Five Myths about the Church

The church needs a clear definition of its nature before it determines and actualizes its functions and activities.

MYTH #1: THE CHURCH IS A TRINITARIAN COMMUNITY.

Hold on! Of course, the church is a Trinitarian community! As Fred Sanders rightly affirms, “The gospel is Trinitarian, and the Trinity is the gospel. Christian salvation comes from the Trinity, happens through the Trinity, and brings us home to the Trinity.”1

As gospel communities that experience and proclaim salvation, our churches are Trinitarian communities—by definition!

Sadly, in our contemporary context, what is true by definition is far too often absent in reality. Certainly, we still baptize people in the name of the triune God (Matt. 28:19), and we still send forth our church members with a concluding trinitarian benediction (2 Cor. 13:14). But other key elements of our church’s worship service are at best Trinity-light. Read More