“The shyness of the Spirit . . . is not the shyness of timidity (c. f. II Timothy 1:7) but the shyness of deference, the shyness of concentrated attention on another; it is not the shyness (which we often experience) of self-centeredness; but the shyness of an other-centeredness.”- Frederick Bruner, Holy Spirit: Shy Member of the Trinity
“Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. . . . But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”- John 14:11, 26 (NIV)
John Ortberg continues on in Chapter 2 of Everybody’s Normal . . . as he underscores that no merely human cycle of life suffices. Hence, every circle requires another cycle to support it. Because every human cycle is broken — including all the people who make up each circle.
Writing in The Renovation of the Heart, Dallas Willard explains:
“Ultimately, every human circle is doomed to dissolution if it is not caught up in the life of the only genuinely self-sufficient cycle of sufficiency, that of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. For that circle is the only one that is truly and totally self-sufficient. And all broken circles must ultimately find healing there, if anywhere.”
Thus, the members of the Trinity, John notes, offer themselves to one another in love. A love described as ceaseless, joy-filled, mutually submissive, generous, creative, and self-giving.
In conclusion, Pastor Ortberg stresses, Jesus never walked around and proclaimed His greatness. Rather, as Jesus said in John 8:54 (NIV), “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, who you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.”
Therefore, John states, the whole blessed Trinity is shy. But not shy in a timid way. Instead, God exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in community. A community of greater humility, servanthood, mutual submission, and delight.
Today’s question: Do you see the Holy Spirit as expressing the shyness of deference? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “The new math of God”