Sunday, our pastor offered a challenge. I’m going to extend it here.
Sunday was Trinity Sunday. Most Christians are Trinitarians — believers in God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit — or at least they say they are. The reality is who understands the Trinity?
It’s a mystery of faith … like the Incarnation or Atonement or Creation. We have Scripture to help give us a glimpse of what we believe. But it does little to explain how we believe or why we believe. Certainly, the latter can be explained by the circular thought — we believe because we believe. To an extent, Christianity is based on that same reasoning.
Pastor Steve asked when we first believed in the Trinity. Most traced it back to Sunday school days. But when he twisted the question to how, the answers quieted. Most said because they were taught about the Trinity, reinforced by hymns. No one could explain it, although I suspect we all have a reasoning mechanism to make something mysterious seem relevant.
Pastor Steve reduced the connection to the analogy of making syrup. You start with water, sugar and flavoring — three distinct and separate entities. But when you mix them together, they are forever joined. You can’t distill pure water, or white sugar or even just the flavoring after they are joined.
It’s a good analogy, but for the Trinity to make sense in my mind, I equate it to a person. Although I don’t profess to be god — I was a husband and am a father and a boss. One person. Three distinct roles. Three distinct manifestations. In my role as a husband, I still was a father and a boss. In my role as a father, I remained a husband and boss. As a boss, I was still a husband and father.
I see the godhead similarly. God as Father is the foundation. God as Son is the shepherd guiding the flock. God as Spirit is the energy directing our daily walk. You can’t have one without the others. They’re intertwined.
That’s my take. What about you? What comes to mind when you think about the Trinity? Do you even think about it? Or are you comfortable just accepting it as a mystery of faith?
I would love to hear and share your take.
THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
Pondering the Trinity, that God always WAS and eternity will make you a bit dizzy or light headed at least…
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That’s why I try to relate it to something I can understand. Peace.
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Hi-
I have always appreciated the idea of water, ice, and steam, 3 in one.
All of one, and one of all, each is no lesser than the other, merely different.
It is something tangible that a brain can relate to.
Very good topic to consider.
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Thanks. That analogy makes sense as well.
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Pastor may I call you thatâ¦. Great analogy.
I perhaps will stop bye and see you one Sunday.
At least in my travels when I head your way to Finger Lakes.
Vaya con Dios, Jim
James Matthews
CHAMPION TRADING CORP.
P.O. Box 227
95 South Main Street
Marlboro,NJ 07746
732-780-4200
http://www.champtrading.com
jim@champtrading.com
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Pastor? No! Love to see you. Let me know if and when you’re in the area.
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I’ve always thought of the three forms of water also and it helps children to be aware that God is three in one.
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Whatever works for you in understanding a mystery is A-OK. We just somehow have to relate it to ourselves. Peace.
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