With spiritual eyes, unclouded by the visible clutter around us, how would we see God? For most people, the word “God” brings to mind a being on the other side of life’s observable chaos solitarily enthroned as holy King. The vibes coming off Him are similar to those of an ultra-authoritative judge. He is usually envisioned as statically sitting, and definitely viewed as a noun—the ultimate proper noun, but what if He is more of a verb? The first mistake is seeing Him as solitary, since is a harmonious set of relationships between three persons of distinction and perfect union. John of Damascus, in the 8th Century, first applied the Greek term “perichoresis” to the Trinity. This term is used to describe a Greek circle dance. If we accessed a crystal-clear, spiritual view God prior to creation, what would we see? Would we see a solitary being with a magic wand about to zap things into being, or would we observe the magnificent, graceful, endless dance of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? Would we see the continual voluntary motion of mutual self-giving? Would we be overwhelmed by the poetic rhythm of this hierarchy-less dance without a leader or followers? While occupying the same space, each maintains individuality. Witnessing this display of radical relationality, wouldn’t we be dazzled watching their fluid movement of undiluted goodwill? Viewing this God, would we be fear-stricken by potential judgment and impending punishment, or would we be attracted to this enthralling whirl of divine entanglement? I have two more things to add to this magnificent picture to further enhance this amazing dance scene. When Christ, the eternal Word, came to earth taking on a body, it was not a temporary action. He became and remains the God man, fully God and fully man. When He ascended back into heaven, it was bodily. So, as this dance continues after the incarnation, there is a human in the divine choreography. Now, for the most incredible addition to the dance. Jesus was the second Adam, inaugurating the new, reconciled humanity. Therefore, we lived, died, were buried, raised, and ascended with Him; and we have been brought into the interpenetrating, relational love movement of God in Christ. We were originally created to participate in this dance. To see this, to embrace it, to be embraced by it—makes you want to dance.
Here is a link to a video of a dance that beautifully illustrates today’s post.
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