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HOW TRINITARIAN IS YOUR WORSHIP?
In the past decade, the importance of trinitarian worship has been deeply engrained in me. Its vitality cannot be overstated. God is triune in nature; therefore, the worship of God must also be triune. Believers often speak of the three persons of the Godhead but with limited knowledge and understanding and without an appropriate application in the context of worship gatherings. John MacArthur has referred to the Holy Spirit as the forgotten God because of such a misunderstanding. A close assessment of many churches’ worship gatherings will quickly reveal that ignorance of trinitarian worship is present in the Christian subculture. To combat such ignorance and misunderstanding, there are certain actions the church can take. I suggest three primary ways the church can ameliorate her trinitarian nature in corporate worship.
Intentionally
Seek Ways to Express Worship to All Three Persons of the Trinity
First, the church should intentionally seek ways to express worship to all three persons of the Trinity. Such can be done not only through music but also through language in prayer and teaching. Since orthodox Christians have long believed that the Father, Son, and Spirit are co-equal, it is crucial that churches reflect such theology. Consider the music used in Christian worship. While much exists on the topic of the Son and perhaps the Father, little exists about the Holy Spirit even in charismatic circles where there often seems to be an overemphasis of the third person of the Godhead. To reflect God’s triune nature, however, churches should be intentional about presenting all three persons of the Trinity in their worship practices.
Intentionally
Teach Believers the Co-Equality of All Three Persons of the Trinity
Secondly, churches should intentionally teach believers the co-equality of all three persons of the Trinity. Intentionality means not referring to Jesus as the Father or not claiming that the Father died for the sins of believers. Intentionality means declaring that the Father, Son, and Spirit are equally worthy to be worshiped. When churches teach that all three persons of the Godhead are equal in nature, believers begin to understand such truths as it is compounded. Perhaps, the trinitarian nature of God is often misunderstood because local churches have not taken the time to be intentional in how they discuss him. Intentionally teaching the triune nature of God will surely improve the content of corporate worship.
Utilize
(and Write) Music That Reflects God’s Triune Nature
Music is one of the greatest pedagogical tools the church has ever been given. Whether realized or not, music is often a source of theology for many believers. The music a church sings then reflects who they are as a local church. A church whose music is not triune in content likely has a limited understanding of God’s triune nature. I encourage ministers to examine the music their church sings and even measure the amount of content devoted to the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, and all three persons of the Godhead. If content about one person is lacking, that church should strive to make changes so that their worship gatherings are triune. Certainly, music exists that reflects the triune nature of God; local churches can, however, write music with such reflections. The key for all of it, nonetheless, is intentionality. Churches should be intentional about God’s triune nature in their worship practices.
Worship
Is Trinitarian Because God Is Trinitarian
God
is a Trinity; worship, therefore, should be trinitarian. I would dare suggest
that most local churches do not reflect the trinitarian nature of God. Likely
because of a lack of intentionality, the content that persists in evangelical
corporate worship largely lacks trinitarian characteristics. Such a lack may
certainly and should be changed. For God’s people to accurately reflect the God
they love and worship, his three-in-one nature should be pervasive throughout
worship, i.e. the music, the prayers, and the teaching should reveal God who
is Father, Son, and Spirit and whose three persons are all co-equal and
co-eternal. A right question to ask in any local church context then is this:
how trinitarian is your worship?
