Who remembers Eldridge Cleaver? He was a member of the Black Panthers back in the 60′s and he wrote a book, Soul on Ice, while he was in prison for some violent crimes. I read the book back then, and I only remember one story. He mentioned a Sunday School class he visited in which they were studying the Trinity. When he suggested a comparison to 3-in-ONE oil the teacher rejected it, and as I recall, he rejected the church. Years later, after more life experience, much of it bad, he wrote another book, Soul on Fire, after his conversion to the Christian faith.
The doctrine of the Trinity is often a difficult concept for people. I thought the 3-in-ONE oil comparison wasn’t such a bad way for a teenager to come to terms with it. The product was invented in 1894 by George Cole and designed to do three things: lubricate, clean and prevent rust.
Well, okay. I can’t do much with that theologically. But three-in-one pretty much captures it. Other ideas about the Trinity? Why is this chapter included in Discipleship Essentials? Why does this even matter for disciples?
