith leader John Calvin,  said in his Institutes:

                          "Christ is not only the pledge of our adoption, but God also gives
                            us the Holy Spirit as a witness to this adoption, through whom
                            we may freely cry aloud, 'Abba, Father.'  Whenever we are dis-
                            tressed, remember to ask for the presence of the Spirit who will 
                            enable us to pray boldly."                   

We Presbyterians believe that the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ and the sanctifying and healing work of the Holy Spirit, are necessary in order for us to be reconciled to God.  Necessary ---- not merely helpful or encouraging.

While understandable, this impulse to simplify does not serve us well.  We confess faith in the Triune God because we believe this is who God truly is.  We cannot dispose of the Trinity any more easily than we can dispose of our conviction that God is the author of life.

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These thoughts are brought to you by CPC's Adult Spiritual Development Team, hoping to encourage you to pursue some personal spiritual growth this summer at CPC.
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