And there will come a time, you'll see, with no more tears pt. II.



Judging from last week's post it seemed most people we're interested in the concept of the Trinity as an event and how that interacts with and affects life. The concept of the Trinity as an event is begun in the crucifixion of Jesus, where God and Jesus are completely united in their wills, and divided in the death of Jesus. (Bloggers, my friends on facebook were also able to read and respond to the post via facebook.)

Moltmann opens the way to talking about the Trinity as an event by describing the Trinity as "statsis." The Greek word for "insurrection." It seems the Eastern church father, Gregory Nazianzen, descried the Trinity this way.
He writes, "God is not limited to one Person, for it is possible for Unity if at insurrection with itself come into a condition of plurality." (Third Theological Oration: On the Son II)

This quote certainly seems to describe an event within God and the Trinity. It's certainly very interesting, and I agree with my friend who remarked that often we think of the crucifixion primarily as an event between Jesus and the individual. Moltmann, however, see the Trinity as an event which is between God and Jesus, but also invites humanity into God's history.

"If God has taken upon himself (sic) death on the cross, he has also taken upon himself all of life and real life, as it stands under death, law and guilt. In so doing he makes it possible to accept life whole and entire and death whole and entire. Man is taken up, without limitations and conditions, into the life and suffering, the death and resurrection of God, and in faith participates corporeally in the fullness of God."

I like this idea of living into the fullness of God in our historical circumstances. To my Lutheran sensibilities it seems maybe Moltmann is coming close to Liberal Christianity of the 19th and 20th century, which has fallen out of favor given the disillusionment of the modernity. Still, I am excited about this idea, and look forward to reflecting on it with all of your.
Blessings this week.

(Note, the published photo was taken by photographer Tom Curtis. Check out his work at: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=178)

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