Circling the triangle - lessons from the Trinity.

At our sessional retreat last week John Read shared a number of lessons from the Trinity. Encouraging us all to avoid the 'cul-de-sacs of salvationism' (you beat me to it Chris!) and to reclaim instead the 'radical orthodoxy' of our roots John persuasively suggested there was much to learn from the Trinity.

Three things I have so far chewed upon...

FIRSTLY:

The reminder that the Trinity supports and promotes both unity and diversity, unlike the denominationalism that has often blighted the Church. Denominationalism encourages unity at the expense of diversity or diversity instead of unity. All too often denominationalism engenders a sense of ‘me in my small corner’. Sadly the attitude that seems to pervade denominationalism is that ‘you can belong if you act and think like us otherwise you are welcome to do your own thing’. (Matt says more here). Denominationalism leads to an insecure glorying in distinctives. More than ever I'm convinced that the fascination with denominational distinctives is a red-herring driven by insecurites that are influenced more by a world of seperation than a kingdom of reconciliation.

SECONDLY:

The nature of the Trinity promotes community rather than hierarchy. As a fellowship, rather than the triangular (hierarchical?) model that we often picture, the Trinity is circular in nature - 'undivided in essence and co-equal in power and glory'? Our 'task' surely is to 'circle the triangle' and subvert the world's bias towards power-based hierarchies. Rather than replicating the world's habits and methods we must strive to imitate the Trinity's costly preference for community.

THIRDLY:

Art is a great way to communicate (admittedly for some more than others!).