By James White
Bethany House Publishers
Minneapolis, Minnesota
1998
Reviewed by Paul Ratsara, Director, Africa-Indian Ocean Division Stewardship Ministries
The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of the law (Deut 29:29).
The Trinity is one of the fundamental beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. We believe that there is one God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, a unity of three co-eternal Persons. This is a teaching most challenged in the Christian Faith.
In studying it, we need to avoid two extremes: The First one is to go beyond the boundaries of the Bible. Referring to the second extreme, James R White, author of The Forgotten Trinity makes the following observation: It is the topic (the Trinity) we won’t talk about: no one dares question the Trinity for fear of being branded a ?heretic’ yet we have all sorts of questions about it we aren’t sure we can ask. Many believers have asked questions of those they thought more mature in the faith and have often been confused by the contradictor y answers they received. Deciding it is best to remain confused rather than have one’s orthodoxy questioned, many simply leave the topic for that mythical future day ?When I have more time.’ And in the process, we have lost out on a tremendous blessing (p 14).
The Forgotten Trinity is indeed a remarkable book. White has the art of being concise, yet clear and understandable. Throughout the 14 chapters, he successfully endeavors to convey the identity, function and importance of the Trinity. However, it was the practical aspect of this book that appealed to me the most. The book boils down to the focus of the reader and how the Trinity makes a difference in one’s every day life: It begins with the Trinity and worship; then moves to the Trinity and the Gospel; and finally comes down to the Trinity and you. The end result is that the reader has more than an understanding of the Trinity. The reader now has a meaningful relationship with the Godhead.
