Editing Reformed Christianity (section)

=== God ===
{{see also|God in Christianity|Trinity}}
[[File:Shield-Trinity-Scutum-Fidei-English.svg|thumb|upright=0.8|The [[Shield of the Trinity]] diagrams the classic doctrine of the [[Trinity]].]]
For the most part, the Reformed tradition did not modify the medieval consensus on the [[doctrine of God]].{{sfn|Allen|2010|p=54}} God's character is described primarily using three adjectives: eternal, infinite, and unchangeable.{{sfn|Allen|2010|p=55}} Reformed theologians such as [[Shirley Guthrie]] have proposed that rather than conceiving of God in terms of his attributes and freedom to do as he pleases, the doctrine of God is to be based on God's work in history and his freedom to live with and empower people.{{sfn|Allen|2010|pp=57–58}}

Reformed theologians have also traditionally followed the medieval tradition going back to before the early church councils of [[First Council of Nicaea|Nicaea]] and [[Council of Chalcedon|Chalcedon]] on the doctrine of the [[Trinity]]. God is affirmed to be one God in three persons: [[God the Father|Father]], [[God the Son|Son]], and [[Holy Spirit in Christianity|Holy Spirit]]. The Son (Christ) is held to be eternally begotten by the Father and the [[Procession of the Holy Spirit|Holy Spirit eternally proceeding]] from the Father and Son.{{sfn|Allen|2010|pp=61–62}} However, contemporary theologians have been critical of aspects of Western views here as well. Drawing on the [[Eastern Christianity|Eastern]] tradition, these Reformed theologians have proposed a "[[social trinitarianism]]" where the persons of the Trinity only exist in their life together as persons-in-relationship.{{sfn|Allen|2010|pp=61–62}} Contemporary Reformed confessions such as the [[Barmen Confession]] and Brief Statement of Faith of the Presbyterian Church (USA) have avoided language about the attributes of God and have emphasized his work of reconciliation and empowerment of people.{{sfn|Guthrie|2008|pp=32–33}} Feminist theologian [[Letty Russell]] used the image of partnership for the persons of the Trinity. According to Russell, thinking this way encourages Christians to interact in terms of fellowship rather than reciprocity.{{sfn|McKim|2001|p=29}} Conservative Reformed theologian Michael Horton, however, has argued that social trinitarianism is untenable because it abandons the essential unity of God in favor of a community of separate beings.{{sfn|Horton|2011a|pp=298–299}}