God’s Kids

The Doctrine of the Trinity was formalized in 325 at the Council of Nicea, called by the Roman Emperor to put out the grass fires that had already sprung up across the Empire. Most of the populace was illiterate, and their versions of Christianity were shaped by “a friend who was the friend of a friend”. The Council was to–and did–solidify What We Believe about God and the created world. This upcoming weekend is given over to the Trinity, Father & Son & Holy Spirit, as preachers try in vain to unpack the mystery of Three Persons and one God.

ISAIAH 6:1-8 depicts the young prophet envisioning himself in God’s Presence, terrified that his impurities would get him into trouble. Many have claimed that the seraphs thrice-articulated “Holy, Holy, Holy” is a forerunner of the Trinity; but I don’t see it. Others have said that the use of “us” indicates the Trinity; yet Queen Victoria is supposed to have said, “We are not amused”, the royal plural. What it DOES say is that God has a place for us, once the impurities have burnt off. Once we actually surrender to God’s direction and not our own.

As I’ve said before, the Epistle to the ROMANS is just loaded with good stuff. Today we’ll look at 8:12-18, in which Paul says that we can do nothing without the guidance of the Spirit; and with it, we’ll inherit the Kingdom as Children of God! And when we see these “others”, we can and should recognize them as OTHER Children of God, established through God’s interest and kindness. Their/our specialness isn’t contingent on a moral or ethical stance (although this may follow later) but only upon the inbreaking Spirit of God. Eberhard Busch reminds us that “when we trust in God and make God the center of our lives, we turn away from the ‘deeds of the body’….We are no longer led by them; we are led by the Spirit of God.” (FEASTING on the WORD, B 3:40)

What can we do with the Nick at Night show, JOHN 3:1-17? Amid all the pop froo-fra, Jesus does speak of the Spirit (according to John, yet to be received). “What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.” This is the same message of denying one’s SELF in order to receive the grace of God. To be remembered is that John’s faith-community has been plagued with the idea that “we know and you don’t—nonny nonny nu nah”. The author attempts to cast all the players on even ground, disabusing the fleshly differences and equalizing us by the Spirit’s workings. Get out of the way, and let the Spirit be shown!

“Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world; Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in God’s sight; Jesus loves the little children of the world.”

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

Every Tuesday we explore the textual lessons assigned to the upcoming weekend; please come, and bring your friends! at horacebrownking.com