The trinitarian dance with culture: Trinity as the missiological optic for understanding culture

Abstract

In discussions of imago Dei, we largely confine ourselves to functional and moral affinity to God, that is that we have been made in God’s image with the result that obedience to God amounts to imitating his moral character and behavior. However, we need to add the existential affinity of God’s being to our understanding of God’s image in us, specifically the fact that he is both singular (in essence) and plural (in person). To some degree, people share God’s singular–plural quality and that one–many affinity can give great insight into gospel ministry. Moreover, as with the moral dimension of imago Dei, this singular–plural dimension also was marred by sin so that we, as individuals and as whole cultures, tend to lean toward one extreme or the other, toward singularity (unhealthy individualism) or plurality (monolithic communalism). The gospel of grace addresses both. Therefore, as we prepare to do ministry, we should study our audience to discern the existential lean of its own incarnation of imago Dei, so that we can best speak the gospel to fit audience need.