35 Christian Contradictions That Really Get Under My Skin

For some reason, the worship leader in my former church would always start the church service by praying this prayer:

“Lord, we ask that you would come and be with us in the place.”

This always struck me as odd. Why were we asking a God that is apparently everywhere to come and be particularly anywhere? It was as if we were trying to coax our omnipresent deity to attend our little gathering, like he might have other plans if we didn’t explicitly extend the invitation. It felt a little like asking the sun to come out during a sunny day or inviting oxygen to join us in the room.

It made no sense.

You can’t say, “God is everywhere,” and then invite him to join you at a particular place.

When I look back on my time in the evangelical tradition, I recall that there were plenty of seemingly contradictory statements that some Christians used to make, while being blissfully unaware that one statement made the other either impossible, unlikely, ridiculous or completely redundant.

Here’s a few that particularly grind my gears…

Christianity’s Inexplicable Contradictions

You can’t say that “God, who made the world and everything in it, does not live in temples made by human hands,” AND “True Christians attend a church building each Sunday.”

You can’t say “People must make a personal choice to follow Jesus,” AND “God has predestined certain individuals for salvation.”

You can’t say “God wants people to live modestly and avoid materialism,” AND “Material wealth is a blessing from God.” Either simplicity or material abundance is a divine principle, but it can’t be both.

You can’t say “God commands you to love your enemies” when your theological position is that God will punish his enemies by sending them to Hell.

You can’t say “All are equal before the throne of God” AND still promote hierarchy and gender distinctions within religious institutions.

You can’t say “Salvation is by grace alone — that means there is nothing we can do to earn it,” AND still maintain that there are certain things we must DO to receive salvation, like pray certain prayers, or perform specific rituals.

You can’t say “God is immutable and never changes,” AND still believe that your prayers influence the outcome of human history. It’s either one or the other.

You can’t say “The Bible is the infallible and literal word of God,” AND then interpret certain passages symbolically, metaphorically or even differently from one another.

You can’t say “God is all-loving and all-merciful,” AND believe in the concept of eternal damnation or a hell of everlasting torment — at least not without some serious mental gymnastics.

You can’t say “God created the universe in six literal days,” AND accept the scientific evidence for the age of the Earth and the universe. This is the same as having your cake and eating it too.

You can’t say that God is actively involved in every aspect of human life, AND believe in the idea of free will and human autonomy.

You can’t say “God loves and cares for all people equally” AND uphold the idea that that God favors one particular nation or ethnic group over another.

You can’t say that prayer is powerful and effective, AND dismiss the idea of medical intervention or scientific treatment for illnesses.

You can’t say that God is just and fair, AND support systems of oppression or discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation or anything else.

You can’t say that God loves diversity and created all living beings, AND reject the idea of evolution or deny the common ancestry of all life on Earth.

You can’t say that God’s love is unconditional, AND believe that certain people are predestined for salvation while others are predestined for damnation.

You can’t say that God is beyond human comprehension and transcends our understanding, AND claim to have exclusive knowledge or authority about God’s nature and will.

You can’t say that God’s forgiveness is limitless, AND hold onto grudges or refuse to forgive others, and believe that, in the end, God refuses to forgive others.

You can’t say that God values humility and meekness, AND exhibit arrogance or a sense of superiority over others.

You can’t say that God is a God of peace, AND use religious beliefs to justify violence or harm towards others.

You can’t say that God values compassion and empathy, AND ignore the suffering and needs of those less fortunate.

You can’t say that God is present in all places and times, AND limit God’s presence to certain sacred spaces or religious rituals.

You can’t say that God is the ultimate source of morality, AND use religion as a tool to oppress or control people.

You can’t say that God values truth and honesty, AND spread misinformation or deceit in the name of religious beliefs.

You can’t say that God’s love is unconditional, AND use fear and guilt to manipulate people into following religious doctrines.

You can’t say that God is impartial and treats all people equally, AND use religious beliefs to justify favoring a specific political or social group.

You can’t say that God calls for humility and service, AND exploit religion or religious positions for personal gain or power.

You can’t say that God values diversity and the uniqueness of individuals, AND promote homogeneity or conformity within religious communities.

You can’t say that God values the sanctity of life, AND support or engage in acts of violence or harm towards others in the name of religion.

You can’t say that God is the source of love and compassion, AND promote hatred or discrimination against individuals based on their beliefs or identity.

You can’t say that God is the ultimate judge of human actions, AND act as if you have the authority to condemn or excommunicate others for their perceived wrongdoings.

You can’t say that God’s teachings are timeless and applicable to all eras, AND selectively choose which parts of religious texts to follow or ignore to suit personal preferences.

You can’t say that God values intellectual curiosity and the pursuit of knowledge, AND suppress scientific inquiry or critical thinking in the name of faith.

You can’t say that God calls for stewardship of the Earth and its resources, AND disregard environmental concerns or promote harmful practices that harm the planet.

You can’t say that God is a God of love and understanding AND use religious beliefs to shame or ostracize individuals for their past mistakes or struggles.

You just can’t.

Sorry.

A Different Way

Now, after reading through all these contradictions, you might assume that I’ve abandoned my Christian faith. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, I remain deeply committed to my Christian beliefs. However, I yearn for a Christ-following community that is characterized by reasonableness.

Perhaps the thing that bothers me the most about the Christianity that I grew up with was the brashness and arrogance of people who believed they had the truth, and that others were completely misguided. And they weren’t afraid to tell them so, either!

What I long for now is a community where humility reigns supreme — a place where we can acknowledge the limitations of our knowledge and embrace the mystery and paradox inherent in the Christian faith.

It is a faith after all.

This journey has led me to appreciate the contemplative aspects of Christianity — the quiet moments of reflection, the prayerful seeking of God’s presence, and the willingness to sit with the questions that don’t have easy answers, or any answers at all. In the midst of a world that often seems chaotic and confusing, these practices offer a sense of grounding and peace, reminding me that God is present even in the midst of uncertainty.

So, while I may still wrestle with the contradictions and inconsistencies within Christianity, I do so with a sense of hope and expectation. I believe that there is a different way of being Christian — a way that is marked by love, compassion, and a genuine openness to the mystery of God.

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This post was previously published on Backyard Church.

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