Several years ago I was witnessing to a friend about Jesus. He was a Muslim. I asked him what it was about Christianity that he could not accept. Very quickly he replied, “You believe in three gods.” I told him that that was not the way it works and went on to witness. Later that evening I was contemplating his reply and realized that a non-Christian, looking at a Christians beliefs and prayers, probably would think we believe in three gods. We pray to the Father in the name of Jesus (as we are instructed in John 16:23), however I have heard many pray to to Jesus “in the name of Jesus” (What does that mean?) and maybe even so with the Holy Spirit. In doing this we often sow much confusion. “In the Name of Jesus” has become a cliche. We must be careful how we pray, using the scriptures fervently praying with reverence as a righteous man not as a matter of habit (James 5:16). I have often prayed not using the name of Jesus and gotten supernatural result – immediately. Was I praying in my name??? (Saying “Amen” after each prayer is another habit that can become a cliche. I have often not said “Amen”, leaving the prayer open, thinking that for the remainder of a period of time my prayer will continue through my actions. (I may not want to “end a prayer and say “so be it”.)
I grew up as a Catholic. I went to a Catholic grade school for 8 years and was taught by Nuns. I then graduated and went to a Parochial school for 3 years. My last year in High School was spent in a Catholic Seminary where I was studying to be a Priest. I always believed in the Holy Trinity but was also told that this mystery could never be solved.
When I inquired further I was told a story:
“It was around the year 415 and St. Augustine was walking along the beach on a bright, sunny day. He was frustrated, having taken a break from working on what’s become known as one of his greatest doctrinal contributions to the Church, De Trinitate, or “On the Trinity.” The subject matter had left him bleary-eyed – in need of fresh air.
It was in this moment, as the frothy tide rushed out, that a little boy caught St. Augustine’s eye. The freckle-faced child had a determined, furrowed brow. He was clearly up to something, running back-and-forth, back-and-forth, between the sea and a tiny hole in the ground.
“My son,” St. Augustine called over the crashing waves, “What are you doing there?”
The boy held up the pink shell he was using to move water, “I’m trying to fit that great big ocean into this tiny hole,” he yelled, pointing assertively at the sand.
St. Augustine smiled, charmed by the child’s innocence, his bright eyes, the way sunlight shone in his curly hair. He then followed the boy to kneel beside the tiny hole, watching him spill out a few meager drops.
“My child,” the bishop of Hippo broke the news gently, turning the boy’s skinny shoulders to face the sea. He then spread his own arms wide, “You could never fit this great, magnificent ocean into that tiny hole!”
The child didn’t flinch, but responded quickly: “And you could never possibly understand the Holy Trinity.” Then in a flash, the boy disappeared.”
I do believe that was true then, but, as time passes and the Lord reveals more and more about His Word and the Bible, and as more and more is revealed through science, things change, and knowledge increases. Although I don’t claim to know everything the following revelation to me satisfies my inquiry into the Holy Spirit.
This is what I now understand:
God is a triune God composed of: The Father, The Son and the Holy Ghost (Spirit).
The Catholic Church always said that God is Love (also 1 John 4:7, 8, 16). Now Love can not live in a static state but must be projected to something. That something is Jesus Christ. The energy of this enormous Love between the Father and Son is the Holy Spirit. This actually makes sense. But, let me go on further.
I have learned through personal study of the Bible and various teachings that Man is also a triune being composed of a Body. a Soul (mind, intellect and will), and a Spirit. So you have a triune God and a triune Man.
Now let me proceed. (I will make this as simple as I can because this is the only way I can understand.)
Mankind, through Science, has always looked at the substance of things, and in so doing we have broken things down into small particles. OK this is where I get simple. We have particles that are molecules, breaking them down the adam, and further breaking adams down into their various components: protons, newtons, quarks, etc., etc.. It seems like we are always looking for the smallest particle in existence. Some say we have found this. For all practical reasons lets say that they have, and call this smallest particle (as some do) the God Particle. Now if my Physics is correct, a particle must have Mass and if it has Mass it must also have Gravity, and if it has Gravity it must gravitate to something (this has not been discovered yet, in anything I’ve read). (Getting familiar?). If this is all true; the smallest particle (God Particle) is not a singularity but a tertiary particle. Wow! This is what I see:
| A Trinity of ALL Things Created | |||
| Triune God | Father | Son | Holy Spirit |
| Triune Man | Mind | Body (JC)* | Spirit |
| Triune Particle | Particle | That which is Gravitated to. | Gravity |
*Note the juxtaposition of the elements in the chart above.
Now here is the rest of the story. God, being Almighty and all Powerful is so far removed from man (He’s way up there, right?) that each of His states is perceived to have its own persona. That is, they appear as three separate persons. And, why not? He is God and we can not see or explain His Being in any other way. So in the end we have God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost. One God but three persons. I can go on, but I think you can pick it up from here.
Conclusion
God through the Trinity is complete without any requirements or needs however, God created mankind. In so doing other requirements now exist that can only be fulfilled by mankind in order for this condition of creation to continue. These conditions are expressed throughout my other blogs.
Enough said.
Thy Words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, O LORD God of hosts. (Jeremiah 15:16)
