As I begin my paper/project for my "Christians and Contemporary Spirituality" graduate class, something about the Trinity rises to the surface quite quickly.
I'm exploring the best-selling book "The Shack" to see if it can be helpful in reflecting God and the profound mystery of the Trinity for us through narrative in a useable way. Of course God is impossible to box, describe fully, or measure, but we can try presentations to "wrap our brains around" (as if it were possible) the Divine nature in our attempt to love and grow in relationship toward the Divine.
What is evident is that Trinity is relational and loving within "Itself" and is the perfect model of community and Christian love. When we model Triune love, we do well in modeling the love God wishes for us to have for each other.
Humanity will continue to show its flaws, and the (local) church as well, but it will also continue to have a model of perfect love exemplified in the Trinity.
How does your church show Triune love right now? How might it do it in ways it is not at present?
New Date-FEB 20
13 years ago
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I hope you don't mind my comments. You can delete them if you like.
The churches I have attended are Pentecostal or charismatic, and interdenominational.
When I was working with children I knew they had a difficult time understanding the trinity-the three-in-one concept. The best way to describe it was as an object lesson which is as follows. I took a pan and heated it up. Then I took a piece of ice and placed it in the pan. As the ice began to melt I showed them the tree forms of water. Ice, water and steam. Three things that are all just one thing. Water. God is the water (living water which we drink of) also in the form of ice, solid and visible like Jesus, and finally steam; the Holy Spirit which is real and effective yet not seen as easily, rather experienced.
As for the Church expressing that love there are again, many forms. Because the Church is people, all experience love-rather interpret it, or even perceive it in different ways. Their expression of it is different as well. Some express it through the arts or missions. Some express it through social programs. Some express it through relationship. Because the only perfect love is from God, churches (people) often fail. As humans our love is limited by our experiences. Some may think love is confronting sin in another yet the sinner may perceive that as judgment or an attack by their 'confronters'. Thus the love is lost. Some express love through complete acceptance of the sinner. Their heart is for the person rather than their acts. The person may misinterpret that acceptance type love as unconcern. Again the love lost. Some express love through evangelism. Those being presented with the "Good News" my feel inadequate. The love being lost again. Maybe that is why it takes an entire body working together. Maybe that is why Jesus expressed His love in so many different ways to so many different types of people. The way he dealt with individuals was personal and pertinent to their specific circumstances. He dealt with the tax man differently than the woman at the well. Because every human processes love through their own filter, well meaning people often fail. The Church will always fail in different ways but that is why some sow, some water, some tend the seedling, and God provides the increase. God is a God of completion and thus uses individuals in different ways to bring salvation.
Just my two cents :)
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