The Royal We

I read an article yesterday that argued for a reading of the "Let us..." statement of God in the Creation Narrative as being an utterance of the "Royal We." This seems like a valid point, but it causes us (plural) to lose something grand about the basis of life and faith that is presented in the poetry of Genesis 1.1-2.4. As you saw, I hope, in the Rob Bell link I posted a few days ago the story of Creation gives us two great insights: 1- God is relationship and 2- God is creative. To read the "Let us..." of Creation as simply God's ordaining of bishop speak is to lose the fact that God, the Triune One, is perfect relationship of three Persons of one Substance. Losing that seems then to lose the power of that perfect relationship spilling love out such that the Earth moves from formless void to a "good good" system of relationships.

I prefer to read the "Let us..." statement as God's conversation with God's Self. The Father musing with the Son and the Spirit about what to do next. This allows, then, for the splendor of the relationship with the Godhead to be our perfect example of relationships of all types; familial, friendship, pet-owner to pet, consumer to product, co-created thing to Creation. It is the great benefit of Trinitarian Theology; God as 3-in-1 teaches us how to live as a part of a world of relationships. Sure, we miss the mark, a lot, but at least we have a goal, an example; one which the Royal We removes without offering a replacement.