Walking in the Valley A bi-weekly column, featuring one Christian's (a)musings on life's journey by Barbara Dahlgren

Contradictory Concepts Column for the weeks of May 16-31, 2006

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There is no denying we live in world where something good is referred to as bad and something can be so hot it’s considered cool. We have become adept in accepting things that sound illogical. That’s why the oxymoron is so common today.

Oxymora (Yes, the plural of oxymoron is oxymora. Go figure?) are phrases where words that seem to have opposite meanings are used together for a special effect. It’s a contradiction in terms. One example would be “pretty ugly.” How can something be “pretty” and “ugly” at the same time? Who knows? But in the English language, it is commonly accepted.

The word “oxymoron” is an oxymoron in itself. It comes from the ancient Greek. “Oxus” means sharp or keen; “Moros” means dull or foolish. Therefore we have a word which means sharp dullness or as some like to say, “a foolish wise.” I guess some things we’ll never understand, we just must accept. Because in all its incongruousness, there it is – the oxymoron permeates everyday communication.

Here are some my favorites:

Some oxymora have become so laughable you rarely see them anymore. For example: the honest politician. Anyone using those words together must be terribly nice or standing fast on bitter sweet memories of days gone by and unaware of the constant changes in our society. Or perhaps they are paid volunteers with their artificial intelligence found missing on local networks playing practical jokes or needing virtual reality checks. That’s a definite maybe! Good grief! But I digress…

So adept have we become at accepting this way of communicating that I’m amazed people have trouble believing the Bible. For at first glance, it appears to have many contradictory concepts as well. We have the virgin birth which many would consider an oxymoron. We have the long awaited Messiah, Jesus Christ, coming to earth as a baby not a warrior. After he convinces everyone he is the Savior, he is crucified and dies. Then he is resurrected and goes off to heaven. God just doesn’t seem to do things in what we humans would call a logical way.

There are other things God mentions that may seem illogical to us:

• Jesus is the beginning and the end. (Revelation 1:8)
• God became flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:14)
• If we want to get, we must give (Ecclesiastes 11:1; Luke 6:38 )
• We must forgive others even if they don’t forgive us. (Matthew 6:15)
• If we want to live forever, we must die. (Matthew 16:25)
• Freedom means serving others. (Galatians 5:13)
• God uses the foolish to confound the wise. (I Corinthians 1:27)
• To be exalted, we must humble ourselves. (Matthew 18:14; 1 Peter 5:6)
• God loved the world so much he sent his son to die for it. (John 3:16,17)

On the surface this list may seem like a contradiction of concepts. However, just like oxymora are used for special effects, God uses Biblical phraseology in the same way. It deepens our understanding of salvation and enhances our relationship with God.

Be sure to visit this page often to read the next edition of Walking in the Valley. You can write to the author at bdahlgren@wcgsouthbay.org.