Easter & the Paradoxical God: Rethinking Faith in a Troubled World

As we contemplate the redemptive grace of God and the Lord’s goodness this Easter we cannot mask the world's harsh realities. This season demands that we confront these realities and not turn a blind eye to the suffering and the need for a message of hope.

I am immediately drawn to the greatest man-made disaster and human tragedy of our generation. Let’s contemplate the following:

More people have now been killed in Gaza in the space of 150 days than at any time else in the 21th century.

1 in every 68 people in Gaza is now dead in attacks that equal the explosive power of three nuclear bombs.

Nearly 13,000 children have died. If you place every dead child next to one another with outstretched arms the line will be more than 5 km long.

Nearly 90% of the population is homeless, displaced and on the brink of starvation.

Gazans are echoing the words of the palm-leaf bearers: HOSANNA – SAVE US! PLEASE! SAVE US!

If ever Easter had to be proclaimed in the region where it happened.

Today is that time Gaza is the place

His Church is the messenger

The good news over this Easter Season is that the Crucified Redeemer was also raised from the dead less than 100 Km from where people are currently dying. And Christ has His messengers there, present and willing to proclaim the Good news of redemption.

Approximately 182,000 Christians live in Israel; they comprise about 9% of the State of Israel’s population.

3 out of every 4 (75.8%) of the Christians in Israel are Arab Christians. They constitute 6.9% of the total Arab population of Israel. Arab Christians in Israel regard themselves as Palestinian citizens of Israel. They are a minority within a minority, navigating their unique cultural and religious identity.

This is important to understand.

Easter in Israel has a Palestinian face and that you and I are called to radical compassion, not Indifference. This also rings true within our immediate sphere of influence.

With this in mind a statement by Brian Zahnd' throws us into a theological wrestling match: a God who willingly dies for love, defying both religious and political powers. This encounter with Christ in the Gospels reveals a paradoxical nature:

Omnipotent Humility: He washes feet, demonstrating power through service (John 13:4-5).

Sovereign Connection: He seeks relationships, not mere dominion (Matthew 28:10).

Creative Gentleness: He builds his kingdom on kindness, not coercion (Matthew 11:29).

Sacrificial Strength: He conquers through love, not violence (John 3:16).

John 1 deepens the mystery. The "Logos Word" isn't just a word, but the embodiment of God's character in Jesus. Following Christ isn't a one-time transaction ("sins forgiven") but a lifelong transformation ("becoming like Christ"). Our purpose: to radiate Christ's light through good deeds, drawing others to the Father (Matthew 5:16).

The challenge is the danger of cheapening the message with a sole focus on sin-debt forgiveness, neglecting the transformative power: becoming more Christ-like. Richard Rohr exposes this: Christianity has become a belief system, not a lived reality.

Jesus didn't come to create another religion, but to dismantle religion itself. He offered liberation, not another set of rules (Matthew 11:28, Luke 4:18). His death aimed to transform us into reflections of God's glory (John 17:26).

Colossians 3:12-14 outlines the "dress code" of a transformed life: compassion, kindness, humility, and love. This transformation is evident in our actions, not just religious affiliation.

Following Christ demands a continuous metamorphosis. We must move beyond mere belief to embodying Christ's love, grace, and forgiveness. The question lingers: What kind of faith will we choose to cultivate in light of this challenging, paradoxical God?

Embracing the stranger, advocating for the oppressed, demonstrating Christ's love for the "least of these" (Matthew 25:35-40).

Here is a sobering thought: love cannot coexist or be contained in the same heart that is filled with fear, suspicion, and hatred. We cannot have Christ and not have unconditional love. It is as simple as that. If you hate, the space for a God of love is occupied.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 KJV