O6062020 – Matthew 28. 16-20 – “The Holy Trinity”
The Holy Trinity is kind-of “an important doctrine in the life of the church.” It is BIG STUFF! Although, not everyone would agree.
It is basic.
It is foundational.
It is – what we say, we believe to be true.
THIS CELEBRATION is “the ONLY SUNDAY” in the ENTIRE CHURCH YEAR that is dedicated to “a doctrine” of the church. Which kind of makes it hang out a little bit, and makes it strange or different.
“Doctrine-schmocktrine”-why-should-any-body-care? Right?
And, to be sure, most people DO NOT.
The confirmation classes would be the first to resound in ONE VERY LOUD TOGETHER VOICE and say “the only ones who care about church doctrines” – are the priests, pastors, or clergy! Or, maybe THOSE “theologian-guys!”
Not necessarily true. But close! A valid attempt, however!
So, “what’s doctrine?”
A doctrine is “a belief” or “set of beliefs” held and taught by a Church, political party, or other groups…(Yep, the Republicans, the Democrats, and the Independents all have their statements of purpose and belief!)
Other “synonyms” for doctrine might include words like: “creed,” “principles,” “dogma,” “belief,” “conviction,” “teaching” “tenet” or “maxim.”
It all sounds a little bit “dry” and “foreboding” and “hard to swallow” and I suppose, it is, at least for most people.
For those of us, IN-THE-CHURCH, it means that our lives BEGIN and END in the name of the TRIUNE GOD. It is God who has the FINAL WORD, AND the final SAY.
When you are carried in for Baptism it is in THAT NAME, that you are baptized. And, when you are carried out for “that final time,” again, it is that SAME NAME that sends you out.
It is how we BEGIN and END our time of worship and prayer together every week. It is – in WHOSE name – we MEET and GATHER and PRAY.
So, I did a quick check of OUR own church constitution…and THERE in the Preamble after naming of the congregation the first thing it says IS:
“This congregation confesses the Triune GOD, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” WOW! – Who KNEW?
And, in that same second article, it further says…
“This congregation accepts the Apostles’, Nicene, and ATHANASIAN CREEDS as “TRUE DECLARATIONS” of the faith of the congregation.”
There ya have it! There you’ve got it!
So why did NO ONE “know” about the Athanasian Creed until Pj showed up at the door? Why was it never used?
Why are there TONS of Lutherans, TONS of Christians who have NEVER heard of, much less SAID – the ATHANASIAN CREED?
Don’t even give me “that stuff” about it takes too long…don’t even go there…
And yep, for those “Biblical Sticklers”- out-there, the word TRINITY or TRIUNE or TRINITARIAN is NOT to be found IN THE BIBLE, you are absolutely right!
It does not appear there. But then, neither does, Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent or EASTER and a whole lot of other things that are important to us in the church.
It is doctrine. It is a belief. It is how we talk about the GOD – that we worship. It is “DESCRIPTIVE.” As awkward as OUR language is — in talking about “the infinite” — it is the BEST that we have “come up with” in 2,000 plus years.
So, we need to be thankful to gospel writers like Matthew…who purposefully include Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in their writings… And, I for one do not even care if it was a “later addition.”
For me it is helpful. For me it is insightful. For me it is descriptive.
Pitfalls, you bet. Troublesome, for sure.
But it is what we’ve got.
I think it is “way-cool,” how in his parting words with his disciples…Jesus sends them out into THE WORLD…into the WHOLE world…the ENTIRE WORLD…to ALL PEOPLES …baptizing and teaching them and “bringing church” TO THEM.
We are the SENT ONES. We are the BLESSED ONES… We are the church.
But remember we are blessed so that we can GO OUT FROM HERE and be a BLESSING for others. And that means ALL OTHERS. No exceptions! NONE!
So, this week – YOU GO – and “be a blessing” for someone this week!
Amen.