“Christianity is
not primarily about lifestyle change; it is about knowing God. To know and grow to enjoy him is what we are
saved for…Thus to read this book is not to play an intellectual game. In fact, we will see that the triune nature
of God affects everything from how we listen to music to how we pray: it makes
for happier marriages, warmer dealings with others, better church life; it
gives Christians assurance, shapes holiness and transforms the very way we look
at the world around us. No exaggeration:
the knowledge of this God turns lives around.” So begins Michael Reeves
engaging new book Delighting in the
Trinity (135 pages from IVP; ISBN 978-0-8308-3983-4). In this book the author sets out to both
explain the Trinity and perhaps most significantly, explain why the triune
nature of God is essential to the Christian faith – “the governing center of all Christian belief” (pg. 16).
For many the Trinity is like your weird uncle that shows
up at the family gatherings – you have to acknowledge him as family, but you
would just as soon not introduce him to your friends. In my early years as a Christian, well-meaning
people used various analogies to try and “explain” the doctrine of the Trinity. Things like: an egg, a shamrock, three states
of water, even streaky bacon. I found
them all to be very unsatisfying - not to mention bizarre. Later I retreated into the position of thinking
and speaking of the Trinity in terms of what it is not – parroting the ancient
creeds. But this left the whole issue somewhat
dry and academic – lacking in day-to-day personal connection. The power and benefit of this little book is that
the author steers clear of both academic dryness and evangelical
silliness.
As to the layout of the book, it tackles in chapter form the
importance of the tri-unity of God under the following topics:
1. What
was God doing Before Creation?
2. Creation:
The Father’s Love Overflows
3. Salvation:
The Son Shares What is His
4. The
Christian Life: The Spirit Beautifies
5. “Who
Among the Gods Is Like You, O LORD?”
6. Conclusion:
No Other Choice
Woven throughout are pictures and text boxes which
briefly address and explain the issues and the people who have shaped our
understanding of the triune nature of God through the centuries. Early in the book Reeves is very clear that
Scripture reveals God to be triune and robustly refutes the idea that the
trinity is a fabrication of 4th century theologians.
Another interesting and helpful feature of the book is
that as the author unfolds the beauty of the Trinity he takes the time to compare
it to the solitary monotheism of Islam – clearly pointing out along the way that
Allah is not identical to the Christian God.
Loving relationships is something inherent in the Godhead (Jn. 17) and
it is those loving relationships that explain why God both created and redeems
humanity – this is a profound idea and when internalized it will become a
powerful motivation for our evangelistic endeavors.
Michael Reeves is the theological adviser for the
Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship in the UK and thus experienced
in speaking and writing for that age group.
This results in a writing style that is both witty and practical, making
the book accessible for both young and old.
I would recommend this book to those high school aged and above who
desire to grow in their understanding of their triune God – for the doctrine of
the Trinity has profound implications for both life and ministry. This would also be a good book for reading
together with others and then periodically getting together to discuss.
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