Paradox revisited

[Esquire]

I have posted and said that where Christianity seems contradictory, it is really in paradox (seems contradictory, nevertheless is true).

I ran across the following prayer tonight. It really illustrates some of what I was trying to get at; that is: the paradoxes of Christianity.

John MacArthur in his book, "Hard to Believe" quotes the prayer of a saint from long ago used as the introductory prayer in Arthur Bennett's "The Valley of Vision".

"Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly,

let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up,

that to be low is to be high,

that the broken heart is the healed heart,

that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,

that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,

that to have nothing is to possess everything,

that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,

that to give is to receive.

Let me find thy light in my darkness,

thy joy in my sorrow,

thy grace in my sin,

thy riches in my poverty,

thy glory in my valley,

thy life in my death."

[WildmanSC]

I have posted and said that where Christianity seems contradictory, it is really in paradox (seems contradictory, nevertheless is true).

I ran across the following prayer tonight. It really illustrates some of what I was trying to get at; that is: the paradoxes of Christianity.

John MacArthur in his book, "Hard to Believe" quotes the prayer of a saint from long ago used as the introductory prayer in Arthur Bennett's "The Valley of Vision".

"Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly,

let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up,

that to be low is to be high,

that the broken heart is the healed heart,

that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,

that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,

that to have nothing is to possess everything,

that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,

that to give is to receive.

Let me find thy light in my darkness,

thy joy in my sorrow,

thy grace in my sin,

thy riches in my poverty,

thy glory in my valley,

thy life in my death."


Mike,

For the most part, I consider these to be biblical truths rather than paradoxes. First, the Merriam-Webster definition(s) of paradox:

1 : a tenet contrary to received opinion
2 a : a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true b : a self-contradictory statement that at first seems true

To a Christian, the various statements in the prayer should not be paradoxical. To the unsaved, unwashed, unbeliever, they would be foolishness, or paradoxiacal!

"Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly,"

As the risen and ascended Son of God, the Lord is high and holy, at the same time while he was walking upon the earth He was meek and lowly.

"that the way down is the way up,"

By getting down (the way down) on our faces before Almighty God, repenting of our sins and acknowledging with our mouths our belief in the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and asking Him to come into our hearts and lives as personal Saviour, we will be born again, receive eternal life and some day soon go up (the way up)!

"to be low is to be high"

To emulate the Lord by being meek and lowly (low) here on earth will result in us being up high in Heaven someday.

"the broken heart is the healed heart"

The heart of a sinner, or Christian, must first become broken (the broken heart) before it can be healed by the Holy Spirit (the healed heart).

"that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,"

If we have sin in our lives, if we approach the throne of grace with a broken spirit (the contrite spirit), the Holy Spirit can then give us victory over sin and our heart will be full of joy and we will be rejoicing (the rejoicing spirit).

"that the repenting soul is the victorious soul"

If we repent of our sin (the repenting soul) the Holy Spirit will give us victory over that sin (the victorious soul).

"that to have nothing is to possess everything"

If we are poor in the worldly sense (to have nothing), but, yet we have the Lord as our personal Saviour, we have everything we need (is to possess everything)

"that to bear the cross is to wear the crown"

The Bible tells us "Take up thy cross and follow me" (that to bear the cross) and that if we are faithful in so doing we will receive a crown, and in fact we are already sitting in Heavenly places and wearing that crown, (is to wear the crown).

"that to give is to receive."

If we give to others of ourself or of our riches (that to give), God gives back to us much more than we could ever give to others (is to receive).

"Let me find thy light in my darkness"

His light shines upon us (Let me find thy light) even in the darkest of trials or valleys (in my darkness).

"thy joy in my sorrow"

If we remember at ALL times to praise Him we will receive the fruits of the Spirit, love, JOY (thy joy) even in our darkest times of sorrow (in my sorrow)

"thy grace in my sin"

Prasie God for His Amazing Grace (thy grace) that provides foriveness for all sins for which we repent (in my sin).

"thy riches in my poverty"

Almighty God makes available to wretched vile sinners the riches of Heaven (thy riches) despite their wretchedness and vileness and inability to pay the price for their sins themselves (in my poverty).

"thy glory in my valley"

In His full glory (thy glory), Jesus walks with us in our darkest valley (in my valley)

"thy life in my death"

Praise the Lord, because He lives (thy life), if we are born again, when we die (in my death) we will live in Him!

Bill

[Esquire]

Sorry Bill,

I should have given my working definition of "paradox".

Dictionary.com gives this definition: "A seemingly contradictory statement that may nonetheless be true"

I would make one small change to that definition and say - It looks like a contradiction, but it is true.

It is sort of like an oxymoron, with a surprise ending. Put two seemingly contradictory terms together and come up with the gospel truth!

I, too, consider these to be some of the mysterious yet simple truths of Christianity. I should have been more clear. Thanks for clarifying.

Mike

[WildmanSC]

Mike,

No problem. I enjoyed the exercise of going through and addressing each point. It was challenging and therefore the reward was great, for me! :)

Bill