The Trinity -- A Practical Application

The doctrine of the trinity is a very old and highly misunderstood teaching of the church. When I say misunderstood I do not mean that it is disputed among Christians, rather, nobody would dare say that they can explain the trinity. The church has split over the specifics of the doctrine of the trinity in years past, particularly over who the Holy Spirit "proceeds" from. Anyways, all these semantics aside, I hope to give one practical application of the trinity since any good theology is practical and applies to how we live our lives.

Bear with me if this post veers a little new-agey or uber spiritual for a moment...

When we talk about God we are talking about the "highest reality". If you have ever experienced his presence you would know this is true. Many drug users, like the recent convert from the band Korn, attest to the fact that when God came and gave life to their spirit that it was the "realest" thing they had ever experienced. The night I became a Christian the Holy Spirit touched a deeper part of me than anyone ever had. It was the most "real" experience in my life, and is an experience I cannot deny. Far more real than the first time I "fell in love" (enfatuation), than my first homerun (although it was awesome), even more real than the death of my loved ones (those times, in fact, seem surreal).

The doctrine of the trinity teaches us that God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They are three distinct persons, yet they are one as God. So God, who has no beginning, is a community. The Holy Spirit, the Father, and Jesus have always loved each other deeply and freely...emphasis on always, meaning since God existed....which, he always did. It is clear from scripture that their is deep love between the Father, Jesus, and the Spirit. This is encouraging. Without the doctrine of the trinity, how can God be loving? If God were one, and alone, how could he be loving? Does not the nature of love imply a sharing and giving aspect. We do not say someone is loving because they like themselves a lot. The fact that "God is love" implies the trinitarian community of Gods nature. Love does not exist in isolation. It is always shared.

So one practical application of the trinity is this: Embrace the community of the church. Share your lives with people openly and freely. Ultimate reality is not found in isolation, although isolation for the sake of prayer and meditation is good (but even then you are not isolated...you are seeking God). We experience the realest, and most deeply satisfying lives possible when we share our lives with others in the spirit of humility....just as God always has. When we live in community and love one another we are following God's example. Do you say that you do not need the church, the people of God? You are a member of ONE body. The hand cannot say to the foot "I have no need of you". And if this is your attitude you would do well to consider that your attitude contradicts the very nature of God. This was once my attitude. I hope that attitude never takes root in my heart again. I was one of the most selfish people I have ever met during that time of my life.

Gospel of John Chapter 15:10 "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. 11 "These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.12 "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. 13 "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.

Let us be imitators of God, loving one another in community.