June 7 – Paradox at the Heart of Faith
To transform opposition to paradox is to allow both sides of an issue, both pairs of opposites, to exist in equal dignity and worth. Robert Johnson
Gregg’s Reflection
Early in my walk with Christ, I thought contradictions in faith were problems to be solved. How could Jesus be both fully God and fully human? How could God be both just and merciful? How could joy and suffering coexist in the same life? My instinct was to resolve the tension, to pick one side, to explain away the mystery.
But over time — through Scripture, the wisdom of the saints, and my own life experience — I discovered that paradox is not a problem to fix but a doorway into deeper truth. Richard Rohr says the very nature of spiritual truth is paradoxical. Faith is not about eliminating contradictions; it’s about living with them in trust.
The more I practiced holding paradox, the more I realized that God’s reality is big enough to contain seeming opposites. Jesus Himself embodied this — strength and gentleness, truth and grace, divinity and humanity. When we accept paradox, we step into a space where God can reveal a “third way” that is richer than either side alone.
It’s not easy. My mind still wants to tidy things up. But the longer I walk with Christ, the more I see that the heart of faith is not about certainty; it’s about love that can hold the tensions of life without breaking.
Scripture
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
Romans 11:33
For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:10
Full of grace and truth.
John 1:14
Ancient Quotes
God is beyond all and in all, and whatever you say of Him is less than He is.
Gregory of Nyssa, On the Life of Moses
I am both saint and sinner.
Martin Luther
Modern Quotes
The binary, dualistic mind cannot deal with contradictions, paradox, or mystery, all of which are at the heart of religion. The times where we meet or reckon with our contradictions are often turning points, opportunities to enter into the deeper mystery of God.
Richard Rohr, CAC Morning Devotion, 8/27/16
To transform opposition to paradox is to allow both sides of an issue, both pairs of opposites, to exist in equal dignity and worth.
Robert Johnson, Owning Your Own Shadow, p. 85-86
Journaling Prompts
- What contradictions in faith or life do you find hardest to accept?
- How have you experienced God’s presence in the middle of a paradox?
- Where might God be inviting you to hold two truths in tension right now?
- How could accepting paradox deepen your trust in God?
👉 Go deeper into this week’s theme:
Read the full Week 23 Reflection: Non-Dualistic Thinking