(Photo by Selma Komisky)

Editor’s Note: March, 2020

By Sarah Komisky

Obscurity. The dictionary definition says it’s a thing that is unclear or difficult to understand. We live in a world of it. Our own souls wrestle with the tension. Yet, it’s this tension we dismiss because, well, it’s unknown. This is where this month’s theme comes in – oxymorons.

Most of us don’t want to deal with opposites and apparent contradictions. They seem subtle. Some of us have lived so long in them, we don’t even notice the problem. So, what does that look like on our faith journey? What does that look like in the church?

We at Marked Ministry believe church is supposed to be a place where we can talk about these things in our faith journey that we deal with, even wrestle with at times.

Church people, we are still people. Broken people. People with questions and struggles and flaws. We as Jon Foreman of the rock band Switchfoot but it in the song, “Beautiful Letdown” are “the church of the dropouts/the losers/the sinners/the failures/ and the fools.”

Yet, God says, “…for you have been chosen by God himself—you are priests of the King, you are holy and pure, you are God’s very own—all this so that you may show to others how God called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9 (TLB).

We as Christians are a walking oxymoron. Light in the darkness. Holy yet deprived. Sinner yet saved. Made of flesh yet living for the Spirit. Living in the world yet not of it.

How do we reconcile the two?

Maybe as the legendary author C.S. Lewis noted, the only logical explanation is that we were made for another world.

So, that is what this issue is about. We are acknowledging our world, our culture, our faith and the oxymorons we face.

We’ll hear from Reach Record’s new hip hop artist Hulvey on wrestling with contentment in the place where you’re at and talking with Elevation Rhythm’s David Mutendji about using music to reach youth culture.

Also, we will connect with Chelsea Smith of ChurcHome to talk about relevant issues in our special mini issue to come as well as previewing the new movie “I Still Believe” on how God uses suffering for good.

Other discussions from our team include lessons from grief, compromise in Christianity, progressive Christianity, Non-traditional church, the burnout Christian, shame and sanctification and much more.

So, instead of ignoring our oxymorons, instead of sweeping them under the church rug, instead of dismissal, let’s talk.

Sarah