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Got Trinity?

Got Trinity?

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So what comes to mind when you hear the phrase "religious cult"? People who look alike, dress alike, think alike, but don't seem to like others? Or maybe the word 'cult' brings images of deer-in-the-headlight folks living in a commune somewhere worshiping a Mr. Fancy Pants speaker whose only credential is that he "speaks for God"?

Nope. It's definitely not a real positive phrase, and nobody wants to be known as one. That's why we have so much finger pointing going on - one group calls another group a cult, and a pitiful ping-pong exchange begins:

"You're a cult"

"No, you're the cult"

"I know you are, but what am I?"

I think the phrase has been used so much, it has lost its meaning. Cult, smult, so what else is new...

Maybe we should not consider any group a religious cult, join hands on a global scale, and sing "Kum By Yah" until our planet gets hit with a killer meteor?

On second thought - maybe we should figure out exactly what the phrase means so we don't overuse, abuse, or misuse it.

First of all, "religious cult" is not hate language any more than "Danger ahead" is. "Religious cult" is a warning sign - a notice that indicates extreme risk if you get involved.

What's the risk?

Well, let's look at a clear definition of religious cult - because that will help us understand what's at stake:

"A religious group originating as a heretical sect and maintaining fervent commitment to heresy."

OK, so what the heck does all that mean? Basically that a good, accurate definition of a religious cult includes what makes them a cult in the first place, and in this case we are talking about heresy (i.e. different beliefs about God that deny or contradict the Bible). In other words, one thing that all religious cults have in common is that they all have a mistaken view of God - mistaken because it denies or contradicts what is clearly taught in God's Word. Now I know there are a ton of religious cult groups that have a ton of religious cult beliefs, but there is one thing they all have in common:

They ALL deny the Trinity.

Yep, that's right. They may have different texts, different founders, different sunglasses - but they all claim that the Trinity does not exist.

Their claim is wrong...and that's where the danger comes in! People who are involved in religious cults do not worship the same God that Christians do...which means they have not put their trust in His Son for eternal life...which means...

So if you're going to be able to identify a religious cult, you need to be clear on one of the clearest beliefs about God that the Bible reveals:

The Trinity.

What is it? Put simply, God is one being who has revealed Himself in three Persons. In other words, God is one what (God) and three whos (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). Here's a visual that might help us out:

A graphical explanation of the Trinity

As you can see, we are not saying that the Father is the Son, or the Son the Spirit, or the Spirit the Father. It is very common for people to misunderstand the doctrine as to mean that we are saying Jesus is the Father. The doctrine of the Trinity does not in any way say this! What it does say is:

  1. There is one and only one eternal and unchanging God (Deuteronomy 6:4).
  2. There are three eternal and unchanging Persons described in Scripture - the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. These Persons are never identified with one another - that is, they are carefully set apart as Persons.
  3. The Father, the Son, and the Spirit, are identified as being fully God---that is, the Bible teaches the Father is God (1 Peter 1:2), The Son is God (John 1:1-3&14-18, John 20:28-29), and The Holy Spirit is God (John 16:7-15, Acts 5:3-4).

That, in a nutshell - (or eggshell?) are the central truths found in the belief (or doctrine) of the Trinity, (for a more detailed explanation, see Soul Fuel #2, 1 + 1 + 1 = 1?) and the bottom line is that religious cults are defined by any group that denies any or all of those three principles.

And just how do they do that? Here are two primary examples:

"The word Trinity is not in the Bible!" My response to that is a quote from one author:

A person who claims the doctrine of the Trinity is false because the word "Trinity" is not found in Scripture is as foolish as someone who claims 3½ inches, or, say, 5¼ centimeters do not exist because his ruler only shows whole numbers. The doctrine of the Trinity is presented in Scripture clearly enough for spiritual people to recognize, and solidly enough for unspiritual people to stumble over.

"Three separate things can't be one!"

You're right, if you are talking about simple mathematics...but, um, we're actually talking about the complex nature of the God of the universe as revealed in His Word.

So yeah, there are definite objections - and I think all of them go back to the same issue:

Confusion.

Basically, folks that try and twist Scripture to "prove" there is no Trinity are uncomfortable with mystery. They have to have it all figured out. They have to know all the facts.

In other words, they would rather not have any faith.

Does it come as a surprise to anyone that man-made religions have ready-made explanations for everything...including GOD??? Which is why I'm comfortable with my uncomfortableness. If I could completely understand and figure out God, wouldn't I need to be God myself? I also comprehend that just because something is hard to understand does not make it false. I don't think my children can fully explain how electricity works, but that doesn't stop them from turning on the light when they walk in a dark room!

And that's exactly what the Trinity does for me. It lightens my dark world. I know I serve the One true God. I know I have a Father who loves me and will never leave me. I know I have a Savior who knows what it's like to be human and could die for my sins because He is God. I know that God Himself lives inside me through the Holy Spirit. Check this out:

"I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever... If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." (John 14:16,23)

I know that I am in God's inner circle - His "tribe" - and though the world may change a million times before I die, the God of my world won't. So my question to you is this:

Got Trinity?

Head: What you need to know about this truth

A religious cult can be mainly defined by a group that denies the Biblical doctrine of the Trinity, which is there is one eternal God revealed in three persons. The Father is God, The Son is God, and The Holy Spirit is God.

Heart: What you need to feel about this truth

One of the best 'heart' applications of the Trinity I have read was written by our very own Greg Stier. Check this out:

Think about this for a minute: You are not alone. In the midst of school and sports and life just know that a whole team, the tribe called The Trinity, goes with you. You ne v er sit at your school cafeteria table alone. The Father is right across from you to hear your prayers, the Son is at his right hand to defend your soul (from a bully named Satan) and the Holy Spirit is sitting right next to you to encourage you, coach you and strengthen you.

Jesus put it this way in John 14,

"All those who love me will do what I say. My Father will lo v e them, and we will come to them and live with them when the Father sends the Counselor as my representative--and by the Counselor I mean the Holy Spirit--he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I myself have told you."

The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are in you and around you right now. You are not alone. You are never alone. You ne v er will be alone.

So talk to God with reckless abandon. Enter the circle of their friendship. They are inviting you into their most intimate interactions. They want you there. You've got an invitation to intimacy with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus prayed this about us in John 17,

"My prayer is that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me."

When we begin to enjoy our relationship with the Trinity the world can't help but sit up and take notice. They will see the Father, Son and Holy Spirit's power, love and grace unleashed through these jars of clay!

Hands: What you need to do about this truth

Understanding the doctrine of the Trinity at deeper and deeper levels is something that takes a lifetime of studying and meditation. I know that doesn't sound like much 'fun', but 'fun' is not what we're after here. Fun is great, but you need something deeper to get you through life. Understanding and applying the doctrine of the Trinity builds a rock solid foundation to your life like nothing else can. You need to take some time this week and go deeper with your knowledge and application of the Trinity. Here are some suggested articles: