Christian Counselors Can Help People Find A Balanced Relationship With God
In the Old Testament, Moses approached the Burning Bush and was greeted with the awe inspiring words, “I Am Who Am”. These words portrayed a being that is eternal and is the source of all. Moses, immediately removed his sandals and fell before God. The mere presence turned his coal black hair to ghost white.
In the New Testament, Christ washes the feet of the apostles so that they may be clean. He allows himself to be their friend and a suffering servant on the cross. The apostles worship him but also hug him and share life with him.
So what is the proper relationship with the Trinity? Is it one that sees One God and Three Persons as an Omniscient, Omnipotent, Eternal and Ever Present Deity that created all and keeps everything in existence or is it a relationship of conversation with a man named Jesus who shares our trials and sufferings?
Should we bow in adoration or hug and hold in friendship? Should we tremble in fear, or rejoice in love? Are we a mere creation or a good friend with God?
The answer is both. It is not a matter of focusing on one extreme over the other because in reality there is no extreme. The only error would be eliminating one for the other. If our relationship with God is a relationship where we cannot look him in the eye EVER or come to him as a child or friend EVER then we are missing the point. Sometimes, God deserves complete and humble adoration–especially during ceremonies or adoration. Other times, it is good to come to him as a scared child or good friend for counsel and love.
If our relationship only encompasses one aspect of this relationship, then we are improperly worshiping God. We insult him by our lack of fear if we only see him as a good “buddy” but we also strip him of his love if we only see him as a “Zeus” type figure on Olympus.
We need to have a multi-dimensional relationship with God that respects his title as “Creator of the Universe” as well as understanding his loving and compassionate heart. In this, we can focus in our meditations upon various aspects or relationships we have with God. The first step is to focus on the Trinity. We can worship the fullness of God and at the same time for different occasions focus on different Persons of the Blessed Trinity. Furthermore, within the sacred mystery of the Logos, we can also worship the God-Man Jesus Christ–whether focus at one time is on His Human Heart or Divine Love.
Even so within the Divine Persons, we can find a little of both. If we look at the First Person, we see the Creator but within that we also see Fathership. In the story of the Prodigal Son, does not the Father run to the son who returns? This was totally unknown to Jewish custom and beneath a Father to run to his repentant son!
In the case of the Logos, we see Jesus Christ as a suffering servant and best friend of humanity but he also refers to Himself as “I Am Who Am” and we also have images of Christ as a fierce judge or Pantocrator who will separate the wicked from the just.
These images show us that we must have a creator/creation relationship that gives God his just due adoration but we also must possess a parent/child or friend/friend relationship as well. The only issue is when to utilize what relationship when or where.
In many cases, it it the Holy Spirit Who will inspire you to determine what relationship is appropriate at what given time. Some are more obvious but some are determined by the gentle whisper of the Third Person Who will always gently guide us to Him and the Father and Son who is ultimately one God, undivided and perfect.
Allow us to praise God for the wonderful mystery of the Trinity and the many aspects and relationships it affords us!
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Mark Moran, MA