You're Once, Twice, Three Times Our God

You’re once, twice, three times a lady, and I love you…~Lionel Richie

When Lionel Richie wrote the lyrics to this song in the 1970’s, no one had a hard time understanding that he meant just one special, particular lady.  Why then do we have so much difficulty grasping the “triune” nature of God?  The Trinity is perhaps one of the most misunderstood concepts of Christianity today—not just by those of another faith but by Christians themselves! 

The way most Christians describe God, we would probably be guilty of the very thing we are accused of by other faiths—Polytheism or the worship of multiple gods.  This is one of the primary stumbling blocks to describing our faith to Muslims who can think of no greater blasphemy in their Islamic beliefs than Polytheism.  Remember…they literally recite multiple times a day that their god is the one and only.  Even our covenantal Jewish brothers and sisters charge us with this, although Yahweh of the Old Testament is, in fact, our one and only God just like them.    

When I was younger, a Sunday School teacher told me to envision H20 in three different forms:  Water, Steam and Ice.  Yet, all of them are undisputably H20.  This explanation of the Trinity was decent enough but it still didn’t satisfy my over-active imagination.  H20 can’t be all of these three things AT ONCE and yet still maintain its distinct categories. 

To figure this one out we have to go back to the beginning…WAY back to when there was NO ONE except God.  Few people accurately read one of the most misquoted verses in the Book of Genesis:

 

Then God said, “Let us make people in our image, to be like ourselves.”

~Genesis 1:26

Whoa…wait a minute.  What’s up with the “us” “our” and “ourselves” in this verse?  This is the very same scripture that all people and faiths read if they accept Genesis as scripture.  In the Hebrew, the EXACT word is “Elohim”.  Elohim is a PLURAL.  Was God having a split personality disorder on that day?  Of course not.  He was referring to Himself—all THREE of Himself to be exact. 

Now… stay with me.  He said he would make man in His Image (He said “Our image” to be specific).  The rest of this exam is easy…What are you?  Are you just a body?  Well, no.  Are you just a spirit?  Uh, no.  Are you just a mind?  Nope.  Are you ALL THREE—Yes, yes, yes! 

We readily accept this as true in our everyday vernacular.  Let me give you a few quick examples.  I’m sure you’ve heard some variation of any three of these statements:

“She was there in body but her mind was elsewhere.”

“I’m so sorry I won’t be able to attend your wedding, but I’ll be there in spirit!”

“His mind and spirit were still active, but physically he was wasting away.”

If you said or heard anyone say any of these three comments, you wouldn’t call the loony bin and have them carted away.  You would TOTALLY understand the concept that was trying to be conveyed.  Why then do we completely acknowledge our own tripartite nature but find God’s triune nature a difficult concept to grasp?  He said we are CREATED IN HIS IMAGE. 

THIS is why I am so passionate about Sanctity of Life issues.  When you understand… truly grasp…that we are literally, wholly, amazingly created in the very image of the Most High God—the Great “I Am”—you slowly begin to become cognizant of the depth of wrong that is done when you snuff out someone else’s life. 

If you’ve had an abortion, this is actually good news—that little person still exists in spirit.  God is the great Reconciler…He’s sacrificed Himself so you can get forgiveness and see your child once again.  The same way God wants to see YOU after death and offers eternal life. 

I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

~ (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

 

Interested in National Prayer and Repentance?

Go to the Congressional Prayer Caucus Website:

http://www.prayercaucus.org/

Annual National Day of Repentance: www.dayofrepentance.org
2013 Date: Yom Kippur September 13th (Sunset) through September 14th (Nightfall)

Feel free to join any number of events calling for National Prayer and Repentance as we lead up to the November 6th elections.

Gatherings:

• David's Tent Washington DC: (24/7 Worship of Jesus Christ on White House Ellipse)

http://dchop.org/?doing_wp_cron=1348948399.4002270698547363281250

Prayer Initiatives:
40 Day to Save America
40 Days of Prayer

50 Days of Decision

56 Days of Praying: Sept 16 - Nov 10, 2012 Aglow International: America Arising Prayer Initiative
Awakening America
Davidstentdc.com
God Save America
If My People 2012
My People Pray 2012
Pray 31
PrayPsalm64.com
40 Days of Worship in DC
Intercessors For America - Saving America Through Prayer The American Prayer Initiative 
Get America Praying - One Minute Challenge
Intercessors For America - First Friday Prayer Calls