Let us turn to the concept of multiple personalities within The God Family, and examine it from a position of seeking and finding. The Old Testament the word for God (Elohiym) indicated plurality (of personages) to the Jew, but is not immediately understood in our translations. The New Testament helps us see “Elohiym” as three distinct personages most often referred to as the Godhead or the Trinity. Though the word “trinity” is never mentioned in Scripture, the concept of The God Family and Their unity is communicated multiple times. Passages including Genesis 1:26, Matthew 28:19, Ephesians 3:14–19, Ephesians 4:4–6, and Ephesians 5:18–20 employ the concept of “one” (more accurately translated as “oneness”) to illustrate Their unity of purpose.

Over the ages the word “trinity” has been “spiritualized” by priests, academics and theologians striving to make it something complex and difficult, in an effort to present themselves as more knowledgeable or pious than others. I believe that this has been detrimental to the Church, and has caused the listener confusion, keeping the person from knowing his or her individuality and uniqueness. The issue is not whether the Trinity exists (it clearly does), but how to approach and relate to each Member and develop an appropriate relationship with that Member. In my early church experience, the concept of the Trinity was most often dismissed as mysterious and “too big to wrap your mind around.” I do not recall any teaching or discussion of the differentiation between the three Individuals, or how this impacted my life. I knew the Trinity simply as “God, three in one.” I was left asking, “Just what does that mean?” or “How can three people be one person (GOD)? How can one person be three people? Is that even possible? Do we simply not understand the fundamental concept of something as important as WHO we worship? Has man convoluted God’s simple message?”

Man, certainly has a way of complicating just about everything. For example, from Moses’ and the prophets’ writings, the Hebrews crafted the Talmud, Mishna, and Gamarrah! Christ entered the picture and said all of that ancillary exposition was needless. Christ ignored the exhausting traditions and cut to the heart of His purpose through a couple of simple sentences about love and the fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecy (Jeremiah 31:33). He also predicted the ushering in of the Spirit, teaching that the true love of God is in our hearts and minds, and is not found through the in pomp and ceremony required by the Talmud, Mishna or Gamarrah. Now, two thousand years after His death and resurrection, the Church has allowed herself to become fractioned and divisive, willing to parse and curse minor ideologies rather than focus on the centerpiece—Christ.  

I personally believe that most people do not have a deep understanding of the Trinity. Many teachers can wow us with what they know it is not, but rarely do we encounter one who can communicate what it is, in a straightforward manner, and how the Trinity applies to our everyday life. Scripture assures us that the Father intends the Trinity to be so simple that even a child can understand.

I am going to leave you today with that question. I want you to think about it as we take a break tomorrow and the next day for my mom’s birthday and Christmas. We will finish the year making all this come together. As we started this month with core concepts the family and friends finishes those concepts and helps us focus where we need to focus.

Love Dad