Reading With Fresh Eyes

1 Corinthians 15-16

Ever since I read Crazy Love by Francis Chan, my Bible reading has changed. He challenges the reader to read the Bible with fresh eyes. Read it, not to find what they said was in it, but for what it says. I think it is especially common for people who grew up in church to either confine themselves to certain comfortable parts of scripture or to read superficially in that they don't actually read the words, but kind of skim over it and go "yeah, yeah, I remember that" when what they are remembering is a muddy picture of what someone taught them in Sunday School.

Today's reading from 1 Corinthians 15 made me rethink some views I've had on the Trinity for a long time. Mind you, I don't know the answers yet, but I am pondering anew. I have always held a fairly traditional and simplistic view of the Trinity... three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) in one godhead. I never really tried to think about that too much... because it hurt and I couldn't figure it out, especially since the Bible never actually says "Trinity." The part of today's reading that got me to thinking was 1 Corinthains 15:25-28.

For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet. And the last enemy to be destroyed is death. For the Scriptures say, “God has put all things under his authority.” (Of course, when it says “all things are under his authority,” that does not include God himself, who gave Christ his authority.) Then, when all things are under his authority, the Son will put himself under God’s authority, so that God, who gave his Son authority over all things, will be utterly supreme over everything everywhere.

There is something about the difference between the relationship that Paul discusses here as compared to the relationship that the writer of Hebrews speaks of in Hebrews Chapters 1 and 2 and that which John speaks of in John 1:1 and that which Jesus later spoke of in John 17:5,21.

Please do not presume that I am stating that the Bible contradicts itself, I am not... Please do not presume that I am stating that the concept of the Trinity is false, I am not... What I am saying is that I get the feeling that the relationship between the Father and the Son (and the Holy Spirit) is far more complex than a simple notion of the trinity that I grew up with. Furthermore, I find it hard to find individuals who are will to delve into the depths of the trinitarian nature without also having to endure dogmatic (and denominational) preaching rather than dialog. I think we sometimes cloak spiritual concepts into material instantiations that may help us wrap our minds around a topic, but fail to wholly illuminate the inherent truths. I have researched a little more on what others had to say about the Trinity tonight, but not satisfied. I sense a richness in the Biblical narrative from from to back that whispers to be heard. Teach me your ways oh God! Open my heart to the truth! Open my mind to the mysteries of your love!