Semantics

I had a term named after me at work. I have the tendency to say things like, "Well if you had been there then you would have seen it." Or "Well if you hadn't fallen then you wouldn't have broken your leg." In other words, "If it was this then it would be that." They began to call this "Seven Logic." They meant it endearingly, but, quite obviously, they were usually pretty stupid things to be saying.

I believe that I do it because, like the rest of the world, I love contrasts. Contrasts make things into puzzles. I can organize puzzles. I can categorize differences. One of the more popular contrasts, throughout history, is the Miraculous versus, Wisdom.

This contrast has never changed, but we have called it by different names: Religious verses Rational, for example, or Metaphysics verses Physics. In Christ's day, Reason, which we would today term Philosophy, was a combination of Logic and Science. They were completely intertwined. Today we attempt to do the same and call it Science, rather than Reason. Still the argument is the same: Supernatural verses Natural.

Now, clearly, none of these contrasts are perfect as you could hardly get a group of people to agree on the definitions of the terms themselves, much less hold a conversation about the terms. You're more likely to have prestigious "Philosophers" and "Scientists" argue back and forth about meanings of words and proper names and perspectives and on and on and on. So let's not do that.

Instead, I want to simply point out that Christianity fits into neither of these categories. It is outside of the contrast. It does not fit any mold.

Paul, who hated the arguments that he was often pulled into by his day's great thinkers, gives us an example of what I mean in his first letter to the believers in Corinth.

'For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

'Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

'But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.' (1 Corinthians 1:19, 22-25, 27-29 NIV)

In my own understanding, and I freely admit that I don't understand it at all, God is not concerned with what we consider power and what we consider understanding. He is not concerned with Religion, Power, Knowledge, Science or anything else that we use as standards with which to adhere value. God is concerned predominantly and singularly with Relationship. Not how things relate to each other in a chemical, physical or emotional way, but simply how His creation connects to Him. How we, His beloved, become a part of Him again.

Now be on your guard against crafty speakers who would teach you that all religions are in pursuit of a Universal Oneness. That is just Totalitarian Communism manifested in a Unitarian Religion. Feel free to disagree with me, but see to it that you define those terms for yourself first.

Our God is a Jealous Creator, not a Passionless Energy. He desires the scientifically-undefinable Soul. Not a religiously-convenient Energy. He wants us. Not what Science calls our Consciousness or what Religions call our Life Force. He wants our personages. Something that, frankly, it would be foolish to try and define.

Proverbs 25:27 teaches us that, just as a little honey is sweet but too much makes us sick, so it is with thinking about matters that are too deep. So I'll leave my point of Christianity not fitting within contrasts there.

The final frustration is this: because atonement can be defined legally, but redemption cannot be explained logically, Christ's sacrifice is foolish, and, because the Creator was killed at human hands, the power-hungry religious are left without ground to stand on. However, as Paul said, Christ is the very Wisdom and Power of God.

When we share this Christ with the world, do not expect to win an argument, for it does not appear as wise, and do not expect to impress, because it does appear as strong. Rather, tell people how weak you are. Tell people how foolish you are. Tell people about all the things that God has done in your life and say these things with pride in your God. The world will mock and laugh at us, but we who have been brought to New Life, know also the Power and Wisdom of God.