Sunset. Delight. Kindness. A glass of red wine. Joy. Blue. First kiss. Poetry. Apple pie. Roses. Beethoven. Smiles. Diet Coke. Bald Eagles. Love. Friendship. Purple. Music. Sweetness. Orgasms. A listening ear. Stars. Massage. Acceptance. Gentleness. Desire. Direction. Passion. Community. Oral Sex. Guinness. U2. First snowfall. Conversation. Intimacy. Perfume. A smile in the eyes. Big hug. Rembrandt. Baby ducks. Tears of happiness. Birds singing. Soft touch. Self-sacrifice. Attraction. Play. Laughing. Angels. Fiction.
Most Christians (including modern theologians) end up in bland discussions and debates when they start talking about the Trinity. Yet, the above list is anything but soulless to millions and millions of Christians and non-Christians. All the words and descriptions in the list are either central features of divine intimacy or the eventual by-product of Trinitarian friendship intimacy according to the Christian worldview.
If you take out first kiss, orgasms, and oral sex, it’s still a passionate list of life, smell, love, touch, seeing, and kindness enjoyed by millions of people across race, religion, class, or gender in many multiple relationships that don’t involve genital intimacy. If this list draws our imagination to beauty, good memories, supportive friendships, inspiring music, sweet smell, then we have some idea that Trinitarian friendship intimacy is by no means abstract or bland.
Take out first kiss, orgasms, and oral sex, and there are many people who enjoy passionate lives, passionate relationships, passionate love, in communities and friendships around the world. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit enjoy a passionate intimacy and life together in the Godhead.
