I reject the doctrine of the Trinity. But there is a good reason.
Doctrine results from humans thinking, debating, sometimes even going to war. Doctrine determines one’s acceptability – to the institutional Christian religion. It says nothing about your relationship with Jesus.
However, I experience God in ways that connect to this theory. Theory is useless; relationship counts.
So for me the Trinity is the bigness of God interacting with the smallness of me (or any human).
My own unity has parts. I am body and I have life and interpret the world around me. As a human I function in different ways: as husband, Father and employee, for example. In many ways I behave differently depending upon the role I fulfil.
Now, I experience God doing many things for me and at work in the world.
Jesus saved me. Paraclete counsels me. Creator is active in the world even still. I experience all this as God. But if God dealt with me as the entire Divine Person I would be so overwhelmed as to die.
It would be a challenging exercise to give an intellectually satisfying explanation of the doctrine of Trinity. Better to experience God, for real rather than doctrine, and live rather than subscribe to a belief system.
The Bible clearly teaches what God is. God is deep, compassionate kindness (love). This litmus test protects against false gods, demons, cult leaders, fakes, frauds, and antichrists.
Start with God. Live with God. In the end it is only God that acts like God.
That is an experience worth searching for and living.
9 responses to “The Trinity for Real”
nopew
October 22nd, 2014 at 15:46
Yes, but in “knowing” God we know something about the mysteries and wonders. It is very different talking about God to a passionate follower than it is to a sceptic!
Peace
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papapound
October 22nd, 2014 at 14:46
So can I restate what I think you are saying just for clarity? You focused on knowing God rather than trying to iterate the mystery that He is. I wanted to restate that because that is what I hear but I wanted to be sure.
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nopew
October 20th, 2014 at 22:00
Yes, my real point is that even if we can explain Trinity by doctrinal theology it means nothing if we don’t accept the Living God into our lives – and if God is in our lives the theories become less important. It is a most interesting topic, but I settled for knowing the God others just describe!
Peace
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papapound
October 20th, 2014 at 20:55
I have a good friend who believes in modalism, so there other views of what God’s expression of Himself out there. I understand how people get to modalism or three God’s but I do believe the disciples came to tri-unity before their deaths.
There had to be lots of dialogue about this subject that is not recorded. They did not really get Jesus’ identity until after His death. After His ascension, and even before for that matter, they must have been conflicted by His presence on earth and the expression of God in and the teaching of the Old Testament.
The three beings are called God in the NT. God appears in the OT, not just angels. The tipping points for me are Jesus’ baptism (Jesus + two manifestations) There is another three-some somewhere…don’t remember just where now. The other point is the Hebrew in Genesis 2, translated ‘Elohim,’ which from the best scholars is plural. Other OT passages: ‘the LORD is One!’ appears in several contexts.
It’s complicated to say the least. It is mysterious. But, in the end, three separate entity/beings existing as God. This is not an argument for you. It is just my conclusion trying to take it all in. It is good to wrestle with concepts God has presented. However, you and Wendy hit on something important. This God, whomever He is, based on His message to humanity, longs for relationship with us.
We can grapple with His majesty, but our discovery of Him involves coming to a personal commitment to continually know, worship and love Him.
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nopew
October 5th, 2014 at 19:13
Exactly! Thanks for your encouragement.
Peace
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Justin
October 5th, 2014 at 16:11
Love this post! The best theology comes from an interactive relationship with Jesus through the Holy Spirit. It is Holy Spirit Himself who Jesus said would guide us into all truth.
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Wendy Macdonald
October 4th, 2014 at 21:05
Amen. ❀
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nopew
October 4th, 2014 at 21:04
I like your last three words – “Just a relationship”. Start there and all the necessary “doctrine” falls into place as we do our love for God!
Peace
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Wendy Macdonald
October 4th, 2014 at 15:36
Personally I believe in a triune God or the doctrine of the trinity. But I don’t for a minute think that the thief hanging on the cross next to the one Jesus died on knew anything about it when the Lord promised him that he’d be in Paradise with Him that very day.
I agree that it’s about our personal relationship with Jesus/God. The thief acknowledged his own sin and the undeserved crucifixion of the Christ and asked to be saved. No lengthy doctrine, no Sunday school, and no baptism was needed. Just a relationship.
Blessings ~ Wendy ❀
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