Are we enjoying the world of biblical paradoxes? Throughout this series we are discovering that context is king when we trip over seeming contradictions. Now it’s just getting fun.  Today we discover the give-and-takes of generosity and stewardship – or...

It’s a conundrum – in one respect, Christians are to serve the Lord, yes, and at the end of the day, say, “Hey, no thanks needed. It’s just my job.” Yet when a believer serves, we also desire the praises of “Well done my good and faithful servant.” Which is the right perspective?

It’s a conundrum – in one respect, Christians are to serve the Lord, yes, and at the end of the day, say, “Hey, no thanks needed. It’s just my job.” Yet when a believer serves, we also desire the praises of “Well done my good and faithful servant.”...

Today’s paradox is not that hard to trip over – it’s like God isn’t even trying to hide it!  In dealing wisely with fools, we often look to the book of Proverbs for guidance and we encounter a real head-scratcher.  We are to answer a fool – and then...

Today’s paradox is not that hard to trip over – it’s like God isn’t even trying to hide it! In dealing wisely with fools, we often look to the book of Proverbs for guidance and we encounter a real head-scratcher. We are to answer a fool – and then again, we’re not supposed to – huh? Which is it?

“Peace on Earth, good will to man.” “I’ve got peace like a river.” “Let the peace of God reign.” You could name a hundred worship songs about the peace of Christ. So you get this image in your mind of a soft, guru-like Jesus running around in sandals speaking words of enlightenment. Then you trip on Matthew 10 where Jesus jarringly states, “I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” Whoa. Help us out!

“Peace on Earth, good will to man.” “I’ve got peace like a river.”  “Let the peace of God reign.”  You could name a hundred worship songs about the peace of Christ.  So you get this image in your mind of a soft, guru-like Jesus running around in sandals...

Relationships are messy anyway, so when we read in the Bible to love people we aren’t too fond of, to say it nicely, we throw up our arms to the impossibility of it all. Then Jesus gets on the scene and tells us to hate those we love? Not only does this sound contradictory, it’s counter-intuitive, and seems just plain wrong.

Relationships are messy anyway, so when we read in the Bible to love people we aren’t too fond of, to say it nicely, we throw up our arms to the impossibility of it all.  Then Jesus gets on the scene and tells us to hate those we love?  Not only does...

Most people misunderstand paradoxes, which they think are synonymous with contradictions. But by definition, paradoxes are seemingly absurd or contradictory statements or propositions which, when investigated, may prove to be well-founded or true. (Oxford dictionary) Perhaps the most jarring paradox in the Bible is found in the book of Luke, where Jesus challenges us with a life-or-death decision that all must make.