Doctrinal Tensions
 

Dynamic Tension in the Balance of Biblical Truth


(Maintaining Spiritual Balance in Seemingly Contradictory Biblical Doctrines)


By Pastor Dan Kennedy

©April 25, 2010


pastorkennedy@gmail.com  

www.brinnonchurch.com

Scripture Reading:  1 Corinthians 2:1-13

In study of the Bible there can be doctrines and concepts that cannot be easily understood, in fact, some may even seem to contradict one another.  In today’s message, we will look at a few areas of potential conflicts that, in fact, may actually exist to provide far deeper strengths for the Believer than we could imagine.

It must be noted that in the fundamentals of Biblical Truth there is no room for that which some would call “tolerance”.  Salvation cannot be earned, for example. Redemption is only through the precious Blood of Jesus Christ: “Not by works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5,6). 

Other aspects of our belief could never be placed “on the table” of theological tolerance, but there are other Biblical doctrines which have been debated over the centuries, that definitely have more than one dynamic and brilliant facet.  These more controversial doctrines could be the same doctrines that cause Believers in Christ to sometimes trample each other and defame the Name of Christ, even today, which should not be the case.  In a free country, by God’s grace, we have the privilege of attending our choice of church involved in any number of differing denominations celebrating many unique doctrinal distinctives.  In one of these we can more easily find support for our particular viewpoint on most any reasonable Biblical positions that we may hold.   We must continue to remind ourselves that there are no denominations in heaven!

This message is a small attempt to bring reason and sanity back to individual minds regarding those doctrines which evidence diverse dynamic tensions, while not diverging from the central themes of the Gospel of Christ.

The Balancing Iron Man

I have had on my desk an “iron man” made from horseshoe nails grasping a balancing beam in his “hands”.  When moved, he tips gracefully back and forth (and every-which-way) while continuing to weave, without complication, on the face of a one and a half inch diameter metal cylinder/stand.  [This “balancing man” was made during the great depression in the 1930’s, by a creative orphan, manufacturing each piece by hand from horseshoe nails, and selling them to sustain the livelihood of his family.]  This “Iron Man” evidences the balance many of us need to exhibit in our Christian walk – and in all of life.

Balance is beautiful, mystifying and profoundly complex, even when presenting itself in utter simplicity, while bearing tensions of seemingly opposite spectrums.  Properly guided through God’s Word, spiritual balance can keep us from embracing “spiritual elitism” that may be appealing to our natural self, so tantalizing to our intellect, but be terribly polarizing and divisive in the larger Body of Christ!

God Created Everything Beautifully Balanced!  The mystery of such balance is often hidden in the cavernous depths of profound complexities, but these inconceivable mysteries are artfully masked by their Creator in the Brilliant Simplicity He has given by their practical design and expected function.  This balance is further sustained, reinforced and given enduring qualities in Strength through dynamic Tension.

  1. Bullet  Beautiful Balance

  2. Bullet  Brilliant Simplicity

  3. Bullet  Stronger Strength through Dynamic Tension


Let’s begin by looking at God’s normal infusion of “balance” into our everyday life.


  1. Bullet  Beautiful Balance

“Balance” is known as something perfectly weighted on both sides, through equally qualified distributions, equations, or “dimensions” of mass, volume, weight, substance or thought.  Beautiful Balance is seen throughout God’s Creation.

1.God created all of life perfect.

Genesis 1:31a

“And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.”


After creation, God did not see a raw bone protruding awkwardly through the upper arm of Adam, or an eye placed uncertainly on the toe of a squirrely mammal.  He did not then stop the creative process and revise the anomalies of His former creation.  What God created was good…very good. 

2.Sin disrupted God’s perfect creation (at the fall of man).  Corruption engulfed the world and death prevailed.

3.The glory of Creation’s continuing balance, though distorted by sin, is still visible to all in most dimensions of life.

4.Balance, though at times it may be extremely difficult to accomplish in its complexity, is often most beautifully expressed and appreciated through the brilliance of simplicity.

5.The seeming simplicity of balance is often accomplished because of the compelling dynamic of tension within seeming opposing parts.

Balance is an Underlying Dimension of Life, in God’s Creation

People are normally born with:

Two Hands

Two Eyes

Two Nostrils

Two Ears

Two Feet

Two Lungs

Two Kidneys

Two hemispheres in our brain

Etc., etc.

These dual parts of the body allow for dramatic balance, giving the best perspectives of life, strength, depth perception, and reliable back-up resources for life’s greatest trials and needs of endurance. 

Beautiful Balance.  One cannot think of a better way to physically create living things in this world.  In fact, we often draw creativity for our “new” inventions or discoveries from aspects of nature already existing around us.


  1. Bullet  Brilliant Simplicity

Simplicity allows the Complexity of Life to be Accessible to All

God created life, with all of its unfathomable dimensions, to look beautiful, simply beautiful, and to function brilliantly, most often seemingly uncomplicated to the non-inquiring eye – while at the same time being extremely practical, useful, easier to understand, and often, very thrilling to observe in feats of strength, competitions of endurance, or graceful endeavors!

One Aspect of the Brilliance of Simplicity:  An Illustration of Running

The use of coordination skills in mere “walking” or “running” seem “simple” to us, but require extremely complex interactive coordination through a myriad of areas!

Many parts of the body and mind work together in complete harmony when one is walking or running:

  1. …Thought, non-thought urge, or subliminal reaction (“I’m going to run”),

  2. …Eye and foot coordination,

  3. …Inner ear balance,

  4. …Spinal cord and other nerve stimulation,

  5. …Ligament, muscle reaction of strength and flexibility,

  6. …Oxygen intake and bodily assimilation,

  7. …Increased blood circulation,

  8. …Increased adrenalin,

  9. …Continued mental interactivity and monitoring,

  10. …Joint lubrication and mobility,

  11. …Leg extension, rhythm, and coordination

  12. …Etc., etc.

We may simply think or not-think - just do, “I’m going to run,” but that demands a variety of functions to explode into interactive, complex cooperation, leading to additional confusing elements – the stretching and counter-stretching of critical parts of the body…to “run”.

  1. Bullet  Strength through Dynamic [Interactive] Tension

The Beauty of Balance and the Brilliance of Simplicity seem to be supported most effectively through the complicated but vibrant words called, “dynamic tension”.

On the surface, opposing points, concepts or dimensions of life may seem to never provide strength, but rather confusion, dissention and destruction.  But God, in His great Wisdom, can often give these seeming opposing points, even greater strength and stability through the tension generated by their supposed opposition to one another. 

Practical Dynamic Tensions visible in our Natural World

The Four “opposite” Points of a Compass:  North, South, East, and West – opposite directions, established on the centrality, power and consistency of magnetic North.

Man and Woman:  Uniqueness, individuality and oneness (mysterious, real and dynamic in representation of Christ and the Church!).

Melody and harmony:  Vibrations emanating frequencies of sound from measured specific tensions resonating and amplified from a source such as a vibrating violin or piano string, vocal cords, flexible reed instruments or “buzzing lips” on brass instruments, etc.  The singular notes of the melody enhanced by pleasing groupings of complimenting notes that are called “chords” displaying an array of harmonies.

Illumination:  Darkness and Light.  The brilliance of a sunrise or sunset.  The stars on a clear night.  The blazing noonday sun.  The bleak cold loneliness of midnight.  The tension of darkness and light!

Temperatures:  Hot and cold.

Seasons:  Four unique seasons.  Beauty, diversity, extremes, reasonable consistency, and harmony – birth, spring, youth, life, retirement, winter, and death.

People:  Diverse nationalities, languages, personalities, interests and abilities

    Two Eyes:  Perspective and Perception are gained through two eyes rather than just one.  It is hard to judge when to catch a ball thrown at you, if one of your eyes are covered up or blinded.  Two eyes give a depth of perspective.  Is the need for a depth of perspective why the Scripture can be seen to hold two dynamic theological perspectives at the same time?

Cable Bridges:  Sustained by the Tension of Seemingly Opposing Forces stabilized on either side of a river or cavern


Bridges are Stabilized through “Dynamic Tension”

Because of the strength found through this “tension” it becomes a safe and certain place for people to walk across – between and over potentially hazardous, unknown and insecure chasms throughout the road of life.

oA stable bridge must be structured by a trustworthy architect.

oA stable bridge must be built with materials that are suitable.

oA stable bridge must be embedded with a dead-head on either side, buried in a foundation that is stable and secure.

Strength through “Tension” in the Biblical Church

“The hardest thing in the Christian life is to keep balanced.” – L.E. Maxwell

“You can’t play a fiddle with a limp fiddle string.” – Vance Havner

Doctrinal Strength:  “Strength through Dynamic Tension” in Biblical Theology

The first time I began thinking about “Doctrinal Tension” in the Scripture was years ago when I attended a pastor’s seminar by Dr. John McArthur in LA.  When Dr. McArthur spoke that Sunday morning, he turned to a scriptural passage (I can’t remember which passage) and qualified his message to the church Body, by saying something like this, as I remember it. 

“Today, I will be preaching from this particular passage of Scripture.  I will preach the truth of this passage as strongly as I can, but as you know, there will be other times that another passage may seem to contradict this truth.  When I come to that Scriptural passage, I will preach that truth as strong as I can.”

I was amazed and comforted by the straightforwardness of how Dr. McArthur handled the tension of the passage from which he was speaking.  I believe that stance is honorable, Biblical and much stronger than otherwise.  God’s Word is Beautifully Balanced, has Brilliant Simplicity, and amazing Strength through a great depth of Dynamic Tension.

Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth

2 Timothy 2:14, 15

14 Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.


Depth of Biblical Perception and Mature Comprehension of the Profound Mysteries of God (far greater than our understanding) is gained through Biblical Tension

Romans 11:33

33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

(See also Ps. 139:6)

The Jews seek a sign and the Gentile seek wisdom (1 Cor. 1:22).  How often, in our wisdom-seeking, we feel our system of studying Scripture has no equal...when along comes something that sets our singular wisdom aside?  God delights in confounding the “wise” through His profound “foolishness” - even within theological tensions in the Church... “I am of Paul; I am of____” (1 Cor. 1:10-31).  Unfortunately we, through our wisdom, can create great chasms and chaos in the Body of Christ.  God, on the other hand, creates dynamic depth “perception” through two “eyes” of seeming Biblical dichotomy, which may lead to a much stronger and mature Spiritual discernment.


That which may have created profuse controversy for centuries, from singular viewpoints, might give insights well beyond our human comprehension if considered together in dynamic Scriptural tension, rather than the “other side” being discounted, out of hand.


The Beauty, Balance, Strength, Simplicity and Depth of Biblical Perspective can be seen through Biblical Tension

Let’s first explore an example of the Simplicity and Profoundness of the Gospel.

Salvation’s Profound Depth and Beautiful SimplicityFaith as a Child (Luke 18:15-17; 1 Cor. 2:1-4; John 3:14-18; Romans 10:8-13)

Luke 18

16 But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 17 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”


The profoundness of Salvation is so simple, that Christ Himself points to a believing boy or girl as the ultimate “poster-child” celebrated as the example what it means to have true “faith”, in His Kingdom!


The Simplicity of Salvation’s Truth seldom reveals the complexity of that which made it Truth; it simply, clearly and beautifully calls each one to repentance and Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ

1 Corinthians 2:1-13

[Simplicity – Faith’s Foundation and God’s Power]

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

[A Depth of Spiritual Wisdom for the Spiritually Matured]

6 Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. 7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But, as it is written,

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,

          nor the heart of man imagined,

     what God has prepared for those who love him”—

10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.


Salvation should be understood and received in child-like faith, but its foundation is infinitely deeper!


  Dynamic Theological Tensions

This message is not, in any way, a call for compromise in the message of the Gospel.  It is not a request for us to redefine (for the sake of so-called “unity”), Repentance, Salvation, New Birth or Justification through the Blood of Jesus Christ, etc.  There can be no adjustment to the validity of such foundational truths.  As in an analogy with the physical body, there is only one “Head” and only one “heart” in the body of Christ!

This message instead, is an acknowledgement that there can be two strong (Biblical) positions which may seem to be supporting two opposing doctrines.  But, since they both exist on the pages of Scripture, these may instead, be balancing dynamic tensions in Scripture (as seen in the dualities found in an analogy of the Body) for the overall health of Christ’s Church! 

Because there are dynamic tensions in Scripture does not mean we cannot hold to one side or another.  I believe it means we should encourage serious study of the Word of God and sincere love of all in the Body of Christ.  We can passionately hold to a system of teaching, but we should realize that it is a system of teaching that enables us to understand the Scriptures more clearly, not destroy our brother or sister.

Here are a few potential Dynamic Tensions, which may be seen within Theology:

God’s Sovereignty/Election (Romans 9; Ephesians 1, etc., etc.), and the Free Will [Accountability] of Mankind/“Whosoever will may come” (1 Timothy 2:4; John 3:16; Acts 2:21; Rev. 22:17; John 12:32).

The Old Person (in our flesh), and the New Person (in Christ) (Romans 7&8).

Positional Sanctification (1 Cor. 1:2; 6:9-11; Acts 20:32; 26:18) and Practical Daily Sanctification (1 Thess. 5:23; James 5:16; 1 John 1:9).

Law (the Old Testament Covenant) and Grace (the New Covenant in Christ).

Eternal Security and “Falling” from Grace (this has been argued by theologians of opposing viewpoints for centuries!) 

I personally hold to Eternal Security; at the same time, I am not going to decry or condemn my brothers and sisters who hold to the opposite viewpoint.

There are also times that there are those who need to be confronted about their lifestyle, who, it seems because they prayed, some years earlier to receive the Lord they feel smugly satisfied, but who evidence no good Spiritual fruit in their lives.  Are these the ones who need the “warning” passages in Scripture?

    Matthew 7:21-23

                “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the

                kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father

                who is in heaven...


End-time (eschatological) theological Tensions – of the “Tribulation” (pre/mid/post/or preterist position), and/or “Millennium” (pre/post/a);  “Imminent Rapture”, “Pre-wrath Rapture”, or “Final Trumpet Rapture”, or “Post-Tribulation Rapture”, etc., etc.  Jesus’ strong word to each of us, no matter what our “preferred” position would be, is to “Be Ready, for we do not know when our Lord may return!”  Should we destroy our brother or sister because they do not hold to our preferred position?

  1. Prayer itself brings theological tension!  We are told to pray, to ask, to seek, and to knock, (the persistent widow – Luke 18:1-8) in our communion with God.  But, on the other hand, God’s Word reveals to us that God knows before we ask (Matt. 6:8), the Holy Spirit groans with words which cannot be uttered, because we do not know how to pray as we should (Rom. 8:26,27), and Christ intercedes for us in His Spiritual Role as High Priest (Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:20-28; 1 John 2:1).  Prayer is Truly a Spiritually Dynamic Two-way Communication – which can be theologically debated here on earth, if we wanted to argue the points!  Christ does not want us to argue, He wants us to pray!


Dynamic Tensions and Strengths in God’s Church

Why did God allow there to be distinctive doctrinal differences between churches that seek to soundly teach the Scripture?  I don’t know.  Some of these differences could be possibly attributed to our traditions, or the teaching of someone who was a brilliant Bible scholar, but approached a doctrine from a different perspective than his peers and gained a personal following.  We cannot be always sure how certain doctrinal perspectives arose.

What we do know is that we tend to take sides rather than see strength within the tension.

May the Lord give us wisdom and grace in “rightly dividing the Word of Truth”, not necessarily, as some might wish “rightly systematizing the Word of Truth!”  Where there are tensions, let’s address the tensions.  When we do not understand the tension, let’s say, “We don’t know!”

Mark 9:38-41

38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40 For the one who is not against us is for us. 41 For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.

Since, in our humanness, and frailness – in our own Church context, in our own limitations, (in our pride) we choose to maintain certain “positions” which we strongly believe to be “sounder” and more benefiting in the long term, we do so to faithfully teach the Word of God and to preserve the Church from arguments and division – hence, we have the rise of “denominational” structures.   We should all be convinced that God goes well beyond our own intellectually human denominational structures and proves Himself faithful to any who call, in faith, on His Name in Truth (Romans 10:13).

We should hold to clear foundational doctrinal positions so there will not be division within the church.  That is why we have doctrinal statements and membership requirements – to sustain clarity of teaching.  At the same time we should have healthy Biblical communication around all aspects of God’s Word, even passages which seem diametrically opposite.

If we have a Godly balance, we should see a healthy body, struggling and growing strong in the “exercise” of knowing God’s Word through the “stretching” of the “tensions” which inherently give strength and do not destroy.  Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case.  The tensions in theology, even among believers, can be so manipulated by strong personalities, persuasive books or commentaries, and peer related denominationalism, that there can result destructive and proud arguments fiercely debated…which mortally wound one or both parties.  We should always heed the word given to Timothy by Paul.

2 Timothy 2

22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.


Conclusion


We do not know how the tensions in our human body and in creation around us work together for a stronger, healthier body and creation.  Neither do we always understand why the Scripture mysteriously has tension in certain aspects of Biblical Truth.  We may not understand these things, or even comprehend them, but God has made these elements of tension to complete His mysteries, not undermine His Truth; to complete His Body and to encompass the greatest breadth in His Church and His coming eternal Kingdom.


God has built into His Creation, into His Church and His Theology:


  1. Bullet Beautiful Balance

  2. Bullet  Brilliant Simplicity

  3. Bullet  Stronger Strength, through Dynamic Tension


May we know the balance of the tension of theology in four ways:

oThat we strive to know and seek to follow, the unbiased Truth of God’s Word, illumined by the Spirit of God. 


oThat we can personally (and as a Church) still maintain a strong, Biblically sound and balanced “position” in our theology, without disowning our true brother or sister who doesn’t view things exactly the same way we do.


oThat we love each believer (whether “positioned” with us or not), as we face the day where the spiritual powers of darkness and the world around us, are closing in to destroy faith and discredit the truth of the Word of God in which we believe.


oThat we seek to have an honorable respect for each brother and sister in Christ, while desiring to be true to God’s Word – individually and corporately within our Church!



“The Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome

but kind to everyone, able to teach,

patiently enduring evil,

correcting his opponents with gentleness.”

2 Timothy 2:24-25