Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” (Luke 9:23-26)

You can tell a lot about a person by his theology or philosophy. We would naturally wonder about the man whose theology permits adultery. Or, a relativist wants you to admire his accepting attitude, but he is really nothing more than an intellectual midget and a moral coward. He is so stupid that he cannot arrive at the truth, although he insists that relativism is correct, and would debate you over it, and he is so spineless that he can take no absolute ethical stand, unless he arbitrarily does so, which again shows that he is stupid.

To the world the typical Christian is a curious thing. He declares that his God is wise and holy, and that he speaks through the Bible, but at the same time he insists that God speaks in riddles and paradoxes, and that man’s mind cannot understand the Bible. That is, Kenneth is the smartest man I know, except that when I hear him he always contradicts himself. The fact that I perceive him as completely insane proves that his intelligence is far beyond mine. To the non-Christian’s delight and amusement, this is a standard Christian position, and of course, utterly unbiblical and ridiculous.

The Christian who sees a contradiction in Scripture is either untaught, so that guidance from someone who perceives the plain sense of the text can remove his error at once, or he blasphemes God and is not a Christian at all. To tout one’s own finitude, or what is really an inferiority in intelligence and character, as a sign of humility and as a substitute for true understanding is unworthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Although our institutions are populated with these scoundrels, I say that none of them should be in positions of authority, but should be removed and tried before the church. Alas, there is no one to try them, for it seems most people are like this.

My theology is that God is most intelligent and rational, and he has made me in his image. He speaks to me through the Bible, which is clear, simple, and completely consistent and non-paradoxical both in actuality and in appearance. Any apparent contradiction is not found in the Bible itself, but only in the mind of the person to which this contradiction is apparent. In other words, it is an intellectual hallucination. Any person who sees an apparent contradiction in the Bible is spiritually, intellectually, and psychologically unwell. It is not a sign of reverence, but a sign of sickness. But Christ is our Healer.

Here is an easy one: “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.” Ah, Christ teaches in paradox, or does he? Find a sermon and see how a preacher deals with this. I cannot tell you how a person who perceives a paradox here would preach on it, because I do not see a paradox myself. There is the distinction between a logical paradox and a literary paradox. A literary paradox occurs where no logical paradox necessarily exists, but it is used for effect, or to make the point more memorable. I am not as glib as many to concede even the use of literary devices. For example, elsewhere I have refuted the notion that the Lord employs hyperbole in Mark 11:23, but people perceive a hyperbole because of unbelief. But even if the Bible uses certain literary devices, the Christian’s paradox fetish is usually disappointed just by reading the words of the text, and in the case of Mark 11:23, by reading Mark 11:21.

In this case, we only need to continue on to the next verse: “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” Christ clearly uses “life” in two different senses, and he even specifies them. To paraphrase, “Whoever wants to save his worldly life will lose his spiritual life, but whoever loses his worldly life for me will save his spiritual life.” There is less finesse, but this is what he means. James makes a similar point when he writes, “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4, ESV).

The inferior breed of Christians refuse to hear it. It all makes sense! It is so clear! It is all consistent! It must be heresy! “You are a rationalist.” Thank you. It is better to be called a rationalist than an irrationalist, and it is better to profess God’s intelligence, and his willingness and ability to communicate in a way that man would perceive as sensible and consistent, than to blaspheme and burn in hell. I say that I can understand God not because I deny human finitude, but because I affirm God’s kindness and wisdom.

With all this talk about paradox, we almost forgot to talk about the teaching in the passage. And this is why people insist on paradox, so that they may see and not perceive, hear and not heed, and make a mockery of God’s doctrines and commands, lest they be converted and be healed. People hide behind ambiguities, and since God leaves them none, they will make some up.

Jesus says that if a person is bent on saving his worldly life, he will lose his spiritual life. If he persists in satisfying his lusts, in pursuing wealth, in securing fame and position, in enjoying pleasures and amusements, in continuing ungodly vices and relationships – if he wishes to save these things – then he will lose his soul. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul? He is like the rich man who continues to build barns and storehouses, but God says to him, “Today I will take your life! How then will your riches profit you?” But a man who is willing to lose these things for Christ will save his soul, and he will have God’s help to do it. Temptation is a powerful force, but the Spirit of God is stronger. We have removed the paradox excuse, and now we see the plain meaning of the text. What are we going to do about it? May God work in us so that we will love him only, and not the world, so that we may cling to Christ and inherit everlasting life in him.