Disclaimer: This blog is not about tension in relationships. Haha. Sorry.
As I went through Bible College and Seminary, one important theme surfaced in my Christian life: The Bible contains truths that might seem like they contradict each other, and cannot possibly both be true. When this happens, if we are to obey the Word of God, we must decide to, by faith, believe both are true. God’s ways are higher than our ways, his thoughts are higher than our thoughts. So we must grow comfortable with mystery. In my life, this has driven me to an even greater view of God and his glory: I become more and more amazed by how grand and complex and unfathomable he is!
The mental picture I use to explain this idea of ‘doctrinal tension’ is this: Imagine you are walking along a narrow road, and on either side there is a ditch. Each of your hands holds a rope and those two ropes are pulling in opposite directions. If you let go of one rope, you fall into one ditch. If you let go of the other, you fall in the other ditch. You must hold both ropes. (if you choose to hold neither rope, then you can ignore the Bible at your own risk 😉 )
I’ve had a lot of time to read, study, and pray on the World Race, and I’ve been introduced to differing and new doctrines, and I strive to, by God’s grace, be faithful to what the Bible truly says in all these things. “What does the Bible say?” is possibly the most important question I’ve learned to ask in this life. And sometimes, the Bible says one thing, and another thing, and both are true, even if I don’t understand how. If you’ve ever taken physics, it’s kind of like the wave-particle duality of light: Is light composed of particles, or is it composed of waves? Well, it behaves as both. That analogy will eventually break down, but nevertheless it serves my purpose here.
So here are some of the ‘tensions’ I have studied and meditated upon this year. Maybe someday I’ll sit down and write about each of them individually, but for now, I want to just share some of the Biblical concepts that have captured my attention as of late (though not all of these are new this year):
-The Bible teaches that we are separated from God because of our sin, and that is why Jesus had to come and die. But the Bible also teaches that Satan is the ruler of the air, and he has dominion over those who have not followed after Christ, so Jesus’ death also sets people free from this dominion. Which idea should be at the heart of the gospel message we share, the heart of the gospel message that becomes the foundation for all we do in this life as followers of Christ? I contend the first because it is our sinful nature that earns us God’s wrath, and while in our spiritual deadness we were ruled by Satan, God needed not do anything to appease or break Satan’s power: In sending Jesus as our wrath-bearing sacrifice, he was appeasing his own justice and holiness. Jesus died to take our punishment for sin, to satisfy the justice of holy God, not to satisfy some ransom he owed to Satan. And I believe this distinction is of utmost importance. Maybe I will blog about this one later…
-The Bible teaches that Satan has power over unbelievers and is actively ruling in this world. But the Bible also teaches God’s complete sovereignty over all things.
-The Bible teaches that God does not sin and in fact cannot sin, because sin by nature is contrary to God’s nature. The Bible also teaches that nothing happens outside the sovereign hand of God.
-The Bible teaches that in Christ we are justified and receive his complete righteousness. The Bible also teaches that we must grow in our sanctification, pursuing holiness, living in a way that pleases God, and putting sin to death.
-The Bible teaches that God is the holy law-giver of the universe. The Bible also teaches that God is our loving Father in Heaven who shows us such great mercy and compassion.
-The Bible teaches that we must discipline ourselves for godliness. The Bible also teaches that our growth in godliness is the result of God’s work in us. I like this one too, that might become a blog someday…
I also have a list of other concepts and questions that I’ve been meditating on this year that aren’t necessarily in the category of ‘tensions’ – maybe I’ll share those later. For now, I just want to share a small snippet of what’s been going in this theology-nerd’s mind. One of my greatest themes for this year is that God is a mastermind! I am more and more amazed by him every passing month on this Race.
What have you been thinking through lately in regard to our great and inexhaustible God of the universe who works all things according to the counsel of his will?
