Toward a Better Trinity

For our God is

a consuming fire.

• Hebrews 12:29

This is not scholarly work as I am not a scholar by any sense of the word. I am a researcher armed with a strong human spirit of incredulity and suspicion of group-think; a man that sees connections (sometimes where there are none) and someone who ardently has asked God to know Him (for whatever that is worth to anyone else is hard to say) and His Son. I have not only prayed for years for God to reveal His nature to me to the point that I have pleaded with Him to explain Creedal Trinitarianism, to make it clear, and to help me understand it well enough that I can trust its historical definitions, but I have put in the work of study to sustain any inspirations I might have. But again, I can barely read Greek, and can hardly even read Hebrew, but I am able to research terms, tense, and parsing and I have come to see that so-called “scholarship” of ancient scripture is sub-par to seeking any person honestly seeking God in spirit and truth. I can support that because I have considered many of the insights from our community of scholars old and modern and found them not only wanting and often misled but am amazed at how much they differ from one another. Bottom-line? I have spent the better part of my adult life (40 plus years) reading, seeking and searching to know Him in Spirit and truth.

The forthcoming are adjustments to what Creedal Trinitarianism created; clarifications to what I now believe is a man-made enterprise.¹ I have learned from firsthand experience what it means to challenge it with the fallout (from a religious point of view) akin to burning an American flag at an army picnic or punching a grandmother holding a disabled baby square in the face. My intentions are not to inflame nor harm the faith of others, however. Never. It is hard for me to believe that challenging and questioning is antithetical to genuine faith so I frankly see all explorations as honoring God rather than harming others. My intentions are to help others better meet the words of our “God-Man King”² when He said in John 17:3,

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

For whatever it is worth, this relatively ignorant, self-taught and often denser than-a-fence-post loser in life has taken that passage, tattooed it on his heart, dedicated his almost every moment to the effort, consciencely and what seems to also be sub-conscience, and did the other thing the writer of Hebrews said in Hebrews 11:6,

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Finally, instead of scholarship and formal education, I have elected to employ what the scripture says relative to knowing things about God, also stated by Paul when he wrote in 1^st Corinthians 2:11-14,

For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Taking all of this at face-value, the best way to understand the means by which I exegete the biblical narrative is akin to the work of the singer/songwriting team of Elton John and Bernie Taupin where we have the lyrics of scripture created by Taupin and the music of the Spirit created and presented by John. Where both are necessary and essential to each song they produced, I am far more inclined to hearing the music and presenting it to others over perfect lyrical understanding or articulation. To beat a dead horse, my mind by the spirit when reading scripture is akin to the experience of listening to Little Richard sing, Tutti Fruitti, Captain Beefheart bellow out, Lo Yo Stuff or the Cramps singing, Goo Goo Muck – the “lyrics” (by themselves) are far less important than the vibe the music with the lyrics produce. For me, the faith today is mostly in the hands of people who can only read the lyrics but for some reason are unable to hear the music that goes with it but most regrettably, as a result, are unable to dance.

Another important admission because of the content presented herein is I am even less a scientist than a scholar and know very little about science and its specific rules, methods, processes and findings. But I can hear the music in science and find meaningful representations in things that are plainly scientifically, and therefore humanly based. Admittedly, this makes me nothing more than a trailer-park philosopher, making leaps and associations of cause and effect that probably fall short but they make sense to me and that is all I can honestly offer – what I see and have come to believe as a devout seeker of God in spirit and truth. So, take that for what it’s worth. That said, I defend my right as a person of spiritual and intellectual integrity to see what I see and believe what I believe irrespective of tradition, historical precedence or scholarly stances. The onus falls on every reader to consider what is presented herein and to, through the same Spirit, if possible, to decide if we are presenting a “better Trinity” to you or not.

Finally, and as a really important clarification on what has historically been imputed on others who dare postulate on spiritual things, I do not speak from any authority. Frankly, I am not a very good man by comparison to the lofty images we have of others that espouse ideas on God. No, there is no prophet of God writing here, no guru, no spiritual authority that says, “thus saith the Lord.” I describe myself as “the worst of the worst” (present tense) saved by “the best of the best” and cannot claim any virtue from heaven or earth that qualifies my insights as superior to others. I am a fleshly, carnal, often aggressive, even angry human being that has nothing to offer anyone outside of what the Spirit of Christ Himself supplies. There is truly no good thing in me and when the rubber meets the road those who really know me can testify to this. So please do not ever allow yourself to think I believe that I am someone special in my human condition – ironically, I am actually the least morally qualified person you might ever meet.

All of this is to say, test all things, hold fast to what enlightens, what inspires, what adds to your spiritual well-being, and what brings you more liberty as a disciple of the God-Man-King. Everything else? Consider the source.