Neapolitan Trinity (A Children’s Address)
Looking at things in three-shape is not always helpful when thinking about God as Trinity.
A clover is still a clover if it has four leaves or two, it’s just odd. A three-leaf clover cannot define God, but it can remind us of God’s unity.
A triangle is a sturdy shape, braced by its three sides, and can form a great image of God. But, again, it’s not a definition. God is not a triangle, and squares are sturdy too. (So’s a flat line if it’s horizontal).
For me the best definition of trinity is that God is made of God-stuff, and Creation is made of matter (Created Stuff).
God, Father Son, and Spirit are made of the same stuff.
Neapolitan is made of ice cream. Ice-cream has properties that are unique to ice-cream, ice-cream is not gelato and it is not marshmallow. Not all ice-cream is Neapolitan, but Neapolitan is made of ice-cream. Not all of the Trinity is “The Person of God The Son”, but The Son is made of God-stuff, and so belongs in The Trinity.
Maybe chocolate ice-cream is like the Father: God gets in the dirt to create us.
Maybe vanilla ice-cream is like the Son: God brings us out of the dirt and makes us clean.
Maybe strawberry ice-cream is like the Spirit: God brings colour and flavour to our redeemed lives.
