the·ol·o·gy    The study of the nature of God and religious truth; rational inquiry into religious questions.

ox·y·mo·ron   A rhetorical figure in which incongruous or contradictory terms are combined, as in a deafening silence and a mournful optimist.

I listed these definitions in case you were not familiar with these terms.  One of the words used in the definition of oxymoron is "rhetorical" which is derived from the Greek for teacher, or orator (speaker).  Therefore I would like to give you a theological oxymoron for a teaching purpose, speaking the truth in love.  As we study theology, things about God, we learn the term translated "Lord" (not LORD) in most Bibles comes from the Greek we transliterate as "kurios," meaning:  he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.  The possessor and disposer of a thing.  The owner, one who has control of the person, the master.  (From Strong's Exhaustive Concordance).  Then we learn from our dictionaries that the word "no" is: Used to express refusal, denial, disbelief, emphasis, or disagreement: No, I'm not going. No, you're wrong. 

So why have I given all these defintions?  No, I am not trying to bore you, although I'm sure I have done just that several times.  I just want to make very clear how contradictory a statement we make far too often, even though we may not put it into spoken words.  It is a definite theological oxymoron whenever we say, or imply by our actions or thoughts, "No, Lord!"  How can we, in the same breath, call Him Lord, our Master, the One to Whom we have given control, and respond to His command or statement with a "No?"  The two words cannot logically coincide on our lips or in our thoughts.  Yet what do we mean when God clearly tells us to do a particular thing and we don't do it?  We are refusing, which means, no.  What about when God tells us HE will provide our needs if we will just believe and give as HE says to do and then we don't do it?  Are we not denying, or disbelieving that what HE says is true?  What about when God tells us HE is going to do a certain work in our lives or someone we care about and then we go around fretting and worrying about the "impossibility" of it coming to pass?  Is that not disbelief, a saying of "no, I don't believe You will?!"  If HE is truly Lord, The Master, the Messiah sent by the Father, then why don't we believe and agree with Him?

Here are 3 examples of Jesus confronting this oxymoron:

 After Jesus spent the night on the mountain in prayer and chose the 12 inner core of disciples, he came down and spoke to a large multitude.  One of the questions he asked was this: And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?  (Luke 6:46)  In other words, "you say I am your master, so why do you say no when I tell you to do something?"  In this question, HE spoke forth the fact that "No, Lord" is an oxymoron.

Jesus had just told His disciples that HE was about to suffer at the hands of the religious and political leaders, then die, and raise up again on the third day.  If one fully believed HE was/is The Lord, the true Messiah from God the Father, he would say, "yes Lord, may it be as you say!," but Peter did not believe Jesus was fully in control and speaking what was right, for we read: Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee (in other words, "No!").  (Matthew 16:22)  He called Him Lord, but he did not acknowledge that Jesus was The Master.

Jesus also showed this oxymoronic statement is sometimes just made from the heart, belying the outward appearance of one's actions.  HE  showed one's words and actions combined tell the truth, for although some call Him Lord outwardly, inwardly they say no to His claim of Master over them; when HE said: Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:21-23)

I don't mean for this to be an accusatory message, but one to edify and enlighten us.  Satan loves it when we don't really think about the things we do.  When that is the case, we tend to slide along in sin without realizing the full import of what we are doing.  If we call Jesus Lord, then HE truly is our Master; we are His disciples.  We are to believe and obey.  We should never say, "No, Lord."  May we get in the practise of saying, "Yes," for HE is "Lord."

Ben