Do All Analogies for the Trinity Fail?

Posted on February 16, 2010

Last night we had a great turn out for all three classes at City Seminary (thanks Justin!), where our aim is to make disciples who think theologically and live redemptively. My course is called Theology in Practice: Applying Systematic Theology to Everyday Life (you can check out the rest here) . We’re working through the Nicene Creed biblically, theologically, and practically. Our first night was The Trinity in a Fragmented World.

The course is a combination of lecture, community interaction, and personal study. We moved through the following topics:

  1. Immanent Trinity: The One & the Many
  2. Economic Trinity: Unity and Diversity
  3. God as Persons-in-Community
  4. Trinity as Practice: Love, Community, & Culture

It was a stimulating night. I thought one question that sparked some significant discussion was worth re-posting. It revolved around the use of analogies to explain the Trinity. For instance, some say the three-oneness of the Trinity is like the shared substance but different forms of water-gas-ice. Or another is that of the Father, Son and Brother relationships representing the person and roles of the Godhead. So here is the two-part question:

Do all natural/human analogies of the Trinity fail?

What if we found an analogy that adequately explained the Trinity? What would that say about God?


Church as a Real Community Resources

Posted on February 16, 2010

Here are some resources I’ve found helpful in recovering a biblical understanding and practice of the Church as a community.

Academic

Popular

Articles

Church as Family

Posted on February 15, 2010

If you’ve followed my previous blog, Church Planting Novice, then you’ll know that I “planted” a church a couple of years ago by the name of Austin City Life. One of the things we’re continually coming back to is a church as a community.

But What Kind Community?

In a culture so driven by convenience, church has become optional not essential. It can be difficult to extract ourselves from this way of viewing church, as it were some kind of product that access only when we want it. The biblical description of church, however, is altogether different. Over and over biblical metaphors and instructions revolve around community and family. Paul’s letters open and close by addressing not friends, partners, or disciples but “brothers and sisters.” The household of faith calls us to communities of grace, not communities of convenience.

How We Treat Our Family

The family metaphor is the strongest in Scripture. Church is essential to our identity, not optional like an elective because God is a divine family not a spiritual option. Church is a family. You don’t ignore your family. You don’t refuse to feed your kids. You don’t reject responsibility to provide food, shelter, and clothing. You don’t make light of your family’s suffering or joy, you join them in it. Similarly, the church is to live together as a family, not as though we are an elective to interact with only when it is convenient. How are you treating your family?

  • Do you see them just once a week?
  • Are you helping them with their needs?
  • Do know what to celebrate with them (and are you celebrating it)?
  • Are you there for those who are suffering?
  • Are you making sure none of the children in your family are being neglected (children’s ministry)?

Doctrine – by Driscoll

Posted on February 15, 2010

Mark Driscoll’s newest and largest book drops soon. It’s called Doctrine: what Christians Should Believe, a kind of systematic theology for the 21st century.

From the Introduction:

Doctrine seeks to trace the big theological themes of Scripture along the storyline of the Bible. This book is packed with truth without many stories for illustration and entertainment.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1 – Trinity: God Is

Chapter 2 – Revelation: God Speaks

Chapter 3 – Creation: God Makes

Chapter 4 – Image: God Loves

Chapter 5 – Fall: God Judges

Chapter 6 – Covenant: God Pursues

Chapter 7 – Incarnation: God Comes

Chapter 8 – Cross: God Dies

Chapter 9 – Resurrection: God Saves

Chapter 10 – Church: God Sends

Chapter 11 – Worship: God Transforms

Chapter 12 – Stewardship: God Gives

Chapter 13 – Kingdom: God Reigns

Endorsements:

“I like Doctrine very much. It is a relatively short, clear, and accurate topical summary of biblical teachings, focused on the practical application of doctrine. There is much here to aid readers who have thought in the past that theology was too complicated, uninteresting, or irrelevant. This book is none of those things. It takes off on wings of eagles. It is so important today that believers understand and become committed to all that God’s Word says. This book is a wonderful tool to help them do that.”
—John M. Frame, Professor of Systematic Theology and Philosophy, Reformed Theological Seminary

“Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears have written a remarkably insightful treatment of central biblical teachings, with a few surprising but welcome choices. Doctrine is meaty, well-researched, clearly written, interesting, and refreshing—a rare combination. Those who know that truth matters will relish this book. If you don’t know that truth matters you should read it anyway, and enjoy watching your mind and heart change.”
—Randy Alcorn, Author of Heaven, Safely Home, and Deception