The Eclipsed Splendor of God

Last Sunday was a full day with our regular service in the morning followed by lunch and encouraging church meeting. One downside I feel with those days is the splendor of the passage we looked at in the service gets eclipsed by the other updates and discussions in the meeting. Let’s return to some of those particularly glorious details.

I am always blown away when a New Testament passage makes reference to the doctrine of the Trinity. It is a challenging doctrine (and one which Fred Sanders has helpfully written about and will speak to at the “Theology for Everyone” seminar). Take for example the benediction at the end of 2 Corinthians, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” Paul just takes for granted this doctrine that so perplexes us. It is so natural for him—and apparently the Corinthians—to think about and relate to God in such a way. And this Triune God, he is at work in you. Whatever the gifts, whatever the service, whatever the activity, the ineffable Three-in-One is present, energizing such things in you, Christian.

Another detail that I find rich to dwell on is the particular reference to the Spirit’s activity in distributing these gifts. All the gifts, in their diverse expression and use, are “empowered by one and the same Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:11). Too often we can think of the Spirit as an impersonal energy or the mysterious Force from Star Wars. But that is not how Paul describes his activity. He—yes, “he,” not “it”—he is acts according to his will. The Spirit isn’t the errand boy of the Father and Son. The Spirit acts according to his will to apportion gifts to his people as he deems best. We can trust the wisdom of the Spirit to do what seems good to him.

So, drawing attention back to these easily overlooked aspects of this passage, my hope is that we not lose sight of God’s presence and activity among us. That is miraculous, phenomenal, and supernatural! And it is something I think pentecostals, cessationists, and continuationists could all agree on. Or to paraphrase one pastor, the most important things are those that our church has in common with every other church.