GCI Update

What’s so special about Trinitarian theology?

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Learning more about the nature of God has dominated my Bible study for the last decade and I find it to be more and more fascinating. Having the correct perspective of who God is cannot be overestimated. Viewing his sovereignty over eternity and the nature of his being orders all of our doctrinal understandings.

I love the following quote from Charles Haddon Spurgeon, England’s best-known preacher for most of the second half of the nineteenth century:

The highest science, the loftiest speculation, the mightiest philosophy, which can ever engage the attention of a child of God, is the name, the nature, the person, the work, the doings, and the existence of the great God whom he calls his Father. There is something exceedingly improving to the mind in a contemplation of the Divinity. It is a subject so vast, that all our thoughts are lost in its immensity; so deep, that our pride is drowned in its infinity.

I am sometimes asked, “What’s so special about Trinitarian theology—don’t most orthodox churches believe in the Trinity?” Yes, they do. In fact, belief in the Trinity is considered the hallmark of authentic Christian doctrine. It was our acceptance of the Trinity that brought our denomination “in out of the cold,” allowing us to break free from being considered a cult.

As I studied what various churches believe about the Trinity, I observed that while most consent to the doctrine, it does not have a central role in their faith. Many consider the Trinity to be an abstract idea, of interest to theologians but not really of much use to the rest of us. This is sad because when the Trinity is not at the center, shaping all other doctrines, strange ideas and distortions arise. For example, those who proclaim a health/wealth/prosperity gospel tend to view God as a divine “vending machine.” Others tend to view God as a mechanistic version of fate who has determined everything from before creation—including who will be saved and who will be damned. I find it particularly hard to accept a God who creates billions of people just for the purpose of condemning and damning them for eternity!

Trinitarian theology puts the Trinity at the center of all doctrinal understanding, influencing everything we believe and understand about God. As theologian Catherine LaCugna wrote in her book God for Us:

The doctrine of the Trinity is, ultimately…a teaching not about the abstract nature of God, nor about God in isolation from everything other than God, but a teaching about God’s life with us and our life with each other. Trinitarian theology could be described as par excellence a theology of relationship, which explores the mysteries of love, relationship, personhood and communion within the framework of God’s self-revelation in the person of Christ and the activity of the Spirit. [Note: While I appreciate much of what is in this book, I don’t agree with all of it.]

We know of this triune life of God from Jesus who is God’s self-revelation in person. It should be our rule that anything we say about the Trinity must come from Jesus’ life, teaching, death, resurrection, ascension and promised return.

I have seen many diagrams that attempt to explain the Trinity. The best of them fall short and some are confusing. It is, of course, impossible to explain the nature of God in a diagram. However, a good one can help us grasp some aspects of the doctrine. You may find helpful the diagram shown at right. It summarizes early church teaching, pointing out that correct biblical understanding concerning the nature of God upholds three essential beliefs about God. It also indicates that we end up denying that God is Triune when even one of these beliefs is rejected.

The three sides of the triangle in the diagram represent these three essential beliefs, and the point of the triangle across from each side represents the corresponding error when that particular belief is denied:

  • Denial of the Three Persons results in Modalism (sometimes referred to as the Oneness teaching), the erroneous belief that God appears to us in three ways or modes, wears three hats, acts in three different roles or just has three different names.
  • Denial of the Equality of Persons results in Subordinationism, the erroneous belief that one of the divine Persons is less than fully and truly God.
  • Denial of Monotheism (the idea of the Unity of God) results in Polytheism, the erroneous belief in two or more separate gods (including the error of tri-theism—a belief in three gods).

When we are careful to uphold all three of these essential beliefs about God, we avoid the corresponding false teachings and thus bear faithful witness to the glorious mystery of the Trinity.

I thank God daily for answering our many prayers to reveal to us greater truth. His revealing himself to each of us as the Triune God was a miraculous moment for each one of us.

Your brother in Christ’s service,

Joseph Tkach

P.S. Last week the computer servers that host this blog crashed. We apologize for this inconvenience. As you can see, the system is now back online. If you missed reading some of the posts from last week, click on “archives” above and there you will find listed all past Update articles, including those you might have been unable to read last week.

Craig Minke

Debbie and Craig Minke

Craig Minke is one of GCI’s newest pastors. After serving as an elder for several years, he was asked to pastor the Vancouver, BC, Canada church when Roy Page retired. Craig and his wife Debbie (Burbach) met at Ambassador College. They have been married for 25 years and have three children: Natasha, 20; Bryce, 18; and Brent, 16.

Craig grew up on a farm in Saskatchewan. “Our family was not that well off. Until I was 12, we had no electricity, no TV, no running water and no furnace. Our house was a farmhouse, heated by a big pot-bellied stove in the middle, which was loaded with logs and coal.” Craig’s family farmed grain and raised cattle. Craig says his job was “to watch the cattle when we let them out so they would not get into the neighbor’s grain fields.”

Craig, along with his mother (who is legally blind) and his two sisters, started attending WCG in 1970, when Craig was 12 years old. “We got picked up on our farm by another family and then drove 100 miles to where the church was meeting.” After high school, Craig attended Ambassador College, first in Big Sandy, Texas, then in Pasadena, California. After graduating, he spent a year living in Europe before taking a job with the WCG Vancouver office working in media.

That job lasted 15 years until the denomination switched from a media focus. At that time his job became redundant. “I have switched jobs a few times and through those times God has taken care of us. About three years ago, I started my own company and I am doing this in conjunction with my duties as a bivocational pastor.”

Craig looks at his life as preparation for being a pastor. “I have always felt that to whom much is given much is also expected. I truly feel we were given some great opportunities at Ambassador College, working with the teens at the summer camps, as well as travel and local church events. Serving in the pastoral function is just an opportunity to be able to give something back to the many who invested in my early years.”

When asked what he enjoys most about being a pastor, Craig said, “I enjoy working with people—seeing people grow and change. I enjoy the interaction that takes place. I have always enjoyed the organizing aspect or the administrative aspect and also am a person that likes a good challenge and stepping out into new territory.”

One of the things Craig loves best about GCI is being part of a worldwide family. “No matter where you go in the world, you have friends and a family that treats you like their own. I enjoy the spiritual community and the time spent in fellowship.”

Over the years, Craig has been passionate about working with youth in church and at summer camp. “It is my passion that I can use my gifts to serve, to water and plant that others may learn of the tremendous hope we have been given. God does the calling and my passion is that I can be one of the tools he uses to help our church grow.”

When asked when he feels closest to God, Craig says it’s when he is outdoors. “I enjoy camping trips where you can take three weeks with no schedule and no pressing needs. The beauty of the creation around us loudly proclaims God’s power, might and majesty, along with his kindness and compassion. A break from the busy schedule gives me lots of time to meditate and reflect on things. Often it seems we are much too busy to be able to have quiet, unrushed time for reflection. There are times we need to slow down more, by skipping a meal, taking the night off, getting away for a quiet weekend, so we have time to pursue the important things.”

Peru update

About 55 members and children from Lima and La Huaca, Peru gathered in Piura on September 28 through 31 for a GCI-sponsored seminar. Piura is a large Peruvian city about an hour’s flight from Lima, Peru’s capital city. During the seminar, GCI Mission Director Hector Barrero presented lessons focused on Steve McVey’s book Grace Walk Experience. His goal was to help members draw closer to Jesus and to join actively in what our Lord is doing to proclaim the gospel. Members expressed gratitude, noting that the seminar helped them gain a closer connection with GCI.

Seminar group with Hector Barrero presenting

During the event, Juan Carlos Florian, a GCI leader from La Huaca, Cajamarca, was commissioned a ministry leader (deacon). Also, with parental consent, two children were baptized: 15 year-old Christian Nieves and 10 year-old Camila Gutierrez. Activities for children were provided, including their participation in a talent show.

Children’s activities
Children baptized
Juan Carlos Florian commissioned

 

UK Life Clubs

Life Club is a speech club that includes men and women of all ages. It is being used as an outreach and discipleship tool by GCI congregations in the UK. Here are reports on recent Life Club meetings.

London

A Life Club hosted by the London church met on June 9. The theme was the Diamond Jubilee. A Union Jack of flowers made by Pauline Daley was displayed on stage (see picture at right). The chairperson, Maxwell Victor, quoted from the Archbishop of Canterbury’s sermon in St Paul’s Cathedral on June 5 in which the Queen’s dedication was highlighted. Referring to 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Maxwell mentioned that we should “give thanks” for the Queen’s service over the last 60 years. The club’s four speakers focused on the Queen. At the end of the club, Maxwell proposed a toast to the Queen and Gordon Brown prayed the Jubilee Prayer. This was followed by children waving Union Jack flags (see picture below) while singing the National Anthem. Club director James Henderson said that “Life Club is a good preparation for whatever we do in life.”

Birmingham

Christine Jordan

A Life Club was hosted by the Birmingham church on March 31. Christine Jordan (pictured at right) won the best speaker cup. She spoke about Acts 20:35, “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” David Gibbs who directed the club, noted that we need to develop deeper relationships with young people in our congregations to help them stay in the church.

Cambridge

A Life Club was hosted by the Cambridge church on May 5. Chairperson Sylvia Low,quoted Ecclesiastes 3:7, which says that there is “a time to keep silence and a time to speak.” Speakers included three members of the same family: Alan, Val and Corinne Quinn.

World Food Day

In the U.S., GCI is a member of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE). A recent NAE Update highlighted World Food Day, which is observed in more than 150 countries each year on October 16.

NAE encourages churches and Christians to use this occasion to learn about where food comes from, why so many are hungry and what responsibility Christians have. Doing so softens our hearts and reminds us to be grateful for God’s blessings.

There are a variety of ways for congregations and individuals to get involved in World Food Day. For resources put together by NAE, click here.

 

 

Missional Churches video

In a recent GCI Weekly Update cover letter, Joseph Tkach asked, Why be concerned about mission? To help explore the answer, Church Administration and Development has produced Becoming a Missional Church. This video (embedded below) features Randy Bloom leading a discussion about how churches can actively participate in the ministry that Jesus is doing in the Spirit to fulfill the Father’s mission to the world. This video is a good resource for facilitating interactive discussions of pastors in districts, leadership teams in congregations, and members in small groups.

View this video on YouTube at http://youtu.be/LkaEI77mZ2s.

We hope to produce more training videos like this. Let us know (using the comment box below) what you think and if you have any topic suggestions.

Surgay Kalamaha

Jan Kalamaha reports that her husband Surgay is improving and has been moved to a rehabilitation facility in Minot, North Dakota (click here for the previous update about Surgay).

Surgay’s kidney and liver functions are back to normal, and his upper body strength is good—however, he still has little strength in his legs. He is now involved in rehab exercises to regain that strength. He is still on some medication, but the doctors are gradually decreasing the doses.

Please continue to remember Surgay in prayer for his health and for everything that goes into running the family farm.