Doctrine of the Trinity

[ronaldlaitano]

Mike,

I came across a question that completely stumped me this week. I was working on a Systematic Theology paper and was asked to select five biblical passages that teach some aspect of the classical doctrine of the Trinity --- this I had no problem with --- The next question was what nearly made my brain explode:
"How would you explain the doctrine of the Trinity to an elementary school-aged child?.....without falling into herecy" I thought about my little Adelaide, and I noticed a couple of things:
1. Analogies simply don't work (they are useful to some degree) and
2. It is so easy to fall into modalism. I also read one of your earliest posts about the Trinity -- can you help us by articulating the main tenants of the doctrine of the Trinity, and can you give this soon to be dad some advice ; )

[Mike Miller]

Ronald,

This is a very simple question to answer. When sweet, inquisitive little Adelaide comes to you and says, "Daddy, please explain to me the Trinity," you need only say, "Go ask your mother."

There. Was that helpful?

If not, then let's try something a little deeper and much more stressful.

First, you are correct in saying that analogies don't work. However, I don't think they're useful at all. I think they only serve to diminish the Trinity and confuse the issue. There is no physical counterpart to the Trinity.

So, when explaining the Trinity to a school-age child, I don't think it differs much from explaining it to an adult. After all, the Trinity is not rational in the human sphere, so who can really understand it? Having said that, however, we can accept it, but that requires faith. The reality, then, is that a child will likely accept the Trinity more readily than an adult, as children usually have an easier time with faith. The doctrine of the Trinity is that only one true God exists, and He has eternally existed as three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. That's tough, but I don't think Adelaide is going to balk too much.

Therefore, I would say, "Adelaide, God is so big and wonderful that He is like nothing else and no one else. He is completely different. There is only one God. Anyone who says there are more gods is just wrong. They're making up pretend gods. But here's where God gets really fun. Even though He is only one God, he has always been Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? Now, Adelaide, does that make sense? No, it doesn't. But that's how amazing God is. He is totally different than we are or anything you can imagine. He can be three people but only one God. Isn't that cool?"

She might say something like, "I'm confused. I don't understand." Then I would respond with, "Yes, sweetheart, it's confusing, and it's hard to understand, but it's true. Sometimes God is hard to understand because He is so much greater than anything. But something we don't have to be confused about is how much He loves us. This amazing God who is three and at the same time one loves you and me and mommy so much. We just need to believe and love Him back."

Now, if you're asking how to completely answer every question that might come up about the Trinity, forget about it. But I think you'll be surprised at how easily Adelaide's belief is. The important thing is to remember always to exalt and glorify God in all your conversations with her. Just keep reminding her how wonderful God is and how much He loves her.