Why I Appreciate Trinity Reason 1: Trinity - Unity (2/13)
The surprising variety made the authentic unity even more glorious. A recent survey revealed broad differences in the opinions, attitudes, and preferences about worship. It also revealed that many at Trinity value “the other” over their own personal preferences. This is one example of a number that could be used that reflect the trinitarian dynamic in our community.
Trinitarian theology can be tricky if you hang out at the edges. Personhood at the expense of unity can lead to various modalisms. Unity at the expense of personhood can lead to various unitarianisms. This stuff actually makes a difference in the life of the congregation. When personhood isn’t embraced, diversity is a threat. When unity isn’t embraced, privatized rugged individualism wins the day. Healthy Trinitarian theology embraces personhood and unity, and won’t let us spin out to manufactured uniformity or disconnected individualism.
A few weeks ago, I asked in a message, “How many of you are from some Lutheran background?” My guess is that 20% of the crowd raised their hand. We are from so many different backgrounds, including a fair number of people who didn’t grow up with any religious background. We have activists and intercessors. We have contemplatives and evangelists. We have people who move quickly and those who don’t move (much).
Trinity has been and continues to be touched by the Charismatic Renewal. But, Trinity isn’t a church of charismatically gifted individuals, but a Spirit-filled church where the multi-faceted graces of the Spirit are welcome and working among her members. The last time Pastor Larry Christenson was in San Pedro he told me he couldn’t have picked a better name for Trinity. He said the Charismatic Movement was really a Trinitarian movement, not just a Spirit-movement.
I love you, Trinity, because you are made in the imago Dei. You embrace variety beautifully. You are sacrificially committed to a unified life. Maybe its because you love “God in three persons” that you look like “blessed Trinity.”
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