The Mass

Most believers are nominally acquainted with the doctrine of the Trinity–One God in Three Holy Persons; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Perhaps I assume too much, but I believe that most Christians with any idea of what the Trinity is have some vague conception that it is an important doctrine because it preserves the peculiar belief held by Jews and Christians that God is one; not many.  When Christians begin speaking of the Christ and the Holy Ghost (Spirit) then people and/or critics begin questioning whether the monotheism of One God has not evolved into a polytheism (many gods) of the Trinity.

As a Christian, a Believer in Christ Jesus as God’s Son and Messiah (Christ), it is important for me to maintain the integrity of doctrine that our God is One (singular) and not many (Deuteronomy 6).  The Holy Spirit does not present the same challenges as The Son, for God is omnipresent and it stands to reason that we understand God as a Spiritual Being (John 4 “God is spirit”) and that as Spirit, He has hovered over the surface of the Earth (Genesis 1:2), over the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:35), poured Himself out upon all mankind (Acts 2:17), and has made Himself intimately available for all who belong to His Son, Jesus (Philippians 4:5, I Corinthians 12-14, etc.).  God, revealing Himself to creation by way of His own Spirit dates back to creation, the law and the prophets and what is new under the New Testament is the intimacy with all believers that is now freely shared.

Jesus, the Christ, is another matter.  For the first hundred years of Christendom, believers and leaders who received Jesus as God’s Son did just that.  Perhaps because so many of them had seen Jesus in the flesh or had grown up around those who had witnessed the incarnate Son of God.  It wasn’t until the second and third centuries that Christian apologists or philosophers began to worry about this question: if we say that Jesus is God, does this not bifurcate the God of the Jews into two gods and take us from monotheism (one God) to a religion of polytheism (many gods)?  Finally in the fourth century, the church leadership of that time called together the second historical church council ever (the first being in Jerusalem, Acts 15).  This time it was in the city of Nicea in the year 325 AD.  This council was intent on unifying all of Christendom and that meant developing universal tenets on all the major matters of the Faith–this included canonizing the Holy Bible for Christians and settling the accusation that Christians had turned the One God into many (at least three).

From the second century on, the pursuit of knowledge quickly went askew as the “apologists” turned more and more away from Scripture and came to lean to a far greater extent upon Greek and Roman philosophy.  The more I have studied the paths the Patriarchs pursued in settling this mystery, the more I have become dissatisfied with their results.  I would suggest for any of you whom may wish to seriously examine this doctrine and begin a pilgrimage of your own discovery, to begin by reading The Trinitarian Controversy by William G. Rusch.  He is a Trinitarian himself, but presents the history of the doctrine and its evolution in a scientific approach, meant to be meaningful information to any student of religion or history.  It will prove a great way for you to settle the matter of what is the Trinitarian Doctrine, and then you will be able to temporarily lay it aside as you return to Scriptures and let them speak to you about the nature of God and of His Son, Jesus the Christ.

It is with trembling humility that I have approached this study for my own personal walk with God.  I will publish more of my discoveries as they become solid enough to relate in any way.  My wife will attest to the fact that I think out loud.  Furthermore, she can verify that I get very frustrated trying to give voice to this particular study, this endeavor.  I generally end by saying to her, “It is far more easy to study than to relate.”

Join with me on this mission of seeking God’s wisdom.  One thing you must be prepared for–something of which the first century church certainly had a grasp: there will always be mystery.  The Eastern Orthodox call it Apophasis or Apophatic Theology–which begins with all that is unknowable.  Scripture itself tells us that God is unsearchable and unknowable, except that which He chooses to reveal to us by His own Spirit (Romans 11:33, Ephesians 3:5-13). The more I know about the road that apologists and philosophers traveled in order to construct the Trinitarian Doctrine, the more I appreciate what they wanted to understand and protect–but the less satisfying I find the answer.  As I read Holy Scripture I am filled with awe and insatiable hunger to know and receive God and His Son Jesus just as those of the first century received Them–let alone the Holy Ghost!

Remember, dear ones, “In Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and y’all have been given fullness in Christ.” (Colossians 2:9)

In humble reverence for the revelation of God’s Son and the Gospel we share,

Friar Theo Obrastoff

Friar Theo Obrastoff discusses the false teaching that there are two separate Gospel plans–one for Jews and one for Gentiles, and some possibilities why Pauline cults embrace such notions.

Mass Cast 2010 #1  “Who do WE say that Jesus is?”

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I have been in a funk–a long, dark valley; hardly able to see or smell the table that the Lord has set for me–even right in the presence of my adversaries!  I’ve been hungry, cold, and miserable (in a spiritual sense).  My outcry has been, “Father, is this it? Am I fired? Having been called from childhood–am I now like a poorly released product being recalled?  I’ve been so sad.  I have come to the place where, like Socrates, I’ve made it my purpose to openly pronounce before God and everybody, “I know nothing!” And like Lot, not anxious to bring any charge against God, I have been surrounded by opinions and platitudes.  I am worn out and tired and can’t do, think, or say anything more any longer.

It is at this time, of course, that I feel a power, a particular sense about my person with warm intonations, speaking gently into my spirit saying: you are not fired, silly sheep.  Once a king or queen of Narnia always and so forth–even if you stink at it from time to time.

This vision of Integrative Orthodoxy fills my being from top to bottom.  I love it.  When I think of it, I feel like a child and that it is Christmas every day.  Because it is a philosophic approach to Christianity and all Its –ologies (e.g. theology, ecclessiology, soteriology, etc-ology…) I can pretty much make myself at home in any church family and thrive to a great extent.  I am super grateful for the Everett Vineyard here in Washington.  Through my wife, God has landed us in this church family and we have really fallen in love with them–a gift we haven’t experienced in a long time.  I think we shall enjoy a long and adventurous journey together.

At the same time, I feel tonight a prompting that says, “Child, take back up your collar and your broadcasts and perhaps tour your particular music around a bit, openly sharing this integrative vision. Most people will not snuggle up to it, but there are a great deal of folks (ranging from the artsy to the “leave me alone with my mountain lake-type” people) who will receive keys unto great comfort simply from the proclamation.  “But Theo, there is no reason for you to be so downcast within and without! Pick up the mantle you were given–that Rock with your new name upon it–and celebrate and serve as this vision prompts you!”

This is the oracle that is within my heart. So the padre is back.  Look for activity.  I hope to broadcast lessons and music from my new apartment in Mukilteo.  I hope to broadcast sessions with a full band from another studio a friend of mine owns.  Just do it, I hear in my heart, and see what goodness the Lord God shall make of it all.

Will you bless this in prayer!? Those who are for it in any way are certainly not against it.  It may not be “your thing” but that doesn’t mean you can’t laugh along with me and wave a blessing this-a-way.

The Friar, Fr. Theo, is back in the saddle.  Be looking for broadcasts and blogs and more.  May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to THEE o’ Lord.  Blessed are those who minister by night in the house of the Lord.  Blessed be the name of the Lord!!

Fr. Theo