Trinity Sermon
by felixruina on May 18, 2008
For Trinity Sunday, here's a Trinity Sermon, over at my {art of language} website in the Sermons section.
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For Trinity Sunday, here's a Trinity Sermon, over at my {art of language} website in the Sermons section.
Comments
Brian, Well done. I am doing
Brian, Well done. I am doing a book study with some church members on a book called "Religious Literacy: What Every American Should Know about Religion -- And Doesn't" by Stephen Prothero of Boston University. One of the things that Prothero emphasizes over and over again is how US Americans don't know diddly about theology and basic Bible Content. He points to (among other things) watered down preaching. All that to say, Mr. Prothero would be proud. Those sitting in the pews (who had ears to hear) definitely came away with compelling, solid trinitarian theology. Good Work! I thought it was well crafted, too. I did raise an eyebrow in the third section. Being one of those postmodern excessively tolerant types, I felt a little defensive at the implication that my theology is somehow less than trinitarian. I also wonder if it is really true that our pentecostal brothers and sisters truly overemphasize the Holy Spirit (as you imply). There's my two (okay maybe 3 or four) cents. :)
Thanks for the comments,
Thanks for the comments, Traci. Regarding your critiques, I certainly understand where you're coming from. My own personal theology is probably a bit more left of center than might come out in this sermon. However, regarding the "excessively tolerant types", I would still argue that if one separates Christ from salvation, it is very difficult for one's theology to be trinitarian to any significant degree. Where I would leave room for discussion is in thinking about the ways in which the 2nd person of the Trinity acts in reference to our salvation--Jesus is one (and the key) manifestation of the Word in the world, but scripture certainly speaks to other times when Christ (or the 2nd person of the Trinity) has been active (creation, for example). It is here that I think dialog with other religions can take place--not in watering down the truth of the Trinity as part of the very nature of God.
As far as our pentecostal brethren, I don't believe I ever explicitly mentioned the "Pentecostals" in that section. I can certainly see where that might be implied, but I have known many Pentecostals that certainly would reject the idea that manifestation of certain gifts of the spirit are the proofs of salvation. With pentecostal theology of that type, I have no qualms, and I appreciate them advocating the Spirit more than we tend to in the "Main Line". It's when one starts claiming that salvation must be proved through particular spiritual gifts that I feel the balance has tipped too far. And, really, this was a warning more against cult-like obedience and worship of a particularly charismatic leader. And this, I believe, is a fault that any church (charismatic or otherwise) can fall into--when the pastor becomes the focus as the leader. Really, this was one of the big faults of the Catholic Church before Luther, where priests were considered the necessary intermediaries to God.
Migliore brings up similar points concerning the distortions of the Trinity in "Faith Seeking Understanding" on page 73.
Thanks again for your comments, and especially the critiques. When preaching in one place, for one particular audience, it becomes natural to tailor the sermon to that congregation. And that's part of what I think I've done here. It's definitely something I need to be more careful about, so I appreciate your pointing it out. :)
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