Does “Christocentrism” betray an asymmetrical trinitarianism that neglects the Father and the Spirit?
Mark Snoeberger: Christocentrism—A Critical Muse
Dane C. Ortlund: Christocentrism: An Asymmetrical Trinitarianism?
Thanks for the links, Jim.
We as humans are constantly neglecting, either the Father or the Son or the Spirit, in our trinitarianism.
We as humans are constantly neglecting, either the Father or the Son or the Spirit, in our trinitarianism.
Here is a quote from the review:
By example in Scripture, I think we do see an emphasis on worship directed primarily toward the Father. I would argue that, in most churches, songs of praise and prayers (two major mechanisms for worship) are indeed directed to the Father. The Holy Spirit is generally treated more discreetly; but this is what we see in Scripture, do we not?
In churches that preach the Scriptures evenly (i.e., they are balanced between OT exposition and New), the emphasis will be different than churches that barely touch the OT. The problem there is not neglect of the Persons of the Trinity, but an improper attitude toward the relevance of the OT.
When you preach the OT and God (Yahweh) is mentioned, how do you know WHICH Person of the Trinity is involved? Or is it all three? I think the assumption that “God” in the Old Testament equates to “Father” is part of the sloppy theology that dominates our day.
For example, in John 12:37-41, we read:
Theologically, Christocentrism can sometimes (though certainly not always) point to an unhealthy emphasis of God as immanent over God as transcendent. Christ is the immanent member of the Trinity—the one who discloses God, mediates between God and man, and makes us partakers of the divine nature. But there is also a great and terrible and awful God, made known most vividly in the pre-Christian era, that must not be forgotten.I think it is important to remember that all 3 Persons of the Godhead are God and have the same attributes. God the Son is no less wrathful than God the Father or the Spirit. Even when the Divine Son of God was joined to the human Jesus (the incarnation), Jesus turned over the tables at the temple and spoke more about hell than heaven. I do not see any discontinuity.
By example in Scripture, I think we do see an emphasis on worship directed primarily toward the Father. I would argue that, in most churches, songs of praise and prayers (two major mechanisms for worship) are indeed directed to the Father. The Holy Spirit is generally treated more discreetly; but this is what we see in Scripture, do we not?
In churches that preach the Scriptures evenly (i.e., they are balanced between OT exposition and New), the emphasis will be different than churches that barely touch the OT. The problem there is not neglect of the Persons of the Trinity, but an improper attitude toward the relevance of the OT.
When you preach the OT and God (Yahweh) is mentioned, how do you know WHICH Person of the Trinity is involved? Or is it all three? I think the assumption that “God” in the Old Testament equates to “Father” is part of the sloppy theology that dominates our day.
For example, in John 12:37-41, we read:
37Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:Whose glory did Isaiah see in Isaiah 6? According to John, Jesus’ glory (I think we can understand that to refer to the Son of God before the incarnation). Yet so many assume that Yahweh = The Father. Man, that gets on my nerves.
“Lord, who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
39For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:
40”He has blinded their eyes
and deadened their hearts,
so they can neither see with their eyes,
nor understand with their hearts,
nor turn—and I would heal them.” 41Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.
"The Midrash Detective"
I think it is important to remember that all 3 Persons of the Godhead are God and have the same attributes. God the Son is no less wrathful than God the Father or the Spirit.FTR, while all three persons of the Godhead have the same attributes, wrath is not generally considered an attribute.
Discussion