Christians believe in funny math. In church we like to say the three is one and one is three. We are not trying to balance our checkbooks in a funny way; we are talking about God. God is three; God is one. It sounds funny to new Christians (and possibly seasoned Christians, too), but this is the best way of making sense of God. He is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. That's the three. But we never say "they." That's the one. We get the word by a little word math: tri + unity = trinity.
We say "persons" of the Trinity not because they each have a body like three persons of the same family who live in their house together. Saying "person" emphasizes that each is personable - with a will and emotions. A Christian can pray to any of the three.
One way to understand this is to look at the primary functions of each. God the Father is most associated with creation, although the Bible clearly says Jesus and the Holy Spirit were there, too.
God the Son is known for dying on the cross to pay our ransom. Yet the Father empowered Jesus to die. The Holy Spirit filled Jesus during his many temptations.
God the Holy Spirit is known for the beginning of the Church at Pentecost. But his work also is to remind people of the teachings of Jesus.
On the other hand, we also look at how Father, Son and Holy Spirit relate to each other. One of the goals of Christianity is peace in all creation. This is not an impossible goal. God shows that it can be done. The Trinity - three - always in unity. This is not three gods competing against each other. God is unified and works together perfectly. Christians cannot play one off the other, as if we could bargain with what the Holy Spirit offers, trying to get Jesus to improve his offer. As Christians mature in faith, we too learn to live in unity.
In seminary a fellow student tried to explain that we use water in three different states: solid as ice, liquid as water, and gas as steam. But the problem with that explanation is that you cannot have access to ice, water, and steam all at once. God is available fully to us all the time.
This also is what distinguishes Christians from all other religions of the world. Although other religions may be monotheistic - having one God - they are not Trinitarian. We believe Jesus is fully God and his death on the cross brings us back to God as nothing - and no one - else can do.
And the best news is this: No one has to fully understand this to be saved. Besides, God is too complex to reduce to words. Salvation is a gift from God to be received, not a series of propositions to be understood. Trust that God loves you, Jesus paid your ransom, and your life will be made new.
Editor's note: Reflections, a column of commentary on the religious scene, appears regularly on the religion page. Randy Booth is pastor of Monroe United Methodist Church.
We say "persons" of the Trinity not because they each have a body like three persons of the same family who live in their house together. Saying "person" emphasizes that each is personable - with a will and emotions. A Christian can pray to any of the three.
One way to understand this is to look at the primary functions of each. God the Father is most associated with creation, although the Bible clearly says Jesus and the Holy Spirit were there, too.
God the Son is known for dying on the cross to pay our ransom. Yet the Father empowered Jesus to die. The Holy Spirit filled Jesus during his many temptations.
God the Holy Spirit is known for the beginning of the Church at Pentecost. But his work also is to remind people of the teachings of Jesus.
On the other hand, we also look at how Father, Son and Holy Spirit relate to each other. One of the goals of Christianity is peace in all creation. This is not an impossible goal. God shows that it can be done. The Trinity - three - always in unity. This is not three gods competing against each other. God is unified and works together perfectly. Christians cannot play one off the other, as if we could bargain with what the Holy Spirit offers, trying to get Jesus to improve his offer. As Christians mature in faith, we too learn to live in unity.
In seminary a fellow student tried to explain that we use water in three different states: solid as ice, liquid as water, and gas as steam. But the problem with that explanation is that you cannot have access to ice, water, and steam all at once. God is available fully to us all the time.
This also is what distinguishes Christians from all other religions of the world. Although other religions may be monotheistic - having one God - they are not Trinitarian. We believe Jesus is fully God and his death on the cross brings us back to God as nothing - and no one - else can do.
And the best news is this: No one has to fully understand this to be saved. Besides, God is too complex to reduce to words. Salvation is a gift from God to be received, not a series of propositions to be understood. Trust that God loves you, Jesus paid your ransom, and your life will be made new.
Editor's note: Reflections, a column of commentary on the religious scene, appears regularly on the religion page. Randy Booth is pastor of Monroe United Methodist Church.