Love of the Trinity
and Each Other In Worship
Dr. Toledo says, “The greatest image of God manifests itself when the body of Christ gathers weekly as individual congregations and as members of the universal bride of Christ. For in these regular convocations the true nature of identity in communion is realized.”
Earlier in chapter 4 of Dr. Toledo’s IMAGINING GOD IN PRIVATE AND CORPORATE WORSHIP he states that God did not create us for isolation but for community. Personal and private worship should play out in our daily lives.
Personal & Private Life:
The first way to do this is to have a daily devotional life that is intimately personal. By prioritizing a special time in our day to commune with our Triune God. Secondly, in our actions. This is by taking on the characteristics of the Godhead and letting world around us “see our good works and glorify the Father in Heaven…”.
In Community of Faith, The Church, The Body of Christ:
Many times, across my ministry life as a worship pastor, I have challenged my people to be faithful in their weekly attendance in church. To stay connected to the community of believers. Reminding them of the scriptural command in Hebrews 10:14.
Hebrews 10:24–25 (ESV)
24” And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
Christ followers should take seriously the coming together and mutually submitting to one another and share in the Divine communion of the Trinity.
Our convocations should not be merely to take attendance but to reflect the divine life of the Godhead. God did not create us to worship Him because he was lonely. The Godhead is sufficient in itself. Just as the (perichoretic) nature of the Triune God fellowships and honors each other so we as the body of believers should come together to have true imago Dei.
There are two ways we can do this as we meet at as the body of Christ. Quoting from Dr. Toledo
“In each meeting of the body of Christ, two acts of communion occur. First, the divine Trinity meets with His people as they celebrate His revelation as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Second, as individuals put aside their own preferences, socioeconomic statuses, and racial identities, they enter into “koinonia” fellowship typified by sharing in the Trinitarian love.”
Noting the first thing, that Trinitarian worship invokes revelation and the presence of God. Oh, how are meetings need to be marked by the presence of our God. Trinitarian worship and the presence of God cannot be reduced to a formula but a glorifying of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit in songs, hymns, and spiritual songs.
Secondly, we put aside our differences. There is only level ground at the foot of the cross. So, there should be only level ground in the body of Christ. There are no unimportant parts in the body of Christ. All function for His glory and the edification of the church.
Fellowshipping and reflecting the love that the Trinity have for each other is also the role in the body of Christ. The body of Christ is a living organization. The Church is the bride of Christ and Jesus loves His bride. Therefore, we should love the Bride of Christ by showing respect for each other not matter our socio-economic backgrounds.
If we are a part of the body of Christ, then we must act as the body of Christ. I like what Letham argues. He puts forth that worship is not something we do, but rather something in which we participate.
“Putting it another way, from the side of God, the worship of the church is the communion of the Holy Trinity with us his people. We are inclined to view worship as what we do, but if we follow our argument, it is first and foremost something the triune God does, our actions initiated and encompassed by his.”
The divine love of the Trinity allows redeemed sinners to return to God acceptable praises in Christ. Jesus said in John’s gospel the importance of communion and how it was to show in their behavior to a watching world:
John 13:34–35 (ESV)
34A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
35By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
It cannot be clearer that love for God and love for each other should be the dominant trait of the church in worship.
