The Reformed Tradition

It is very true that throughout the Reformed tradition we have tended to lean towards the Father and the Son. I think some of the reasoning is because we have such a high view of Jesus – which is good and right. All of creation is praising and proclaiming the name of Jesus. We are called to praise Jesus. The Father sent the Son to be physically with mankind for a time (physical/visible presence is more believable than spiritual/invisible presence). Jesus is the only physical person of the Trinity. This reality makes Jesus the most easily taught on, approachable, and relatable – since He was sent to relate to us even more than He already could. We feel like we can make sense of Him where making sense of the Father and the Spirit (spiritual beings without physicality) is a far more difficult task.

How is the Spirit everywhere always? I have no clue, but I know that Jesus is physically seated at the right hand of the Father. See how much easier that is?

Another part of this, I believe, is because we don’t have a proper view of the Holy Spirit. We are afraid that if we give the Spirit too much emphasis we will be like the Pentecostals or the super-charismatic movement. The Reformed tradition values intellect and truth. The Pentecostals and Charismatic movements value experience. We have such a strong desire to know and articulate the truth that want to be drawn away from truth. However, this desire for intellect has caused us to forget that it is the Holy Spirit who gives us the truth we desire. The Holy Spirit is the one who is in us, who gives saving faith, who gives us His fruit (Galatians 5), and in whose power Jesus speaks to us.

The emphasis on Jesus doing things in our life makes us think the Spirit is not working, but in reality it is this: Jesus speaks to us through the power of the Spirit. When we read God’s Word we are experiencing the Spirit work. When we pray we are experiencing the Spirit work. When we worship we are experiencing the Spirit work. When we look at the world around us we are experiencing the Spirit work.

The Spirit’s Role

It is the job of the Spirit to testify about the Son.

The Son, with the Father, sent the Spirit to the earth when He ascended to the Father. The Spirit was sent to bear witness about the Son. This means, at His most basic level, the Holy Spirit does not worry about making Himself known to the world, but in making Christ known to the world. Anywhere the Spirit is present and working, the name of Jesus will be proclaimed. Because of this the Spirit is not spoken about as much because that is how He would like it. Everything the Spirit is doing is bringing human beings to a point where they are more like Jesus and are speaking the name of Jesus more boldly.