"Holy Contradition, Batman!"

The longer I live the Christian life, the more I see the paradoxical nature and love of God. Two truth things can be true at the same time: The Spirit of God blows where it will and Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. I do not believe that it is a ‘cop-out’ to live in holy contradiction. In many cases it takes more faith. It’s not as cut and dry as some of my more conservative sisters and brothers believe. When I talk about “living in the mystery” they often think that it’s my lame excuse for avoiding hard theological wrestling, and intense biblical study,or an unwillingness to commit myself and ‘take a stand.’ But for me, living in holy contradiction comes only after deep wrestling and concluding the truth of two truths and with Shirley Guthrie saying, “All truth is God’s truth.”

By example, may I offer two seemingly paradoxical statements from Scripture:

“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and
was led by the Spirit into the wilderness…” Luke 4:1
(emphasis mine)

“forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us; and lead us not into temptation…" Luke 11:4

So, here are my questions, bar mates…Does the Spirit of God sometimes lead us into temptation like Jesus was led into the wilderness? Or as God’s own, and since we pray the Lord’s prayer (though not magical) and say, “lead us not into temptation,” does God prevent us from being tempted? Is temptation the result of the human condition, fallen nature and sin (but what about the first temptation in Genesis) or is it holy invitation? And finally, where does grace meet us (read you) when you find yourself in the wilderness of temptation?
I will offer that for me, grace abounds in the midst of temptation—when I succumb and sin and when by grace I don’t. It’s all grace. But as to the author? I want to wrestle more with you about this before I say, ‘it’s all a mystery.”

Wilderness Blessings,
Julie