Trinitarian Formation: A Theology of Discipleship in Light of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

by J. Chase Davis, Don J. Payne (Foreword)

Are we following Jesus the wrong way? Do you ever wonder if maybe following Jesus has been a little too complicated? Like there are too many badges to earn or bridges to cross to be a disciple? What happens in many churches is very rarely discipleship. More often it is a nice religious service or class. It should be very concerning to us that we are not making disciples. If we can't even define what a disciple is and yet we have thousands of disciple-making ministries, shouldn't that at least cause us to question if we've actually defined the problem that discipleship is intended to solve? It seems like there is a different definition of discipleship for every Christian you talk to. If we can't even agree on a definition, is it any surprise that churches are creating disengaged Christians who can't answer basic questions of Christianity, don't seem to care about Christian ethics, and don't really seem to experience the presence of God? This book is an attempt to create a common definition based on one of the most foundational Christian doctrines--the Trinity--to help churches and people obey the command to make disciples.

Genres: Theology, Christian

132 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 1, 2021

Reviews

[Fr. River · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trinitarian Formation

A Theology of Discipleship

in Light of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit


J. Chase Davis

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The Reverend J. Chase Davis presents a theology of discipleship, of growing churches, and of maintaining church membership based upon a theology of discipleship of the Trinity--the flowing of life between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Davis is seeking to have the theological concept of the Trinity undergird discipleship, which has been lost through the years.

We must remember the theological concept of the Trinity itself was created much later in the history of the Church, and so is open to various interpretations.

The criticism is that the book is difficult to read, and is written by theologians, who have little practical experience.

Secondly, it is a theology that is limited only to those who believe in one way--and essentially sets limits to those who enter the kingdom.

Personally, I am a Trinitarian, and my own theology of the Trinity is similar to what is presented, but I believe that Jesus is not the only way, there are many expressions of God, and that God is found in all of life.

I live, hang out, and minister with the "Lost Girls and Boys," ministry with these guys is not about doctrine, but about surviving moment to moment on the street.

Fr. Henri Nouwen sums up a ministry of "Sharing Our Weakness, which can bring us in touch with the living Christ and with each other, and lead us to care for all people as simply human beings struggling, and hence to caring for all creation for healing is what faith is about:

Over the last few years, I have been increasingly aware that true healing mostly takes place through the sharing of weakness.

Mostly we are so afraid of our weaknesses that we hide them at all costs and thus make them unavailable to others but also often to ourselves. And in this way, we end up living double lives even against our own desires: one life in which we present ourselves to the world, to ourselves, and to God as a person who is in control and another life in which we feel insecure, doubtful, confused, and anxious and totally out of control. The split between these two lives causes us a lot of suffering. I have become increasingly aware of the importance of overcoming the great chasm between these two lives and am becoming more and more aware that facing, with others, the reality of our existence can be the beginning of a truly free life.


It is amazing in my own life that true friendship and community became possible to the degree that I was able to share my weaknesses with others.

Often I became aware of the fact that in the sharing of my weaknesses with others the real depths of my human brokenness and weakness and sinfulness started to reveal themselves to me, not as a source of despair but as a source of hope.

As long as I try to convince myself or others of my independence, a lot of my energy is invested in building my own false self. But once I am able to truly confess my most profound dependence on others and on God, I can come to touch with my true self and real community can develop.


Deo Gratias! Thanks be to God!

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Fr. River Damien Sims, sfw, D.Min.

P.O. Box 642656

San Francisco, CA 94164

www.temenos.org

415-305-2124

[Maren · Rating 5 out of 5]

At its core, this book is certainly intended for pastors and church leaders, but Davis puts it best when he declares, "Triperspectivalism is not just for philosophers and theologians, it is for all people who want to know God. Anyone seeking to know God more and grow in godliness can benefit from triperspectivalism."

Davis breaks down his book into easily digestible chapters that add up logically to the above conclusion, which is ostensibly that Christians ought to employ a 360-degree view in matters of spiritual formation and discipleship. That approach, he argues, should balance normative (or doctrinal), existential (or devotional), and situational (or dutiful) perspectives—what's defined as triperspectivalism. At face value, it sounds a bit academic for the casual reader, but Davis brilliantly defines every term, backing each up against Scripture and weighing and evaluating it against other prominent texts and works of theology. Toward the end, he provides practical applications for what this would look like in everything from a local church's men's ministry to its stance on racial injustice to its response to common sin struggles like addiction.

There's a certain humility to the book, which can't go unsaid. Texts like this that are a bit more academic in nature (Davis admits the book is a version of his thesis) can be wholly unapproachable for the non-academic reader, but Trinitarian Formation never tripped me up (and I've never been to seminary...). Davis weaves in personal anecdotes and digestible comparisons that aid and assist the reader multiple times every chapter. The book is approachable and enjoyable—a must-read for any Christian seeking to grow.

[David Jamison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve often thought that triperspectivalism was so far over my head that I just didn’t get it. Now I’m starting to wonder if it is simply communicating what could otherwise be more clearly expressed with less effort. Just seems to complicate everything.

Discipleship requires focusing on all three aspects of the person: head, heart and hands (or as Davis prefers, doctrine, devotion and duty - I, too, think this is better). And discipleship is not focused on one of these as primary and the others subjected to it. Instead, each aspect informs the others. Unfortunately, this book fails to provide any workable examples of what heart/devotion discipleship is beyond “talk about your feelings in a men’s group”

I think this discipleship framework is actually helpful, but this book didn’t prove it.

[Adam Kareus · Rating 4 out of 5]

A look at spiritual formation from a view of more than just information, but involving action and emotions. It is a decent look at how discipleship needs to be more than just an information dump.