"For he who persists in evil, and is the servant of evil, cannot be made a portion of good so long as he persists in evil, because from the beginning, as we have said, God instituted two kingdoms, and has given to each man the power of becoming a portion of that kingdom to which he shall yield himself to obey" (Quoting Peter in Clement of Rome emphasis added).
A friend sent me this photo intending its message for me. It meant a lot to me that someone recognized that perhaps I am not too insignificant to teach His words, that God does in fact, work by very small and simple means, to bring about His great and eternal purposes, and that my obtaining and teaching His words come by the power and gifts of God.
As a result of obtaining His words I have discovered that by utilizing a simple antithetical (an-tih-THEH-tih-kuhl) method, the Lord brings about His eternal purposes, and that one of the greatest witnesses of the Book of Mormon is its use of antithetical dichotomies.
What does antithetical mean? The term antithetical refers to something that is the direct opposite of, or in sharp contrast with, another thing. It is derived from the word "antithesis," (an-TIH-thuh-sis) which in Greek literally means "setting against."
When two ideas are antithetical, they are not just different; they are mutually incompatible or fundamentally opposed. For example the Lord's definition of Good is the antithesis of Evil. They are mutually exclusive. As are the consequences-- light/darkness, life/death, more/nothing, happiness/ misery, and righteousness/ wickedness. And He puts us in a situation where we must choose one or the other. It is the freedom to choose that also serves His purpose, for without the freedom to choose one or the other, there can be no accountability for our choice. It is the choosing between the two that is the most important thing we do, and the two ways, Good and Evil, are absolutely essential to God’s plan. We can not only understand that Good is light and Evil is darkness, but we can also experience the darkness by tasting the bitter that we may know to prize the Good.
Babylon, for example, is the antithesis of Zion, as both a place and a people. If Zion is made up of only those who are repenting, then Babylon is made up of those who are not repenting.
With antithesis there is no middle ground. We can't say that we desire 75% of Zion, but only 25% of Babylon. Nor is it possible to choose mostly good. By design it is one or the other.
This compare and contrast method helps us more fully experience His truth, His light and His spirit. As Joseph said "by proving contraries, truth is made manifest" (History of the Church, Volume 6, page 428). One truth manifested by Good or Evil, is that both Good and Evil exist. They are not just words in the book, but are very real and very powerful, drawing us towards one or the other. Another truth is that we must choose one or the other, and that we must have the freedom to choose. This may seem contrary to our life experiences because we impose our own or our preferred standards of good or evil, calling them values, thinking that somehow they justify our chosen lifestyles. We do in fact call good evil, and evil good.
Isaiah uses antithesis in his endtime prophecy. In fact his seven part structure is built upon antithesis.
- Ruin (1-5) -- Rebirth (34-3)
- Rebellion (6-8) -- Compliance (36-40)
- Punishment (9-12) -- Deliverance (41-46)
- Humiliation (13-23) -- Exaltation (46-47)
- Suffering (24-27) -- Salvation (48-54)
- Disloyality (28-31) -- Loyalty (55-59)
- Disinheritance (32-33) -- Inheritance (60-66)
Isaiah’s overall theme is also antithetical--destruction or deliverance. Isaiah's endtime prophecy puts us on one side or the other. His detailed description of Zion and Babylon is also antithetical--they cannot exist together. Whatever Zions is, Babylon is not. It is the choice between God and Satan that will determine whether we will become a Zion like people in the place Zion, or whether we will be destroyed in Babylon along with everthing in Babylon--nothing and no one will be left in Babylon. And those who are not repenting when Isaiah’s, Nephi's, and Christ's prophecies are beginning to be fulfilled, regardless of their belief in God, will be destroyed in Babylon.
By putting the several passages of Isaiah together, we find that those of Israel who repent, who constitute Zion (see Isaiah 1: 27; 59: 20), are also those who return to the place Zion (see Isaiah 35: 10; 51: 11). We are either repenting or we are not repenting. Not turning completely to Christ results in not turning to Christ!
Even Justice and Mercy are antithetical in the sense that we choose, by repenting, to receive His mercy, and we choose, by not repenting, to receive His justice. So even the antithetical choices have antithetical consequences. Another example is that "by the law no flesh is justified; or by the law men are cut off" (2 Nephi 2:5). The antithesis of being cut off is being justified--for "by the Spirit are ye justified" (Moses 6:60). And being justified means we are no longer under the law, but we are under Grace. So can you now see the antithesis of the law and Grace?
The consequences of our choosing Good as opposed to Evil are spelled out in the scriptures, and there are many.
For example, being found on the one hand or on the other as a result of the Lord's great and marvelous work (1 Nephi 14:7).
Being cut off as a result of the Lord's two-edged sword, His word (D&C 11:2).
Being claimed by either Justice or Mercy (Alma 42:23-24).
Being hewn down and cast into the fire because the fruit is not good (Jacob 5:42;46-47). Or the tree brings for good fruit because of the goodness of the root (Christ), and the good overcomes the evil (Jacob 5:61).
The justice of God divides the wicked from the righteous (1 Nephi 15:30).
And a few others without citation. Repent or do not repent. Receive more of His word until you know His mysteries in full, or receive less until you know nothing. Be recreated or decreated. Choose ye this day whom you will serve. How long will you halt between two opinions? We act or are acted upon.
These examples offer another dimension of antithesis, which is that we are always repenting, always receiving more and always being recreated. Once we stop, we are actually in reverse going backwards. Note how repenting is linked to all the others, the fruits of our repentance.
Not only do we see the consequences, but we are exposed to the many and various ways our choices reveal our desires. One being broad, with innumerable behaviors, and the other being narrow, described with clarity and precision--repent! The broad way exposes all the ways we manifest our refusal to repent.
As you search you will begin to see the Lord's use of antithesis to meet His purposes, and the genius of His plan to put before us only two choices and the consequences of our choices, both clearly defined and enumerated in multiple ways. Why? So there can be no excuse on our part. Our choices clearly reveal our desires.
Antithesis is taught frequently in the Book of Mormon, particularly 2 Nephi 2, where Lehi's teachings to his son Jacob are recorded.
The often misunderstood truth that there must be "an opposition in all things" is the way God accomplishes His purposes, and Lehi explains why.
Without opposition there would be "no wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad."
Keep in mind that Lehi had already told Jacob that "men are instructed sufficiently that they may know good from evil." In other words, for antithesis to serve its purpose, we must know how God defines Good and Evil. Anything short of His definition is not sufficient. Lehi explains why this truth is so critical. He does this in verses 11-14, and because it is part of the instructions we have received that we may know Good from Evil, it is worth our time to search, 'hear' and hearken. We cannot know what Good is without knowing what is Evil.
But to summarize first, without opposition, there would be:
1. no purpose to our existence, in fact
2. there would be no purpose for our creation, and
3. God's wisdom would be destroyed.
Opposition used here has the same meaning as antithetical. The opposites are mutually incompatible.
Lehi taught that there must be an opposition in all things.
Not just an opposition in some things, but in all things. This is signicant because without opposition (antithesis):
¹Righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither ²wickedness, neither ³holiness nor ⁴misery, neither ⁵Good nor ⁶Evil.
Brought to pass signifies the consequences of our choice. Choices without consequences are meaningless. This is why Alma taught of both the law given, and the punishment for breaking the law.
There needs to be a compound in one or there cannot be just one. For example, if there should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility.
Everything comes together in Christ. It is the result of the antithesis, the coming together, where truth is manifested, where the contraries are proved. For example, opposite concepts like Justice and Mercy are expressed through Christ, God's purpose, as a compound in one. They prove His existence. But more than that, His Justice can be the motivation to cause us to desire and choose His mercy.
By not partaking of the fruit of the tree of good and evil, Adam and Eve would have remained in the garden forever, knowing no good or evil; no misery or happiness; no sin or righteousness; and we would not be.
Without opposition, the creation of the body would have no purpose in being created. And not only would there be no purpose for life, the wisdom of God and his eternal purposes, and also His power, His mercy, and His justice would be for nothing. We must be moved upon by the one or the other.
The contraries or opposite truths bring purpose to our existence, to our desires and to our choices, as they serve His purpose to bring to pass the immortality of man. And without one, the other cannot exist.
And now, my sons, I speak unto you these things for your profit and learning; for there is a God, and he hath created all things, both the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are, both things to act and things to be acted upon" (2 Nephi 2:11-14 emphasis added).
And being put (actually choosing to be put) between these contraries, we must either act or be acted upon. And the choice is not just between what is defined as Good and Evil, but between what is actually Good and what is actually Evil. It is the choice between the power of Good and the power of Evil, the source of Good and the source of Evil.
I have used the Lord's words in scripture to prove the antithesis of righteousness and wickedness and other contraries, but it also applies to churches, as in there are only two churches, the Church of God and the church of the Devil. But the Book of Mormon describes many churches that are built up by people, and all these churches would be part of the church of the Devil. The Church of God, on the other hand, is His Church because it is built upon His Gospel, upon His truth, upon Him. But any church where it's people are not built upon His Gospel, is not His Church, regardless of the name.
There is no Christ's Church without Christ's Gospel. Without His gospel, it would be the church of the Devil. It is not the name or the belief in Christ that determines His church. His church is made up of only those who are repenting and have taken upon themselves His name. And everyone belongs either to His church or to the church of the Devil.
In the endtime scenario, as Isaiah prophesied, our choice will determine either destruction or deliverance, re-creation or de-creation, life or death.
Hopefully you can see more clearly the Lord's purpose in His use of contraries and how truth is manifested by proving contraries.
Next: But We Have The Book! More Records
“Opposition in all things,” literally means all things. It’s far more complex than what’s discussed in church classes. With that complexity and or seriousness, calling good and evil and evil good has more meaning. I guess to make it simpler, there is a counterfeit to all that is good. The counterfeits are so good, a pacifying, lulling, and a carefully lead path to destruction is possible. So much so that even the elect will be deceived as Nephi warned about. So many reasons to constantly have our mind to God, asking Him to show it to us and what’s rooting is us. There’s a lot of “it’s okay, it’s just a, etc.” How many understand that the it’s just, leads to justice. There was so much I didn’t see, and more I need to. It’s plain to see that if we don’t have our mind to repentance, we don’t see.
ReplyDeleteI love this: "If we don't have our mind to repentance, we don't see." There is so much to capture and treasure in that statement. I'm going to add it to the 2nd Experiential Gospel post as one of the treasures. Thank you, Ryan.
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“what’s rooting is us,” should be in us.
However I guess is could still work.
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Yes! I liked this because I love to wrap myself in paradox as with a blanket on a cold evening. I’ve come to suspect that paradox is where the Spirit bleeds through into our hearts, the mystery of God.
ReplyDeleteI wonder, reading Lehi’s words here, in a new light, where he says “there must be opposition in all things” -- what if this is not just talking about the contrast found BETWEEN two things, but also that there is opposition IN the thing, I mean in the thing itself, as two sides of a coin? “There needs to be a compound in one.”
For example, it would not be possible to “act” unless there was something to be acted upon – and so what if the action itself (both the acting and being acting upon) were one whole? You got me thinking, which is wonderful! Thank you.