Church: A Reflection of the Triune God

This work aims to explore Trinitarian ecclesiology, an area that has very little work done on by theologians. While it is true that some theologians have undertaken and done a lot of work on communion ecclesiology and the sacramentality of the Church (sacramental ecclesiology), which are but only parts of Trinitarian ecclesiology, so far not much has been done to explore and establish the roots of the Church in the core or central mystery of the Christian faith, the Trinity (the Triune God). This study attempts to engage in a holistic expose of the truth that the Church is rooted in the Trinity both in its nature and mission. That is why it is the reflection of the triune God. .

Images are always a reflection of reality, so too is the Church a reflection of the author of all realities the triune God. There are a lot of images about the Church in Scripture that shows how the Church is a reflection of the triune God. The Second Vatican Council both reiterated some of those images as well as offer Christians new insights to understanding them in relations to the Church. .

The Church is described as the kingdom that the Father gives to the little flock. As such it is laboring in exile, here on earth. It (the Church) carries in its heart the grace and truth that flow from its divine master, Jesus Christ. As a result of which it shares in the divine nature. The Church is the temple of God, where the Spirit of the Father and the Son dwells. It is a pilgrim, journeying towards its eternal destination. It is the kingdom of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. The Church is also a vine, like the vine and its branches, so must its members be in close relationship with its divine master. For apart from him, the members can do nothing. It is the Body of Christ, just as the human body has many members yet remains one, so too is the Church, with many members performing different functions yet form one body with Christ as the head. There is a strong love relationship between the Church and Christ hence the Church is called the bride of Christ. That is why Christ loves the Church to the extent of giving up his life for her. This relationship makes the Church, the family of God and a people of God. The Church is the family of God because, its members have been adopted into the family of God, the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit (Trinity) when they were baptized. For this reason, all Christian people can legitimately call God, ‘Abba’ meaning ‘Father’. They are now made children of God, brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ (the God-Man), and instruments and homes of the Holy Spirit. Thus the Church is a reflection of Christ and the God whom he has made known to the World. .

The task of this study is to examine and explore these images of the Church and from them establish that the Church is a divine or mystical institution, a communion, a sacrament and how these go to show that the Church is rooted in the Trinity or a reflection of the triune God. It will also examine and explore the mission of the Church, as well as leadership in the Church, as springing from the Trinity. From these, draw the conclusion that the Church is the vehicle of salvation for all people. .

The Church is a divine institution because it is the Body of Christ, inhabited by the Holy Spirit, who dwells in it, and directing and moving it to the glory of the Father. Thus the Church shares in the mystery of the three persons of the Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). .

The Church is Communion because it is a fellowshipping community united by the love of the Father and of the Son and of Holy Spirit. This love is exemplified in the love of the Head (Jesus Christ – the God made Man) and the disciples, and lived out daily in the love of the members. This love is open to all in the world, meaning it is universal, because God is offering his reconciliation to the whole world. Trinitarian love and communion demonstrates God’s sovereign freedom and fidelity, and God’s universal intent and community-forming power that is manifested in history in the dead and resurrection of his Son. In the Church, a community is formed by this love. God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) continues to offer himself to humanity and the world through the instrumentality (Sacramentality) of the Church.

The Church is a Sacrament because it continues to point out to the world, the God who created it in love (Father), the God who redeems the world out of love (Son), and the God who sustained it, is still sustaining it and will continue to sustain it by his love (Holy Spirit) .

The Church is therefore, called to engage the world and its people in dialogue (mission). This engagement must be holistic, if it will be able to reach every person, culture and corner of world. Hence it must engage in evangelization, inculturation, reconciliation, ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue, option for the poor, struggle for justice, protection of the earth, promotion of peace and unity of the human family, preaching of the universality of God’s benevolence and advocate for the equality of all human beings wherever they are.