This week I began to ponder something that has been obvious for ages, everything seems to have an opposite.

There is a very ancient teaching that is believed to have been first taught by Fu Hsi, the legendary early emperor of China who reigned around 2850 B.C. In modern times this doctrine has been promoted in the West by the writings of the religious cult leader, Sun Myung Moon, particularly in his book, "Divine Principle." A number of years ago, when a group of "Moonies" were attending the church I served at that time, I tried to read this book and found it to be very confusing reading. The philosophy behind this book has also been picked up by many New Agers, and goes under the designation, "Yin and Yang." The basic concept is that of dualism, that all existence can be described in opposites; there is positive and negative, male and female, protons and electrons, light and dark, left and right. Several Eastern religions such as Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism are based on this philosophy. In the Western world it has been adopted into the symbolism of myth, magic, astrology, and witchcraft; humanists, New Agers, witches, and Satanists all subscribe to this philosophy.

One of the seven laws of "yin/yang" is that, "Everything Changes," and therefore, nothing is absolute. The "yin/yang" philosophy also holds that everything exists on a continuum between the opposite poles of these dualities so that although there is light and dark, nothing is totally one or the other. In part, this is what has softened the ground for the acceptance of homosexuality because, we are told, no one is totally male or female, we each have at least some of the other in us - women have some masculinity, and men some femininity. Ultimately even God becomes both male and female - He is both Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother, thus the gender neutral Bible translations and hymn revisions. We are now told that we should pray, "Our Heavenly Parent," and we should no longer sing "Faith of Our Fathers."

On a human plane, there is a bit of truth here which leads to the application that as humans, we are not allowed to adopt a "we/them" mentality - "We're all good, and they're all bad, we're saints, they're sinners." In fact, that's why Jesus made the point that we are not allowed to separate the wheat from the tares (Matthew 13:20), that kind of judgment is only His to make at the time of the harvest. We have not yet been totally restored to the image of God, so we indeed have a mixture of good and evil in us - we have been called to perfection, but we are not there yet!

When it comes to God, however, clearly, Christianity does not accept the basic premise of dualism; it especially rejects the notion that good and evil are two equally powerful forces such as we see in the positive and negative poles of a magnet. We believe that God is totally good - there is in Him no evil, and furthermore, He is changeless and all-powerful, leaving no room for an equal opposite.

However, the Bible does seem to suggest that, in the Christian life, a number of so-called opposites exist.

For a moment, let's look at some examples of opposites which describe who we are:

We are rich (II Corinthians 8:9), yet we are also poor (Matthew 5:3).

We have been given a peace which passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7), yet there is a war in our members (Romans 7:23).

We can rightly claim freedom in Christ (John 8:36), but we are also called servants (Ephesians 6:6; Romans 6:22).

In us all, both love and hate reside - love for God and one another (Mark 12:30), but hate for the sin (Revelation 2:6), and consequently, hate for the disease and death sin produces.

There is a promise of fullness of joy (John 15:11), and yet we are called upon to weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15).

While we experience healing and health (Psalm 103:3), there is at the same time sickness and suffering (Revelation 21:4).

Even while we believe, we also confess to doubt (Mark 9:24).

Jesus prays for unity (John 17:22), but lets us know there will be division (Matthew 10:35).

We claim victory (I Corinthians 15:57), but we experience defeat (II Corinthians 4:8,9).

At one point Jesus instructs us to pray, "lead us not into temptation" (Matthew 6:13), then later in the Bible we are told to "count it all joy when you fall into temptation" (James 1:2).

One of our favorite verses tells us, "God so loved the world" (John 3:16), yet we are clearly told, "love not the world" (I John 2:15).

John teaches us that we don't need anyone to teach us because we have the Holy Spirit (I John 2:27), but Paul tells us that God gave us teachers (Ephesians 4:11).

It really seems contradictory to say, as Jesus did, to save your life you have to lose your life (Luke 9:24); the "first shall be last" (Matthew 20:16) also sounds like a contradiction.

Of course, some of these apparent contradictions are easily explained by paying attention to the situation surrounding the sayings, or by noting the different meanings that are attached to words.

"We were therefore buried with [Christ] through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." (Romans 6:4)

"But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness." (Romans 8:10)

"The [woman or man] who lives for pleasure is dead even while she [or he] lives." (I Timothy 5:6)

"If we be dead with him, we shall also live with him." (II Timothy 2:11 - KJV)

"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness. . . ." (I Peter 2:24)

The clear, but seemingly contradictory message is that if we have been crucified with Christ we must have died. But we are not dead, for if we died with Him we also rose with Him and are therefore very much alive. Now, however, we live a different life than before - the death and resurrection has changed us completely. Now we have in us the living Christ. Doesn't this sound weird? I have someone living in me! This is what theologians have called the mystical union, the "Christ in me." (See also Colossians 1:27) The union is called "mystical" because there is the element of mystery, there's something about this that cannot be fully understood by the rational mind.

To have "Christ in me" is the same as being "in Christ," a more frequent phrase used by Paul. However, this is what Jesus must have had in mind when He said, "Abide in me and I in you" - both of these dimensions are present, "Christ is in me; I am in Christ." This language is a manner of identifying the "saints," the Christians, but is a much stronger statement. Using this terminology, "saints" are more than believers, and more than adherents to a set of teachings introduced by our founder. Christians are truly "Christ ones," people who actually have in them a possessing spirit, the Spirit of Christ.

On several different occasions, Paul identifies Christian churches as being those that are "in Christ": II Corinthians 12:2; Galatians 1:22; Ephesians 1:1; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:2.

Individual Christians are also known as such because they are "in Christ": Romans 16:7; Philippians 4:21; Philemon 1:23; I Peter 5:14.

Furthermore, some of the great encouraging statements of the New Testament apply to those who are "in Christ":

"God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:6,7)

"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! " (II Corinthians 5:17) "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death." (Romans 8:1,2)

"It is because of [God] that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God - that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. " (I Corinthians 1:30)

"The Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first." (I Thessalonians 4:16)

Is this so difficult to understand? Is this such a mystery that only a child can understand it? A few here may remember the children's song,

Can we be like children and sing this song?

Do we have to understand it in order to embrace it? Do we have to understand the internal combustion engine and fuel injection before we drive the car? Do we have to understand electricity and the difference between volts and amps before we will plug in the appliance or flip the switch? Do we have to understand a micro-chip and learn "Basic" before we will send an email? Then why do we have to understand "Christ in you, and you in Christ" before we will invite Him in? What difference does it make anyway? What good is it to be "in Christ" or to have this "Christ in me"?

When I am weary and discouraged, the "Christ in me" provides the strength to go on.

When filled with disappointment or sorrow, the "Christ in me" renews the hope needed to look forward to a better day.

When temptation comes, the "Christ in me" not only communicates what is the right, but gives me power to do the right.

When decisions have to be made in the midst of a confusing situation, the "Christ in me" sheds light on the path so I better know which way I should go.

When the opportunity comes to present the Good News to a family member or friend, the "Christ in me" provides wisdom and boldness, giving me what to say and boldness to say it in love.

When the end draws near and I worry about what will happen after the heart no longer beats, the "Christ in me" provides a peaceful security and a joyful longing to complete the union I have with Him - to be in His presence for the rest of eternity.

1. When it comes to people, can you provide an example of the saying, "opposites attract"?

2. What is the basic concept of the "yin/yang" philosophy?

3. Why do you think "yin/yang" is attractive to "Satanists" and the supporters of homosexuality?

4. Why did Jesus say that wheat and tares should not be separated until the harvest?

5. Ultimately, dualism presents us with the equally powerful forces of good and evil. Why is this not acceptable to the Christian?

6. What are some examples of apparent opposites which describe who we are as Christians? 7. Can you explain why Jesus instructed us to pray, "lead us not into temptation" (Matthew 6:13), then later in the Bible we are told to "count it all joy when you fall into temptation" (James 1:2)?

8. If "God so loved the world" (John 3:16), why are we clearly told, "love not the world" (I John 2:15)?

9. If, as John teaches us, we don't need anyone to teach us because we have the Holy Spirit (I John 2:27), why did Paul tell us that God gave us teachers (Ephesians 4:11)?

10. According to Galatians 2:20, how are we both dead and alive?

11. Why might some people think that the phrase "Christ lives in me" is weird?

12. It appears, according to what Jesus said ("Abide in me and I in you") that to have "Christ in you" is the same as being "in Christ." According to these verses, what blessings belong to those who are "in Christ? (Ephesians 2:6,7; II Corinthians 5:17; Romans 8:1,2; I Corinthians 1:30; I Thessalonians 4:16)

13. Is understanding the Gospel necessary before believing the Gospel?