Summary
I remember when I was a boy, getting to know other children in my classes at school. Eventually, after talking about what we liked to play with, Legos for me. Or what sports were our favorites, for me American football, specifically the Minnesota Vikings. Or, how many brothers or sisters we had, I have two brothers. We would finally arrive at asking what our parents were. Meaning, what did your Dad or Mom do? Did they stay at home, or go to work? If they went to work, what was their job?
When I was in early primary school, it was easy to answer these questions concerning my Mom, because she was at home caring for us three boys, and most everyone understood what she did, because it was within our realm of understanding as children.
It was a bit harder when it came to my father, not initially, because when asked I would simply answer, “My Dad’s an architect. He designs buildings.”
It became harder though when kids asked, “How does an architect do that?”, because I did not really know. I mean, I knew that he sat at a big angled desk and drew lines with pencils, to decide what a building would look like. I also knew that sometimes he needed to erase those lines, ‘cause he had a big motorized eraser that we would play with when we were able to go and visit his office. It was cool! Remember, this was the 1970’s prior to the use of computers and M-Cad programs, so pencils and erasers were still important.
Anyway, back to my story. As a young child I only had the barest knowledge of what my father actually did, but I knew the results. My Dad’s older brother and his family lived in a home designed by my dad. When in the city of St. Paul we could drive by the Civic Center Arena and see what my dad had created. There were other buildings as well to prove his ability, yet how he accomplished his job was beyond me.
It’s a bit similar to the odd comments I have received at times in my career when someone finds out I am a pastor and they say, seriously and with a knowing look, “Wow, cool! You only have to work one day a week.”
The first time or two I heard this, I was offended, but then I realized the person speaking was just ignorant. They had no idea what I did, other than my most public role of leading worship and preaching.
Or there was the morning that Emily was preaching, this was back in the States, and she spoke of how many hours it can take to create a sermon, from start to finish. After the service, a worshiper came up to me and said, “I am really glad that Pastor Emily explained how much effort goes into a sermon. I had always assumed that you guys just kind of made it up on the way to church on Sunday mornings.”
What? Again, ignorance of the job.
So, at this point you are all wondering, these are interesting stories, but where is Pastor Joel going with all of this?
When we get to know someone, or learn about their job, too often we think that we understand who that person is, or what they do. Usually though, we only know a fraction. It can take a lifetime to get to know someone well, and to understand a job, it usually means working at it to truly understand the intricacies of the position. We cannot understand everything, and so, we get to that point with our architect, physician, or lawyer, in which we have to just believe that they know what they are doing, in order to have a building designed, or receive a diagnoses, or have a court case argued.
It is a bit that way with God too, isn’t it?
God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit, or otherwise known as the Trinity, is only partially knowable by us humans, both in whom God is, and what God has done, is doing, and will do.
We know God, through; what we learn in the Bible, our experiences with the Father, with Jesus, and with the Holy Spirit, and what we hear or read or see, from other people’s experiences with the Almighty. So, we can seem to know a lot, but even then, it is only partial, and there are aspects of God, and what God does, that are hidden in mystery.
For instance, we struggle with understanding and explaining the very essence of God. The early church theologians had to create the word, ‘trinity’ in order to help put form and explanation to the mysteriousness of the Master of the Universe, who we understand through three different persons, or personalities, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
I have spoken with people over the years who have told me, “I just do not understand the Trinity, and how God can be one while being made up of these three distinct personalities. How is that?”
I then explain it as best I can, but sometimes they are still not happy, for the evidence is not up to their liking. They can be a bit like Nicodemus in today’s famous gospel reading.
Nicodemus wants to better understand who Jesus is, for he likes the evidence of his teaching and miracles, evidence that points towards the possibility that Jesus is the One sent by God, the Messiah. Nicodemus is just not there yet though, so he sneaks out to meet Jesus in the night to receive further proof, further evidence. Yet, that is not how God works is it?
During their discussion Jesus touches upon all three members of the Godhead, of the Trinity, but not in a way to produce evidence, but rather salvation, for, God is not here to prove himself to us, but rather to offer himself for us.
The Reverend Judy Jones in regards to this conversation states, “Jesus’ words here should not be mistaken for a theological treatise on the one God in three persons, however. Instead, in this encounter Jesus challenges Nicodemus to move from theory to practice, from knowledge to faith, from curiosity to commitment.”
Whereas Nicodemus wants evidence of, Jesus gives the meaning why, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
In other words, you, me, we cannot fully comprehend God, whether we are trying to understand God as Father and creator, as Son and Savior, or as Spirit and Counselor. Rather, we can experience God’s presence in our lives, and in the world, and so, we can believe and live lives of faith, live lives of salvation.
We need to take the opportunity every day to continue to grow in our understanding of whom God is, and what God does by interacting with, and relating to, our Creator, Savior, and Guide. There is always more to know, and more to experience. There are always preconceptions to throw away, and new realizations to explore when it comes to knowing and living with God. We cannot claim to know God fully, that is the sin of blasphemy, if you will. Rather, we have to be willing to live on that margin of knowledge and belief. Our minds are not capable of fully understanding God, and so we need to acknowledge our limitations, and live in the reality of the mystery of God who is our intimate Savior, but also God who is beyond our comprehension.
I still do not fully understand what my father does as an architect, how his mind works, and comes up with designs and solutions that I could never think of, and designs I could never create. Nor, can I fully understand my heavenly Father, for my mind and experience is not capable of it. Yet, with both of my fathers I know them, by their love, and care for me, my experiences of learning from them, and living life with them. And so I believe, they both have want the best for me, and give me all that they can, and what I need. In the end, I believe that they both love me, because I am their child. Enough said, the rest is experience and belief.
Amen.
Bible References
- Romans 8:12 - 17
- John 3:1 - 17
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