June 09, 2004
debates and symbolic logic
Wow. Jennifer has really popped it open this time. She is on a tear, brothers and sisters. If you are interested in thinking through the doctrine of the trinity (and the place of women in the church) as that same doctrine relates to how humanity is in the image of God, then jump on it. In fact, I encourage you to do so. Bring your Biblical concordance.
The debate finds its context within this post about the Trinity and how it is commonly understood. Is the Trinity a comprehendable doctrine? Has it been so muddled that it cannot be engaged by all believers? These are important questions that I think many Christians struggle with. We should struggle with it. This doctrine is what distinguises us from Judaism and Islam. It is also where those same traditions criticise us and suggest that we are not monotheistic because of our triune monotheism. Three does not equal one.
This is one of our struggles as Christians: How we live into Trinitarian thought/doctrine as more than a model of thinking but a witness to truth. There is a logic in the symbol of trinitarian language where God, Jesus and Spirit are all One. This is more than a thinking logic. or a symbolic logic in the philosophical sense. It is a lived logic, a lived and living symbol. It is manifested in the incarnational reality of believers and followers of Christ.
A survey put out by Barna suggests this in regards to the Holy Spirit and how people understand it:
A majority (61%) agree that the Holy Spirit is a symbol of God�s presence or power but is not a living entity. (2001)I am a great fan of "thinking as spritual discipline." Just because it is difficult does not mean we should give up an idea as lost. As suggested by these survey results, the doctrine of the Trinity often suffers this fate. Evangelicals worship only Jesus. More "notional" christians worship only God the Father/Mother/Creator. I would also go so far as to say that Pentacostals worship the Spirit to the neglect of the other members of the Trinity. These are, of course, generalizations, but our focus can be this lopsided.
Among the segments of the population more likely than others to deny the existence of the Holy Spirit as a living entity are Catholics (73%), non-Christians (68%), and non-whites (68%). (2001)
A majority of all born again Christians reject the existence of the Holy Spirit (52%). (2001)
A friend and professor once said this about the Trinity (paraphrased): This was not some doctrine concocted in committee. It is instead the articulation of a people's experience of God in the midst and practice of worship.
Back to worship, I see! So, here are my questions for you. Let me know what you think. As much as the deabte on Jen's blog is important, I think that the issue of engaging the Trinity in our worship practices is very important. That's an understatement! If we are believers in a Trinitarian monotheism, then we already worship a Trinitarian God. What does that look like in your church? In your personal prayer life?
How do you perceive the Trinity in worship? Do you?
Would you consider using the image of the trinity as a spiritual exercise?
Do you "prefer" a membe of the Trinity? Why?
If you preach, how do you preach this doctrine?
Question one:
I do, because the Orthodox Liturgy forces me too dozens of times everytime we worship. I haven't counted the number of times "Father, Son and Holy Spirit," "Holy Trinity," and other cognates occur in the Church's prayers each morning, but it is surely the dozens that I noted just now. As to how I perceive that, I don't, since the the essence of the Godhead, which is the Trinity, is inapprehensible.
Question two:
I'm not sure what you mean by this question. The Trinity is our life and destiny. I'm not sure how I could use Him, or an image of Him, as an exercise. Could you clarify this question more?
Question three:
As a Protestant, the only members of the Godhead I ever really heard about consistently were Father and Son. The Spirit was there at conversion, and presumably was a constant presence for my sanctification, but that was about it. I never prayed to the Holy Spirit, let alone to the Trinity as a whole; it was always directed to the Father through the Son.
As an Orthodox wannabe I now have a greater appreciation for the Holy Spirit as a Person of the Trinitarian God. I pray, through the Church's prayers, to the Holy Spirit, and invoke him daily. I am much more aware of him.
Question four:
I don't. Unless you count my posts on my blog.
Cliff, you sorta answered question two in your answer to the first. I found that praying with trinitarian language a helpful exercise in getting to know the doctrine as more than theological hoohaa. It changed the way I engage my faith.
Posted by: Tripp at June 9, 2004 09:10 AMYou're doing it again: thinking first thing in the morning.
Do I perceive the Trinity in worship? Sometimes more than others, though I suppose it evens out over time. But it seems to me that good liturgy tries to include the imagery, the expression, of all of the Godhead in worship.
In personal devotion, and in preaching, I find that I tend to think of the persons of the Trinity one at a time, rather than as a cohesive whole. My human limitations seem to resist wrapping my mind around the whole package for any length of time. So I bounce around, from the unity, to the person(s) of God as shown in scripture and worship, and back again.
Posted by: Jane Ellen at June 9, 2004 09:21 AM