Conversation with Victor / Update #3 / Follow-up

It has been a very exciting few weeks since Victor and Sheri received Christ. Two weeks ago, my wife, Betsy, and I spent a delightful dinner and extended conversation with our friends to discuss their new faith.

Though our time together is not the point of my post, there were several important insights we gained during our time together. For example, I was very surprised to learn, when discussing the significance of Jesus, that Sheri (who is from a Shi'a Muslim background) believed that Jesus was a uniquely “special” (her word) prophet of God’s. “Mr. Carmen,” she articulated clearly, “The Quran teaches that Mohammed was the last prophet, but Jesus is regarded as being special.” And why, according to Sheri, was Jesus regarded as being “special”? She cited two reasons (both taught in the Quran): He was born of a virgin and He performed miracles.

But what really surprised me was this: Sheri believed that Jesus had been resurrected and that He would one day return to earth! Wow! Once again, I am reminded how important it is to listen to what a person believes rather than assume it—regardless of one’s background (Islamic theology, to the best of my knowledge, denies the resurrection of Christ; though Jesus may have been crucified, He either did not die or God substituted Him on the cross with another personage.)

It was Sheri’s unexpected call today, however, that is the purpose of this post. Though our church had done a great job of getting Sheri into a small group for follow-up, I had picked up from ensuing conversations with Victor that she was becoming increasingly frustrated. Evidently the group leader lacked a bit of understanding as how to “navigate” in explaining particular Biblical truths to someone of an Islamic background. Very understandable!

“Mr. Carmen,” Sheri began, “I am confused. The group leader says that Jesus is God, but I told her the Bible says He is God’s Son. She also tells me that if I don’t believe that Jesus is God that I cannot be saved.”

So how do I begin to explain the doctrine of the Trinity to someone of Islamic background? To someone of Islamic background, hearing someone say “Jesus is God” is tantamount to proclaiming “I’m a polytheist”! Realizing this, I asked God to grant me wisdom as I proceeded.

“O.K., Sheri, let me try and explain. First, it is so important that you understand clearly that Christianity affirms the fact that God is One, even as in Islam. We do not believe that there are 3 gods. And, even as your background would affirm, we believe that God is transcendent—that He is beyond us—both as to His nature and as far as our ability to fully comprehend Him. So, that means that any analogy I might give will be more suggestive than comprehensive. When we say that Jesus is God’s Son, for example, it does not mean that God had sexual relations with someone and they produced a son. Rather, it speaks of Jesus’s special relationship to God; that, even as your son, Aran, is not you, and he is not Victor, he is, however, human. In a similar sense, as God’s Son, Jesus possesses a divine nature. Does that make sense, Sheri?”

“Yes, Mr. Carmen, that is clear. I know Jesus is God’s Son. Love is growing in my heart every day for Jesus.” Sheri was confident in her assertion.

Still, however, I needed to add some important elements to this foundation. Though I do not think someone has to “understand” the doctrine of the Trinity before coming to faith in Christ, salvation is not possible for anyone who rejects the teaching that Jesus is God’s Son—that He is the divine Son who is the “one and only” representative of God to humankind (1 Timothy 2:5). Though Sheri was still attempting to understand the relationship between God and His Son, Jesus, she had not rejected Jesus’s Sonship or the work He had accomplished on her behalf.

“So, Sheri,” I continued, “as I mentioned earlier, God is infinite and, as such, our understanding of Him is limited. And our limited understanding is perhaps nowhere more apparent than when it comes to our comprehension of His nature. Christians believe that there is one God who has chosen to manifest Himself as three eternally-coexistent, yet distinct, Persons. For example, in the creation account, God says, ‘Let us make man in our image.’ This plurality of Persons becomes much clearer in the New Testament. Sheri, I know this is difficult to understand; in fact, it is something we will never fully be able to comprehend. But, God, as the infinite and all-powerful God, has chosen to manifest His existence as three, co-eternal and co-equal Persons yet while still maintaining His Unity.”

“This is beginning to become clearer, Mr. Carmen,” Sheri interjected. (I was a bit surprised by Sheri’s response! This doctrine is one of the most challenging found in the Scriptures.)

I continued. “I think this particular characteristic of God’s has some interesting application in the human experience. Since God created us in His image—as the Bible teaches—then the qualities we possess as people are, fundamentally, a reflection of His nature.

One of the things we as humans value most is relationship and, as is obvious, relationship implies multiplicity of persons. Thus, if God is a only a ‘singularity,’ then his creatures have experienced that which was unknowable to God—and I don’t think that is possible. The fact that God has chosen to exist as a tri-unity provides a foundation for the experience of relationship we value so highly.”

“Yes, I see,” Sheri affirmed. “This is making things much clearer, Mr. Carmen. I know that I have much to learn and more to study. But I know I am saved (her words!). I’m sure about that sir.”

“Oh, Sheri, I know that too!” I affirmed. “In fact, the very confidence you have is a gift from God. The Bible says that it is a special work of God’s Spirit to ‘pour out God’s love into our hearts. ’ And that is what you are experiencing. God is confirming not only His love for you but that you are His.”

This Wednesday, Betsy and I will be meeting again with Victor and Sheri. Though both have so much to learn, it is such a privilege to observe “up close and personal” the working of God’s Holy Spirit in the life of those who have placed their faith in Him.

Final note: One of the classic definitions of the Trinity (or, God’s tri-unity) was given by the early 20th century theologian, Benjamin Warfield: “There is one only and true God, but in the unity of the Godhead there are three coeternal and coequal Persons, the same in substance but distinct in subsistence.” If you would like to read a very good article, check out the following link: http://www.bible.org/article/trinity-triunity-god.