"Experiencing God Through the Trinity!"
A sermon preached on Trinity Sunday, June 3, 2007, at Edgemont Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), by the Rev. Christopher E. Yopp. Sermon based on John 16:12-15.
I read of a preacher who proudly boasted that he does not preach doctrinal sermons. He said; "They are boring and people do not understand them nor can they relate to them." He went on to say; "Furthermore, I am a preacher, not a theologian. I get down to the practical issues and simply preach Christ crucified." Now, his thinking is a little faulty for several reasons. First of all, he is wrong in saying that he is not a theologian. The fact is, everyone is a theologian to a certain extent. To understand this, you must first understand what the word "theology" means. The word "theology" comes from two Greek words, theos, meaning "God" and logos meaning "word" or "reason". The Latin form of these words is theolgoia, meaning a "discourse about God." So if you have ever waxed upon anything pertaining to the mystery of God or faith, then you have acted as a theologian - one who thinks about God and faith. I love theology!
Secondly, this preacher believed that theology has no practical use. To argue that theology has not practical implications to our lives is a mistake. Theology gets down to the very core of our existence - who we are!
And finally, I would disagree with that preacher’s claim that we should only preach Christ crucified. Now, I know some of you will argue that that is what Paul said, but this preacher didn’t mean what Paul meant. He is saying that he only preaches about the cross and salvation. I submit to you that the cross is not central in Paul's theology; rather, it is Christ himself. You see, it has always puzzled me why some ministers preach the message of salvation to people who have been sitting in the pews all their life when they need so much more of Christ’s teaching on life’s other issues. There are many strings on a guitar and in order to make beautiful music all of them must be strummed and not just one. That is why in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) we honor the lectionary and the seasons of the church year. That insures a witness to the whole Gospel of Jesus Christ. How can we go through the season of Advent and not consider the doctrine of the incarnation? How can we go through Lent without contemplating the doctrine of the resurrection? And likewise, how can we embark upon the season of Pentecost, as we did last week, without mentioning the doctrine of the Trinity? And so, here we are - Trinity Sunday!
I find it interesting that the Church has celebrated Trinity Sunday since the 10th century. Perhaps there is no greater mystery than the doctrine of the Trinity - God is one, yet three! It almost seems like a contradiction. God is one, yet three - some would argue that it is an oxymoron. Yet, it is a teaching - a doctrine of the Church!
Let me begin by saying that the doctrine or the idea of the Trinity does not attempt to define God. Defining God is impossible! First of all, words cannot begin to describe something that is beyond words. We cannot begin to define something that is beyond definition, and to do so, is to limit God! And secondly, God is beyond our mere intellectual understanding. That is why God has created us spirit, so that we might have that Spirit-to-spirit communion and communication with God. And so, the doctrine of the Trinity only explains to us in a very elemental way, what God has revealed to us about himself. To describe the tip of the iceberg above the water is not to describe the entire iceberg. And so, in the same way, the Trinity is not an explanation or definition of God, but simply a way of describing what God has chosen to reveal to us.
Tradition has it, that one day, St. Augustine was walking along the seashore in quiet meditation. His thoughts were centered on the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. How could God be three and yet one? While wrestling with this baffling thought, his attention was suddenly drawn to a little girl playing in the sand. Back and forth she went, carrying a shell full of water from the ocean waves as they came rolling in to a little hold she had dug. St. Augustine approached her and asked; "What are you doing?" Without hesitation the little girl, with childlike confidence replied; "Oh, I am going to empty the sea into this little hole, which I have dug." The wise theologian smiled and resumed his walk. But as he strolled along the shore, he began to think to himself, "I have been trying to do the same thing as that little girl was doing. I am trying to crowd the infinite God into my finite mind.
Now, while it is true that the word "Trinity" is never found in Scripture; the implication or the idea of the Trinity is found all throughout Scripture. And the early Christians realized that they could not truly speak of God without speaking of the three ways in which God has revealed himself to humanity. This does not mean that there are three Gods. It means that there is one God who has shown himself in three ways: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer, each distinct, yet co-existent and co-equal. What a marvelous and profound thought!
One thing I love about our denomination is, we Disciples have freedom, in the sense that we don’t have to adhere to any specific creedal statement about the nature of God. We simply rely upon the Scriptures and our own experience in our understanding of God. Thus, as Disciples we can emphasize the aspect of God’s nature which most appeals or meets our greater need personally, and spiritually and intellectually.
Secondly, this preacher believed that theology has no practical use. To argue that theology has not practical implications to our lives is a mistake. Theology gets down to the very core of our existence - who we are!
And finally, I would disagree with that preacher’s claim that we should only preach Christ crucified. Now, I know some of you will argue that that is what Paul said, but this preacher didn’t mean what Paul meant. He is saying that he only preaches about the cross and salvation. I submit to you that the cross is not central in Paul's theology; rather, it is Christ himself. You see, it has always puzzled me why some ministers preach the message of salvation to people who have been sitting in the pews all their life when they need so much more of Christ’s teaching on life’s other issues. There are many strings on a guitar and in order to make beautiful music all of them must be strummed and not just one. That is why in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) we honor the lectionary and the seasons of the church year. That insures a witness to the whole Gospel of Jesus Christ. How can we go through the season of Advent and not consider the doctrine of the incarnation? How can we go through Lent without contemplating the doctrine of the resurrection? And likewise, how can we embark upon the season of Pentecost, as we did last week, without mentioning the doctrine of the Trinity? And so, here we are - Trinity Sunday!
I find it interesting that the Church has celebrated Trinity Sunday since the 10th century. Perhaps there is no greater mystery than the doctrine of the Trinity - God is one, yet three! It almost seems like a contradiction. God is one, yet three - some would argue that it is an oxymoron. Yet, it is a teaching - a doctrine of the Church!
Let me begin by saying that the doctrine or the idea of the Trinity does not attempt to define God. Defining God is impossible! First of all, words cannot begin to describe something that is beyond words. We cannot begin to define something that is beyond definition, and to do so, is to limit God! And secondly, God is beyond our mere intellectual understanding. That is why God has created us spirit, so that we might have that Spirit-to-spirit communion and communication with God. And so, the doctrine of the Trinity only explains to us in a very elemental way, what God has revealed to us about himself. To describe the tip of the iceberg above the water is not to describe the entire iceberg. And so, in the same way, the Trinity is not an explanation or definition of God, but simply a way of describing what God has chosen to reveal to us.
Tradition has it, that one day, St. Augustine was walking along the seashore in quiet meditation. His thoughts were centered on the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. How could God be three and yet one? While wrestling with this baffling thought, his attention was suddenly drawn to a little girl playing in the sand. Back and forth she went, carrying a shell full of water from the ocean waves as they came rolling in to a little hold she had dug. St. Augustine approached her and asked; "What are you doing?" Without hesitation the little girl, with childlike confidence replied; "Oh, I am going to empty the sea into this little hole, which I have dug." The wise theologian smiled and resumed his walk. But as he strolled along the shore, he began to think to himself, "I have been trying to do the same thing as that little girl was doing. I am trying to crowd the infinite God into my finite mind.
Now, while it is true that the word "Trinity" is never found in Scripture; the implication or the idea of the Trinity is found all throughout Scripture. And the early Christians realized that they could not truly speak of God without speaking of the three ways in which God has revealed himself to humanity. This does not mean that there are three Gods. It means that there is one God who has shown himself in three ways: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer, each distinct, yet co-existent and co-equal. What a marvelous and profound thought!
One thing I love about our denomination is, we Disciples have freedom, in the sense that we don’t have to adhere to any specific creedal statement about the nature of God. We simply rely upon the Scriptures and our own experience in our understanding of God. Thus, as Disciples we can emphasize the aspect of God’s nature which most appeals or meets our greater need personally, and spiritually and intellectually.
One of the theologians of the early church, Tertullian, explained the Trinity in a metaphor. He said; "God the Father is like a deep root, the Son is the shoot that breaks forth into the world, and the Spirit is the bloom that spreads beauty and fragrance."
One of the greatest things the Trinity teaches us about God is that God is constantly reaching out to humanity. The Creator yearns for a loving, intimate and personal relationship with his creation. He wants to walk with us daily. He years for communion and fellowship with us. Through Christ, we have a picture of who God is and what God is like. Christ reveals to us God! And the Holy Spirit allows us to experience God’s beauty and fragrance - his presence.
I will never forget reading what C. S. Lewis once wrote. He said that the most frequently spoken word in heaven will be, "Oh." As in, "Oh, now I understand" or "Oh, now I see what your plan was" - "now I know why I went through that trial." In fact, Paul wrote; "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face." Now [we] know only in part; then [we] will know fully, even as [we] have been fully know" (I Corinthians 13:12).
I will never forget reading what C. S. Lewis once wrote. He said that the most frequently spoken word in heaven will be, "Oh." As in, "Oh, now I understand" or "Oh, now I see what your plan was" - "now I know why I went through that trial." In fact, Paul wrote; "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face." Now [we] know only in part; then [we] will know fully, even as [we] have been fully know" (I Corinthians 13:12).
Jesus said in our Gospel Lesson this morning; "When the Spirit of truth comes," which it has - it came to us on the Day of Pentecost and that Spirit resides with believers - with you and me, Jesus goes on to say; "he will guide you into all truth." C. William Nichols writes; "Truth, as Jesus was saying, comes to us through two doors: revelation and experience. The Bible, which is the revealed word of God - communicates divine truth to us. But then there is the door of human experience which comes through the Holy Spirit."
Can we comprehend the great God of the cosmos? Hardly! Impossible! No! But you and I can experience this God? Through the concept of the Trinity.
posted by Pastor Christopher @ 8:14 PM
<< Home