Scandalous Intimacy

This post is a recap of a recent sermon  - Experiencing God in Community. I have had numerous people ask me to blog about it, so here is the first in what will, undoubtedly, be several posts.

Community is hardly a new topic. In fact, it is such a buzzword in the Christian world, that it has become cliché and almost lost its meaning. It has been used at too many conferences and in too many blogs and books. Unfortunately, the authentic expression of community is too often absent in our day to day lives.

So instead of the C word, I choose to use the words connection and intimacy, which better describes what we are really longing for. This is the itch we are trying to scratch when we talk about community. 

The Dance of the Trinity

The Trinity is the ultimate model for connection and intimacy. They/He/It is a mystery I can't begin to truly understand, let alone explain. But, of course, I have to give it a try. 

Instead of drawing on the typical, and static, analogies that attempt to describe the big 3 (apples etc), I am interested in exploring the dynamic interaction amidst their/his intimacy. The Greek term, perichoresis, gives this a shot; imaging their interplay as a dance...a movement of love...a veritable love fest. Think John 17.

What a fabulous picture. To dance suggests precision, mutuality and working together with purpose. Instead of power struggles, there is delight. The grace and beauty of this imagery is winsome and compelling.

Born in Love

It is out of this dance of intimacy, this love fest, that we were created. The Trinity, pregnant with love, exploded with creation. We were not birthed from isolation into isolation, or from community into isolation. But we were created from community into community - from intimacy into intimacy. 

It is not good for man to be alone, remember. 

And while it may be tempting to leave such intimacy within the realm of marriage, that would be a mistake. As Jesus is praying for us, he asks:

“That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." (John 17:21-23)

He is speaking of us...all together...the church.

Relating in Love

There is something of the mystery of the dynamic interplay of connection amongst the Trinity that is supposed to be reflected within our communities. This is not a fakey, smile on Sunday and hit your fine button, shallow relationship. Instead it is the language of intimacy. Connection. Knowing. Being known. 

Some of the language used when talking about this concept is indwelling, or interpenetration - not so scandalous when we think about the mystery of the trinity. But how do we discuss indwelling and interpenetration amongst flesh and blood people? 

Tim MacGraw has a love song where he is croons and swoons away about his intense need for the object of his affection:

“I need you…

Like a needle needs a vein

Like Uncle Joe in Oklahoma needs a rain

I need you like a lighthouse on the coast

Like the father and the son needs the holy ghost

I need you” 

What if it’s true? What if I need you like the Father and the Son need the Holy Ghost?

Well, it just might be scandalous.