Providence Points: Antithesis
shawn...@gmail.com
Biblical, Devotional & Informational
August 28, 2007
Vol. 2, No. 12
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>From the Editor:
One thing I do for my college ministry is write short essays for the
students (if you remember college at all, you'll remember not wanting
to read more than you had to read!). I am also working on some
evangelical tracts. Below is my introduction to Christian apologetics
and world-view thinking for the college age (and someday perhaps for
high school age). Prayerfully, in the near future, this newsletter
can transform to an html format so you can see the pretty graphics I
used. (The online version is here: http://denverprovidence.org/html/antithesis.html
) Enjoy!
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Antithesis: n. the opposition or contrast of ideas.
The word antithesis summarizes the Christian position in this present
age. It echoes the words of Jesus, when he said, "He that is not with
me is against me (Matt. 12:30). It is the principled stand of all the
children of God who are against the world, the flesh and the devil.
But what does it exactly entail? Does it mean outright antagonism
against anything non-Christian? As the definition shows, the concept
is more adapted to the realm of ideas and concepts-it is not a covert
way of encouraging physical violence, nor a subtle way of promoting
verbal assaults. Rather, the biblical idea of the antithesis is to
differentiate between the Christian approach to living and thinking in
this life and the unbelieving approach to living and thinking. And it
refers to all of life: theology, morals, politics, art, science and
any other field of human endeavor.
This antithesis is rooted in the Word of God, the infallible,
inerrant, God-breathed Bible. It is here that men, Christians in
particular, learn about wickedness, evil and sin; it is here that the
Gospel of free sovereign grace is found. It is here that Christians
learn to think aright, to develop principles of living and to
transform their minds (Roms. 12:1-3). Recognizing the depth of sinful
depravity (Eph. 2:1-3), Christians know that unregenerate mankind does
not wish to know God and flees from Him in their thoughts, actions and
desires (Roms. 1: 18ff.). Recognizing the depth of God's grace in
Christ (Col. 2:3-8), Christians know that all the treasures of wisdom
and knowledge are found in Christ as He renews our minds, reforms our
wills and repairs our emotions.
Since Christ is the source of all truth (Col. 2:3; John 14:16, etc.)
and since man attempts to live in his own truth, it is clear that
redemption in Christ involves more than merely attending Sunday
School. Corrupt man twists everything in the world: atheism in
theology, relativism in morals, pragmatism in politics, lewdness in
art, and evolution in science. Obviously, every endeavor of man is
inundated with sin. It is in opposition to Christ.
But Christ came to redeem man and His world (John 3:16).
That is why biblical antithesis is important: without it these fields
of knowledge (science, art, etc.) will be ignored by Christians and
conquered by the world, the flesh and the devil. Christians will be
regulated to Sunday only while living and thinking as unbelievers the
remainder of the week. That ought not be. Christians should think
and live in direct opposition to the world:
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and
acceptable and perfect will of God (Rom. 12:2).