Consider the Bible’s contradictions – if we try to live by law these contradictions are a problem; if we live by putting on Christ, these are liberating. God does not micro-manage our lives – He says: “you work it out.”
I have found these Bible contradictions and apparent contradictions helpful. Each creates a tension – deeming apparently opposite or contradictory behaviour acceptable.
The NT presents not a new set of ‘holier than the OT’ rules not a ‘more relaxed than the OT’ rules. Rather it presents a way of life in the power of the Holy Spirit, we pursue a life of Christ-likeness. And these contradictions help us navigate a confusing and contradictory world.
Proverbs 26.4-5 – how frequently do we find ourselves in a discussion with a ‘fool’? It might be a family or work event that we cannot exempt ourselves from. Discussion turns to a subject we don’t much care for. Do we join in or stay silent? Do we follow the folly or try to steer it on to a more edifying subject?
Some would say; whatever we say will lead to our being criticised. And we might read these verse that way.
Or, and this is my preference. There are words for that occasion. It is like God Himself says, “You choose. let the Holy Spirit give you some words to use.”
Luke 7.33-34 –
The Lord Jesus gave high commendation to His forerunner, John the Baptist. But their habits were different. John abstained from feasting. Jesus frequently ate and drank and with ‘doubtful’ company.
Yet both were right! “Wisdom is proved right by her children.” The Lord Jesus adds this postscript to pre-empt our choosing a preference.
Will my testimony for Christ be enhanced or diminished by attending the work Christmas party? Should I go for a while and then leave early before things get too ugly?
“You decide,” God says. “As a child of God, learn to choose well.”
Lev 20.7-8 –
So, who makes me holy? Here God insists, “I am the Lord, who makes you holy.” Yet a moment before we are commanded to by holy.
Surely both cannot be true. In fact, both are true!
For the follower of Jesus Christ, in-dwelt by the Spirit of God, we are on the escalator to Christ-likeness (Rom 8.29 ?) God has committed to make us like His Son. We co-operate with that great adventure,
Gal 6.2, 5 – bearing with one another’s burdens. There is a nuance here, between the wording in verse 2 and that in verse 5. Applying this to our lives; we each have personal responsibility to repent, to have faith, to pray, to gather with God’s people, etc. Yet we also have responsibility to carry the burdens of others. In between is the caution that I cannot live someone else’s life for them. I have to find the tension between supporting someone else and giving them opportunity to stand on their own.
Listen to Andrew Wilson’s explanation of this tension here: https://vimeo.com/774458466