The Dichotomy of Being


So as to not be too heady as well as lay the groundwork for this particular blog, what does dichotomy mean? According to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, dichotomy is:

a division into two especially mutually exclusive or contradictory groups or entities

[e.g.] the dichotomy between theory and practice

also : the process or practice of making such a division

[e.g.] dichotomy of the population into two opposed classes

So “dichotomy” is simply a division within one thing, most often in the sense of polar opposites. 

And what is “being”? As a verb, it’s just the act of existing while when used as a noun it a living thing. You and I are beings, and we are both currently acting out our existence. So the rather intimidating title “The Dichotomy of Being” is simply two contradictory beings in one entity. Now again, I don’t want to get too deep, but words are important and I couldn’t find a word I liked better than “dichotomy” to describe what our existence is like because as believers we are, each of us, dual minded.

Before accepting Christ, we were in darkness, living a life for ourselves and often unwittingly serving another master. In the process of accepting Christ, our eyes have been opened up to see our sins, our short-comings, our imperfections. We see our sins, and we see our need for a savior. Even after accepting Christ as our Savior, which guarantees our salvation through God’s promise of grace, we often remain stuck in thought-patterns and behaviors that run counter to our calling as the inheritors of God’s Kingdom. Like Paul, we find ourselves in behaviors that we know are wrong so that what we desire we do not do and that which we want to avoid pulls us in. 

We are, each of us, saved and depraved… guaranteed salvation yet still feeling the pull of sin, growing in our ability to represent Him well, yet stumbling on the path. The “old man” in me struggles to please myself while the “new man” strives to please God. Which of these ‘men’ will win? Which one do you want to win? Which one do you pour your effort into being? 

This is the dichotomy of being. 

As we feed the desires of the flesh, in whatever way we do so, the sinful nature of the old man tries to suck us back into the old life, the old thought-patterns. But as we spend time with God, reading His Word, worshipping Him, praying and meditating, pull of the old man loses strength. As the old hymn says: 

Turn your eyes upon Jesus… and the ways of this world will grow strangely dim.

The truth of grace is that as believers, we are free to sin. All things are acceptable for me but not everything is beneficial. I can choose not to exercise my body or my mind, and I’m not going to die right away or become suddenly ignorant. But if I continue down that path, it will have a long-term consequence. Likewise, when we forego spiritual exercise, we have not lost our salvation, but continuing to pursue things other than God and His perfect ways is devastating in the long-term, and every day away from God makes it harder to draw close to Him. As Paul wrote: 

“Everything is permitted”[a]—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permitted”—but not everything builds up. Let no one seek his own good, but that of others. 1 Corinthians 10:23-24 EHV

We each have our sin of choice: pride, sloth, lust, greed, rage, jealousy, gluttony. We try fooling ourselves and paint a picture of ourselves that is so much kinder than the truth of who we are. I’m not a person who self-righteously pretends that I live a sin-free life, but I do believe it’s possible. Enoch and Elijah are biblical examples of men who walked with God and who were taken to be with God, bypassing death, but if I hear someone proclaims they haven’t sinned in decades, I steer clear of them. Their very statement is prideful. Anyone truly freed from sin cannot express it without giving the glory to God, Who works in us to will and act according to His pleasing. 

I can be very frustrating to live in this dichotomy of being. It’s much easier to just live as the old man did, but that is a road to death. The prudent see disaster and avoid it. (Proverbs 22:3) And be encouraged with this: 

being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6 NKJV)

He has promised to give us hearts of flesh, removing our hearts of stone (Ezekiel 36:26). Wait on the Lord. Trust in the Lord. Spend time with the Lord. His Presence changes us. 

copyright ©2024 Mitchell Malloy (http://mitchellmalloyblogspot.com/)


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