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Do Not Judge And Judge Rightly
Brian Mashburn
May 27, 2018
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The Blessing of Paradox
I got this text from a buddy this week: "I like to keep things simple". I replied with something like, "Me too, as long as the things I'm keeping simple actually are."
I try to practice and encourage simplicity everywhere I can. But trust me, you do NOT want to keep things that are by nature complex, simple. Biggest. Mistake. Ever.
For example, I have had surgery before, just like many of you. Imagine if, while you were under, there were "complications". Do you want your surgeon to drop his tools, wash his hands and leave the O.R. because he is the kind of man who says, "I like to keep things simple"?
Of course not. Things that are by nature complex, you must deal with as complex. Complex doesn't mean impossible. Nor does it mean un-understandable. It just means complex. Animals are simple. They do not have the mental resources to handle complex. But you do. You are made in the image of God.
Aren't you glad that God doesn’t "just keep it simple"? He certainly could. He could have made our relationship with Him as simple as "measure up, you're in. If you don't, you're out." Or even, "I'll give you 3 chances after that, we are done." Or, "I will keep My promises to you as faithfully as you keep yours to Me." Simple.
As we finish up our series on paradox today, my prayer is that you have embraced it, and the skill of utilizing it, as a blessing, as a key, even, in understanding and engaging the world with grace and truth (another great paradox, by the way). According to scripture, the world is God’s enemy AND God's beloved. God calls us to become living paradoxes that can fight against the world, for the world.