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Enjoy Life, Enjoy God


Dale Patterson

DUALISM?

April 20, 2009

Good cop, bad cop, up and down, light and darkness, good god and bad god, good versus evil. Ancient philosophy and religion speak of dualism, or often equal but opposite forces. 


You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak fro the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us...
- 1 John 4:4-6 TNIV 


Christianity is no dualistic religion, yet, we sometimes see glimpses of dualism, especially in John's writings. Light versus darkness, in the world but not of the world, of God versus opposed to God. Yet John always counters with hopeful words. What looks like a battle between good and evil, the world versus God, it isn't so. Appearances do not determine reality. But we need to beware, not everyone claiming to be "on God's team" is on the team. Sometimes it's not easy to tell the difference between darkness and light, good and evil--they get blurred, muddied.

But typical of John, God always has the last word; this is no dualism. Greater is the one in you than the one in the world. It's true, keep it in heart and mind today!
Joyfully,

Dale Patterson