Tag Archives: Holy Spirit

The third person of the Trinity and the work of G*d in this world – it is the Holy Spirit that builds faith

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on June 4, 2015
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Who Needs a Map? — Rev. David J. Schreffler

June 4, 2015

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by giving heed to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, through the pretensions of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and enjoin abstinence from foods which G*d created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by G*d is good…”   1 Timothy 4:1-4

“Now theology is like the map. Merely learning and thinking about the Christian doctrines, if you stop there, is less real and less exciting than the sort of thing my friend got in the desert (when he felt G*d’s presence while out alone under the stars). Doctrines are not G*d: they are only a kind of map. But that map is based on the experience of hundreds of people who really were in touch with G*d — experiences compared with which any thrills or pious feelings you and I are likely to get on our own are very elementary and very confused. If you want to get any further, you must use the map.” C.S.Lewis (1898 – 1963) Mere Christianity

I wonder how many young people, under the age of 16, have ever seen a “fold-out Map”? Paper maps are good – they give you a two-dimensional picture of a state, roads, counties, landmarks like rivers and mountains, etc. What most people use today are the GPS devices, either separate devices or systems that are available to download on cell phones. The GPS not only finds the most direct route to a destination, but it can tell you down to the minute when you will get somewhere, how far away your destination is, and may even tell you about construction or other possible impediments along the way. And you can also access a satellite picture of any place you might like to see through other means, using that same cell phone. Your fold-out map cannot do that.

So many times we think we have to experience something to appreciate it rather than take someone else’s opinion or description. Or we believe that the newest gadget or “theory” is better than the old ways. This isn’t necessarily true with our understanding of G*d and His son Jesus Christ. The further we get from the Apostolic experience, the more we lose touch with their struggle to understand who Jesus was, and to put that struggle on paper in doctrines, creeds, councils, and theological treatises. When we read their struggles and writings, it helps us and forms our own struggles and experiences. But, first we have to pull out the map and read it before we know where we really are going. A GPS is good, but having the map along to support it is that much better.

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on May 31, 2015
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The Trinity — Rev. David J. Schreffler

May 31, 2015
Holy Trinity Sunday

“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.” John 1:29 – 34

“Then I saw a most splendid light, and in that light, the whole of which burnt in a most beautiful, shining fire, was the figure of a man of a sapphire color, and that most splendid light poured over the whole of that shining fire, and the shining fire over all the splendid light, and that most splendid light and shining fire over the whole figure of the man, appearing one light in one virtue and power. I heard the living light saying to me: …thou seest this most splendid light, which is without beginning and to whom nothing can be wanting: this means the Father, and in that figure of a man of a sapphire color, without any spot of the imperfection of envy and iniquity is declared the Son, born of the Father, according to the divinity before all time… The whole of which burns in a most beautiful, shining fire, which fire without a touch of any dark mortality shows the Holy Spirit…” Hildegard of Bingen (1098 – 1179) “For All The Saints”, volume IV (p. 35-36)

The Holy Trinity – it is a mystery, much like the vision of Hildegard of Bingen. How does one describe the Holy Trinity to the newest member of the Christian church? This has been debated for years. Ecumenical councils have tried to come up with Creeds to express our understanding and to profess our faith in the Trinity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and yet read the Athanasian Creed and you will come away asking more questions than having received answers.

Yesterday’s devotion was an explanation of the icon that was accepted by the Orthodox church as “a symbolic” representation of the mystery of “who G*d is” in His Revelation. Today, in Christian churches all over the world, we gather to sit in wonder of this divine mystery and to lift up our prayer, praise and thanksgiving for such a wonderful and mysterious G*d.

Pastor Dave