Thoughts going in, Sunday May 26th

Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

            This Sunday is the first Sunday after Pentecost, a Sunday that is also observed as a principle festival of the Church—TRINITY SUNDAY. I will be out of town this weekend and so will not be preaching Sunday, but I did want to include a couple of brief thoughts on the day in general.

            The doctrine of the Trinity is misunderstood as much today as ever. Rationalists complain that it cannot be understood; literalists complain that the word isn’t found in the Bible. In reality, both are correct. It **is impossible to [fully] understand the Trinity—at least with rational wisdom—and any online search tool will confirm that the word doesn’t appear in the Bible.

            So if both of those observations are true, then why all this fuss about an arcane doctrine that dates back through the mists of time to Church councils held in lands far far away? In short, the point about the doctrine of the Trinity is that it states truth. Some truths—especially biblical truths—defy our ability to rationally comprehend. How can God take on human flesh and become human? How can Christ’s bodily presence be joined to such mundane things as bread & wine? How can humans go on living even though they’ve died? None of these questions have readily understandable rational explanations, yet they must all be true or we make God a liar in His word.

            “Trinity” as a word (not found in the bible) was coined to express truth. It expresses the truth of the ‘Shema’ of the Old Testament: “Hear O Israel, the LORD your God is ONE.” But it also expresses the truth that has been progressively revealed in the New Testament…. This ONE GOD is revealed and KNOWN as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

            As faithful Christians our task is not to fully, cognitively, understand the mystery of the Holy Trinity. Our task is, rather, to humbly worship and sing: Holy holy holy, Lord God Almighty… God in three persons, BLESSED TRINITY.

Almighty Creator and ever-living God: we worship your glory, eternal Three-in-One, and we praise your power, majestic One-in-Three. Keep us steadfast in this faith, defend us in all adversity, and bring us at last into your presence, where you live in endless joy and love, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Cheers,

TM