In the world of religions, the Muslims, and some others as well, believe that Christians espouse three Gods, even though Christians firmly argue there is only one God. Good people disagree about the interpretation. The perception of the Trinity of God is not wholly understood by many lay persons, not even by some theologians. With the reality of religion as a recognized and permanent force in the world of human events perceived by most persons, basic tenets of religions ought to be known. Misunderstanding of the Christian position may find its source in the concept that there is nothing higher than personality, so to posit a Trinity is to posit three gods. Personality is not the only distinguishing feature of God. God is much more. He is more, but not less than the Trinity of God. Just as I have a hand with five fingers, all of which become one hand, so God includes three persons in one God. Several small strands woven together make one rope. The rainbow may provide the best human illustration in that there are the ultra violet, the infra-red, and the visible rays that make one rainbow. If one is taken away the others do not exist. We even know where each is located, with the infra-red on the red underside, and the ultra violet above the high curve, beyond the violet. (The analogy of several in one appears on another Page.)
God reveals himself in the Trinity, but there is more in mystery identifying God, some of which we know in part, and some we may never know, even in eternity. For most persons God is perceived too small. Perhaps that tendency is, at bottom, an important reason for some persons to reject the idea of God. As mortals we cannot explain more than what we have been given. We find our way, as Christians, because we accept Scripture, the faith in which we have rested our hope, and the enlightenment we have in our experiences. Prayer becomes vital to cover the issues. In all, we gain through prayer, the salvation and hope promised in Scripture. All this is beyond human creativity, and our case is rested with a holy God, whose nature includes love.
Even the disciples of Jesus asked him to speak plainly. He spoke as plainly as he could to persons with only limited language and human experience. One may speak plainly to a pet dog, but the limitations of the dog are so great that the caring master can go only so far. The animal is left out of classes in trigonometry, philosophy and history. Does that mean those disciplines do not exist? Scripture, in the final word, refers to God as mystery, but with convincing clues for our conduct with him. God reminds us that he is aware that we are made of dust, and the loving God takes that into account. He compensates for mortal limitations. We must compensate for his reality, infinity and will. We have in us bits of evidence about God’s image in us. One of these is self-awareness. Animals do not seem to have self-awareness leading to self-worth. We do have it. We sense our worth, or sense that we ought to have it. God has no problem with it. He gave us the gift of self. He knows who he is, and what he can do. When in good form, we permit God to be God and mankind to be mankind. Then the human being, at best a godly person, can move in the direction of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The believer has enough. Doubters do not have enough. Persons often say that God is this or that, and the concept is well cast even if it is a distortion of sorts. Scripture says that God is love. What is meant is that God’s nature includes perfect love, so that perfect love is found only in God. God is a spirit, but we perceive a spirit as something without substance. That interpretation offers substance too great respect, as though there is nothing higher. God is the author of substance, which substance had to be administrated by his perfect Christ to create and love the work of his life for mankind. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020