Biblical Oxymorons .......... Parables 514

June 11, 1996

Ever wonder about terms like an original copy? Or a loud silence? Or sweet sorrow?

These figures of speech are called oxymorons, from two Greek words meaning sharp and foolish. In the first example, a copy is so true to the original that they call it an original. In the second, silence is so profound it seems loud. In the third, sorrow is mingled with joy so even its pain has a sweetness to it.

These contradictory word pictures are found in many pieces of literature as well as throughout the Bible. In one instance, two experiences that are not normally associated with each other describe the pain of death as “birth pangs.” Other Bible oxymorons include “living sacrifices,” “their glory is in their shame” and “you killed the author of life.”

Someone told me this week that “self-esteem” is also an oxymoron. Those who do not have it simply cannot give it to themselves because no one can rate themselves favorably when they are convinced their own opinion is worthless!

What about “self-control?” Is it also an oxymoron? From the Bible’s definition of self-control and what I know about human nature, it seems so.

Human nature has a built-in perverse tendency to say “no” to God and to all that He is and represents — but says yes to everything else. For instance, God is a Being of order and arrangement but we resist being ordered and arranged. Even when we try to work at it, it is just that, work! Drawers, desks and closets are a constant battle. Those who win the battle do so with less than saintly motives. We are not trying to glorify God, we just do it so we can find our socks.

Self-control is a biblical term in many English translations. It is from two Greek words: one means “temperance” and the other refers to someone with “a sound mind.” Since Scripture says people are generally anything but temperate in their behavior and sound in their thought-life, this form of “self-control” is unique. It is not talking about restrained outward behavior but something far more significant.

Placing self-control alongside sinful human nature produces two pictures. One is what the Apostle Paul calls the flesh, or the old self, or the old nature. This describes someone who lives without constraint and without concern about sin. Obeying God is not their goal. Yet this also describes people who appear religious, those capable of a “form of godliness” but who “deny the power of God.” Their religion is only a show, an outward pretense.

The second picture is the new man or the new self that comes into existence when Christ forgives and cleanses a sinner and by faith, they receive Him into their life. The process is called regeneration or new birth. The new self is the new nature that the Spirit of God controls. With Christ in charge of this “self,” temperance and sound thinking are possible.

However, none of the second picture is a product of “self-control” in the sense that the person himself produced it. As the Gospel of John says, the children of God are “born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” New life and the resulting self-control happen not because we decide it should, but because God decides He will give it to us.

Paul affirms this by declaring godly thinking and godly living — self-control — is a fruit of the Spirit. He produces it, not we ourselves. This wonderful virtue is the ability to say “no” to that sinful nature, the old self. It is the capacity to live under the control of a contradictory self-discipline — it can only be ours when we are yielded to God.

With that, it seems “self-control” is one more delightful oxymoron.

Self-control ........................... Parables 114

Have you ever caught a child with his hand in the cookie jar . . . when he has just been told “not before supper?” He knows he’s in trouble. He may even begin his defense before the accusation comes.

Cookie jars tempt kids. It is easy to let the desire for “just one” overrule the fact that a loving mom always has her reasons why she sometimes forbids cookies. But little appetites don’t always understand.

Mom knows it is too close to supper and empty calories would spoil appetites for something more nutritious. She knows how quickly “just one” becomes “just one more” and how badly junior needs to learn self-control. In spite of what junior may think, mom knows best.

I’ve noticed that many people live with the same response to God’s commands as the average child does to mom’s cookie jar rules. God says “no” and just like a child, they protest against His “thou shalt nots.” Or they plead ignorance; or they try to change the rules. Sometimes they would rather bear the consequences of indulgence than go without -- anything but yield to His wisdom. They have never looked beyond the no-no.

Why are some things forbidden by God? Could it be that He cares for us, that He has plans for our good behind His commands? Could it be that finite man is like a child, only thinking of what tastes good, what feels good -- not what is good for him? That being the case, God will seem like a kill-joy, quick to say “no” and quick to condemn. But that is not true.

The Lord affirms His motives in Jeremiah 29: “I know the thoughts that I think toward you . . . thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” He isn’t out to get us.

The problem is that many people are bent on going after things that He knows are not good for us. Yet He is not standing behind a bush with a big stick hoping to catch us so He can swat fingers or lay on a guilt trip. In fact, John 3:17 says that God did not send His Son to condemn the world but that the world could be saved through Him.

Like a child that eats sweets until they are sick, we would ruin our own eternal destiny, and probably our present life, without His intervention. Jesus came to save us from our tendency to disobey -- for our own good. We need His provision for our sinfulness and we need His commands to guide us.

Being warned of danger through His commands shows that we are loved and important to God. He is able to see the possible consequences. He would rather prevent the chaos we inflict on ourselves than have us learn by painful hindsight. So He warns us, yet we often misinterpret His intentions.

His commands also show that we are prone to disobey, to do things that are far more serious than eating a few too many cookies. Every one of us has broken at least one command. However, He didn’t give them and warn us about disobedience so He could punish and reject us -- but so we would see how badly we need His Son. When we place our faith in Jesus Christ, we are set free from the condemnation we would otherwise bring on ourselves.

The temptation to sneak “just one more” may be ignorance of God’s goodness, or it may be rebellion against His wisdom. Whatever the real reasons and no matter the excuses, the forbidden can destroy the appetite for something better -- and further weaken self-control.

It’s just not worth it.