I had a professor who emphasized emphatically (double emphasis intended!) that Christianity is defined by its Trinitarian doctrine. A faith that merely expresses love or respect for God or Jesus, he noted, but does not believe in the Holy Trinity is not a Christian faith. So, what makes one a Christian is not the sinner’s prayer spoken with conviction, not the liturgies and prayers and practices, not the building and sign, not the Bible on the shelf, the pot-luck picnics, the baby Jesus’ in a manger, and on and on I could go. The Trinity is the foundational principal, the starship, the crux of the matter.
The point is, God is relationship, and all the other stuff is participation in that beautiful relationship!
Ironically, you don’t have to fully understand the Trinity, and few do, to be a true Christian. The word “Trinity” is not in the Bible, but the constant Presence of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit shows up in the beginning in Genesis as God creates, the Spirit hovers, and Melchizedek foreshadows the High Priesthood of Jesus (See Genesis 14 and Hebrews 7). Jesus was, according to John 1, with God creating everything at the dawn of creation. BUT…
Does God make it confusing and complicated? I suppose if you like complexities (like me) God may speak to you in curious mysteries. God speaks to us where we are. If you want more Trinitarian talk read an awesome book called THE DIVINE DANCE by Richard Rohr. Yet, as I contemplate the meaning of the Trinity and my reasons for blessing and baptizing in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, I am brought to a simple understanding that is blesses me. Family.
Father. Our strong defender, our compassionate authority, awesome and loving.
Jesus. Our Savior, our brother, our friend who knows how it feels to be human.
Spirit. She is wisdom. She reveals guides and teaches and breathes life into every new day.
There is family in this trio. Connection. Communion. Belonging. Safety. Balance. Ecstatic unshakeable indestructible love. It is a dynamic relationship, constant and moving. It’s worth pondering as you take your prayer walks. Rohr is right, there is a divine dance, and we are part of it.
Have fun paying attention to your life in this sacred context. Don’t worry too much about the science of it all. Leave that to the scholars who, like me, will forever attempt to make this inexplicable reality make sense. For now…
…just dance.
Love,
Pastor Kim