This past Sunday we celebrated Trinity Sunday, which sparked these reflections (which were shared in our weekly church newsletter). In my mind, these thoughts seem so relevant in a time when the spirits of division and fear are so active among us.
As United Methodists we believe in the Trinity. It is the first doctrinal statement in our Articles of Religion. All of our official creeds are written in trinitarian form, and we use one of these creeds in all of our worship services almost every Sunday. In the sanctuary, we also sing the doxology regularly, giving praise to our triune God.
My question right now is “so what?” How does this affirmation affect our actual living? First of all, this understanding helps us to know that God is always bigger than any one perspective or description. The God we worship is more than creator, savior or spirit, judge, redeemer, or sustainer, parent, friend, or bestower of gifts. No one name will suffice, when trying to comprehend the fullness of a God whose ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). This perspective helps to keep us humble, curious, and open. It has the power to spark a desire to grow in the ways of God (Psalm 85:10-13).
For another answer, this understanding of God gives us an option to the binary way of thinking that gets us in such trouble. Either/Or, Win/Lose, Red/Blue, In/Out. The outcome of this perspective too often leads to division, judgment, competition, exclusion, and so much fear. Is there a better witness?
What would a trinitarian witness look like? Within the Trinity we see cooperation rather than division, mutual trust rather than competition, grace rather than judgment, inclusion rather than exclusion. Within the Trinity, the value is not power over others; the value is love. And we know what this love looks like. It is patient and kind. It serves with a humility that does not insist on its own way (I Cor 13:4-8; Eph 4:1-6). It is so different from a witness that calls for uniformity of opinion rather than unity in love.
I invite you to take a moment and reflect on these two different witnesses? Which perspective gives glory to God, honors Christ, and bears the fruits of the Holy Spirit? Which perspective is more likely to be life-giving for relationships? Which perspective comes closer to illuminating the fullness of God?
We believe in the Trinity! So what? “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you” (2 Cor 13:14).
Connected In Christ 