Paradoxes
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God seems to enjoy paradoxes and dynamic tensions.
That makes some sense, given God’s trinitarian nature. God is three and one. God is spirit and flesh. God is male and female and neither. God is both transcendent over and immanent in his/her world.
The very building-blocks of nature are paradoxes. E=MC2 reminds us that energy and matter are transferable. Light can be both particle and wave. I don’t pretend to understand string theory, but the it seems to be pretty paradoxical too.
In scripture, Paul comes to the revelation that God is doing work in creative tensions. In Galatians he reflects, in “Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
We are people of dual identities. Clothed with Christ, yet we are still uniquely ourselves. Children of God, and yet still called to honour father and mother. Redeemed and forgiven, and yet still fallen sinners striving for sanctification.
And so, as we come to celebrate Waitangi Day, we enter again into creative tension. Governor Hobson, as each tribal leader came forward to sign their mark, said “He iwi tahi tatou” roughly translating as, ‘We are now one people.’ But of course, that unity does not erase our history. This new ‘oneness’ does not strip us of our other identities. God does not desire assimilation, but delights in diversity within the bonds of unity.
One helpful way of understanding this uses the biblical concepts of covenant. Te Tiriti o Waitangi was created as covenant rather than contract. While the difference is contested, I find the following helpful
• A covenant is more spiritual than legal
• Where contract is an agreement, covenant is a pledge
• A contract creates a mutually beneficial relationship, whereas a covenant is a giving of oneself to another.
• A contract can be broken when one party does not fulfill their part. In a healthy covenant, the party not getting their needs met supports the failing party so they are able to meet their obligations
I pray that the church, and this church in particular, will continue to engage deeply with the creative tensions in our world and our nation. May we be good covenantal partners, and seek the beauty of diversity in unity. May we be a living answer to the prayer of Jesus, “that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
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