Saturday, March 8, 2008

Paradox and Ambiguity in the Christian Life

I believe deeply that Christian faith is rooted rightly and firmly in the truth, beauty, and goodness of God's incarnate gospel for us in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. I also believe just as deeply that paradox and ambiguity thread through the Christian life. These could be explored in many directions, but ponder in brief just these hints as to how we who seek to follow Jesus experience paradox and ambiguity in the daily living out of faith.

Paradox: because we who are most enjoined to seek and embrace the next world (cf. 1 John 2:15-17) are at the same time those who are most enjoined to embrace this world (cf. Genesis 1 and 2; then Matthew 28: 19,20; and 1 John 3:17, 18).

Ambiguity: because in all we experience in this existence is an ineluctable admixture of mundane and transcendent realities; and also because we of all people know most clearly the depths of sin and the heights of glory.

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