An Invitation to Participate

Andrei Rublev, a fifteenth century Russian artist, is known for his famous Orthodox icon painting called the “Trinity" which hangs in Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, Russia.

I wasn't raised in an Orthodox church so growing up their iconic art was not something I knew much about. My background was of the Pentecostal, Protestant faith and it seemed my church history perspective only went back to the early 1900s. Over the years, I’ve explored a deeper history of the church and faith. I have found, interestingly enough, there is a doctrine within the large cloth of the Christian faith, Catholic Orthodox, and Protestant that we all agree upon and have maintained for thousands of years. (Which in my opinion is a miracle in itself.) This doctrine is of the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. One God in three persons and a beautiful relationship of oneness.

Three and yet one. Mutually indwelling without losing their distinctiveness. Mutually submitted one to another. Same in character, yet different in function.

The words of Jesus recorded by one of His disciples, John, remind us of this:

I and the Father are one.

John 10:30 (NIV)

Jesus replied, ‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you?’

John 14:9 (NLT)

This is what artist Andrei Rublev painted, the three in relationship with one another in divine communion. One of the observations made about the original work of art, which hangs in Moscow, Russia, was that there seemed to be an adhesive on the front of the table where the rectangle is located. What they concluded was Andrei did something that had never been done in the art world. 

The artist connected a mirror to the front of the painting. So on the original painting, as you looked and saw the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in communion and fellowship, you also saw yourself seated at the table with them. It was the invitation to join them in this beautiful communion of love, fellowship, and relationship. The invitation to share their life with us. 

In the words of Jesus and Peter:

I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.

John 17:21 (NLT)

Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

2 Peter 1:4 (NIV)

This is what makes Jesus' teachings of the beatitudes come to life for me. They reflect what God is like: meek, merciful, and humble with an other-centered, self-giving love.

As I reflect on the times I've heard God invite me to participate, they all seem to be about loving myself and offering love to others.

One invitation was twenty five years ago, when my sexual addiction was more than I could take, and my Christian faith (or how I saw Christianity) wasn't leading me to transformation. I felt the invitation to go visit a sexual trauma treatment therapist in the community where I lived. God showed me I was worthy of getting help and this was a competent, trained therapist who could lead me through the process of healing. This started a three-year journey working on retraining my brain and beginning the healing journey of recovery. This led to not only my personal road to recovery, but restoration with my wife and family.

Over eight years ago, another invitation came my way to participate in a Pure Desire training with Dr. Ted and Diane in what used to be called the Pure Desire University (now the Pure Desire Conference). It was there that I felt the invitation to continue healing my shame by leading groups for others in the church where we pastored. Owning my story and offering it as a source of hope and encouragement for others became very fruitful as we were able to help men and women in our local church move toward healing.

Four years ago, I was sharing at a Pure Desire training in Branson, Missouri, at the College of the Ozarks. While on that trip, I felt a clear invitation to leave the church I was pastoring and become an ambassador for Pure Desire, to help churches across the country by sharing my story. Every time my wife and I would share, someone would come up to us and say, “Thank you for sharing your story.” Or, “I’ve had this issue as well, how can I receive help?” This was always very rewarding after sharing something so vulnerable. So we responded to the invitation. We raised our own salary and continued sharing in churches around the country. Our passion is to help churches know about Pure Desire’s programs and raise resources for this incredible ministry that offers healing to so many. 

Again, two years ago, I heard another invitation to lead Seven Pillars of Freedom groups for pastors and missionaries. This, by far, has been one of the most rewarding experiences for me. Men in leadership positions, finding themselves in the same place I did so many years ago, finally able to release shame and find their own path toward true authentic healing.

Recently, within the last year, I have found myself navigating a difficult season and struggling with depression. Through the help of my group members, family, and some dear friends, I have felt another invitation. The invitation to seek medical help and start medication to help with my depression. I’m at the beginning of this process but I have the strong sense that God is inviting me, once again, to care for myself. 

Learning to listen to that voice within, and the voices around me, has served me well throughout my life. It has helped me realize God's invitation to participate in life with Him here and now. What Jesus called, “The Kingdom of God.”

Life is hard. Addiction is real. Betrayal is painful. And trauma, at times, seems overwhelming. But, I am so grateful for a Trinity (God, Jesus, and Spirit) who are always inviting people into participation. Sometimes the invitation is to care for ourselves and sometimes the invitation is to care for others. 

Where might God be inviting you to participate, realizing you are worthy of His love and there's a seat at the table for you? And where might God be inviting you to participate in sharing this love with others?

Originally posted February 17, 2022.

The views, opinions, and ideas expressed in this blog are those of the author alone and do not reflect an official position of Pure Desire Ministries, except where expressly stated.