Building Culture in the Knowledge of the Trinity

(Jn.8:28) - "So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me""

(Jn.5:19) - “So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise””

"Genesis 1 sets out quite clearly a divine blueprint for the ideal human society. It is a society, where man as God’s representative manages the rest of creation benevolently. It is a society which values heterosexual marriage and children. It is a society characterised by non-violence, where man is at peace with his fellow man and with the animals. Finally, it is a society which rests on the seventh day." [i]

Humans are by nature "culture builders"; it is the cultural mandate of being Imago Dei.  If that is how the Trinitarian God has made us, then how do we build cultures which reflect Him whom we image?  Perhaps more importantly, what is seen in the cultures we build - God or our idols?  Even more importantly, what culture did God build or intend?  What are its characteristics?  What should have remained?

I have been fascinated by the concept of how we would begin to act if we had no knowledge of moral piety, or moral law, and only knowledge of the Trinity.  The Scriptures tell us that Jesus only acted out of perfect knowledge of the Father, not out of His knowledge of the Law - perhaps that is what Adam should have done!  Is there a clue in there somewhere for us?!

The question then needs asking: what culture would we build if we only had knowledge of the Trinity?  What culture should we begin to build based on the knowledge of God?  Should not our building be based upon the renewal in knowledge of our Creator (cf. 2Pet.3:18; Col.3:10-11), in Christ, and not upon our flesh/Adamic nature, nor as seen through the lens of the fall?

What are the implications of "Building Culture in the Knowledge of the Trinity?"  How do we build a culture based upon the unity/diversity/order/equality of the God-head?

All heretical culture arises when we isolate, prioritise or discount any areas of the Trinity - all of God’s attributes happen completely, perfectly and simultaneously (a remarkable definition of the Trinity is “a perfect, complete and simultaneous, complex, organic and dynamic union in love”)

How would we display authentic, Biblical, Church authority and ministry?  What does it mean for gender issues, prayer, care, etc?

What does a culture of Trinitarian community - community because of the Trinity, seeking the absolute good of the other - look like?

How do we create a culture that copes with death?  Or one that is just and merciful?

How do we create a culture of beauty? 

"To perceive the beautiful is to recover a lost link with divinity" [ii]

God's nature is unbounded; humanity's destination in God is unbounded.  What unbounded cultures do we need to build in our churches, communities and cities?  How will we hold together the harmonies of:

·         Unity and Diversity

·         Equality and order

·         Love and relationship

·         Delight and service

·         Generosity and glory?

If we were made in God’s image, and are re-made in the true image, Jesus Christ, then we should seek to build as carefully as we can to reflect the culture of the Holy Trinity.

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[i]           Gordon Wenham - "To Veil or Not to Veil: Multiculturalism and the Bible", Ethics in Brief, Autumn 2006 (Vol.11 No.4)

[ii]               L. Clifton Edwards, American Theological Inquiry, "The beauty of the Frontier: a revelation of the human destination in God", p.18

15 Years on...

The mercy and grace of God are astounding!  It is because of these that we can rejoice together this September at our 15^th Church Anniversary!

Yes, the City of Joy has been going for fifteen years!  At times it has seemed an eternity, yet it also feels so short: I can still remember the early days as if the were not so long ago.

 

Over those years we have witnessed many things.  We have seen people come and go (we could’ve filled the hall twice over!); some have gone on to other things, some have gone home to be with the Lord, and, very sadly, some have slipped away from serving God altogether (our hearts always yearn for their restoration!).

We have seen people healed, people set free from bondage and burdens, and hearts drawn ever closer to God through wonderful worship, teaching, ministry and fellowship.  Most marvellous of all we have seen people saved and reconciled to God, and witnessed them being baptised into the Church.  We have learned much along the way; sometimes the lessons haven’t always been easy, but in all things God has brought glory to His name.

In an age of the “throwaway” society, fifteen years stands as a testimony to the faithfulness of God to that which He has planted in this Furness area.  We do not know what the future holds, except that there is still so much more to come - so much more blessing, glory and grace.  And yet there is still so much more to be done - more people to be saved; more prodigals to be restored, more saints to be strengthened and built up; more healings to witness; more prayers to be prayed; more songs to be sung - all to the praise of His glorious grace!

Our dream is still alive; our vision is still valid; our hearts are still set on pursuing the presence of God, in the Furness region reaching beyond to the nations.

Of Sails and Rudders

I am not a sailor.


The bruising and black eye from being struck by the yacht’s boom, moments after nearly capsizing, is confirmation. But I did learn a few lessons - valuable lessons: of sails and rudders, wind and water; lessons of Spirit and Word!


I went out, for my very first sail, with a professional, and it was amazing to see how he sailed almost by “feel”. It reminded me of “things too wonderful for me...the way of a ship on the high seas” (Pr.30:19). So much was nuanced - the anticipation and deft responses to the slightest change in the elements (he could spot changes of wind speed and direction on the surface of the water, where all I saw was drowning!).


My task was to work the tiller. A sailboat is powered by the wind, yet it is the rudder that determines its course and direction. So much power pivots about such a small thing. So much power in the hands of a complete novice! Of course, our near capsizing and subsequent painful crack on the head was a result of my fumbles with the rudder!


These are some of the things that I learned (apart from needing to duck a lot lower!):


• The wind of the Spirit, blowing wherever He wants (Jn.3:8). It is the Spirit who provides the power for our lives and ventures


• The rudder (Jas.3:4) like the tongue - speech, language, word; God’s Word: written, revealed, prophesied, taught, believed, spoken, praised, prayed, worshipped with


• The power of the Spirit is hinged around the Word of God. The Holy Spirit blows with power and direction; we “harness” that flow with the Word of God, in our belief and confession


The critical moments come when we have to change course, when there needs to be a complete understanding of all the elements at the same time: wind, water, sail and rudder. So much of the exhilaration of open running is compressed into a moment fraught with danger. In that moment, it is not enough to know the technicalities of sailing - it requires the nuance, the “feeling”, the correct reading of the conditions.


There are moments in our lives, and in the life of the church, where adjustments are needed: crisis moments. We can allow the crisis to capsize us, or to catapult us on the next tack. The boat will still need sailing back to port. The principles of “sailing in the Spirit” are still valid. We just need the courage to re-align, re-adjust and to keep our Word working together with the Wind, to bring us to our desired haven (Ps.107:30).


I am not a sailor…yet!