Understanding the Third Side of the Coin
An Example: The 'Heads' or Tails' view of the will of God and will of man
Theological topics are usually divided into two opposing sides of thought. We are seemingly predisposed to discern only two options to a topic in theology where the divine and human so often collide to create antinomies and impossible paradoxes. With Soteriology as an example there is the side believing that people are chosen by the Sovereign will of God and the flip side which believes that man's will is involved in the process. One majors on seeing how we are “elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father” (I Pet. 1:2) and another majors on “whosoever will,” (Rev. 22:17) may come. Each side of the coin thus seeks to both prove their 'side' while disproving the 'side' of the other. Labels ensue such as Calvinist and Arminian, Monergism and Synergism, etc. which name the side as their 'heads' or tails.' The two sides can redefine or simply ignore doctrinal truths in their quest for coin superiority. For instance, the will of man is lost in the doctrinal proclivities of the ‘Reformed’ point of view while election is lost to those “Semi-Pelagian’ counter-parts. It seems inconceivable to believe that both can and should be accepted as part of the Third Side of the Coin and we have systematically dismissed opposition as a polar incompatibility. But as with the earth two polar opposites can co-exist without extinguishing the other into non-existence with the Third Side of the Coin.
The advantages of a third side viewpoint
An overlooked third side exists in theological incongruities. The Third Side of the Coin provides balance to the theology. Like thinking 'outside the box', using the third side of the coin is about discovering answers to seemingly impossible contradictions that were available for us all the while we debated, thus providing theological balance and harmony. The third side is able to touch both sides in a full 360-degree circumference seeing both views at the same time, whereas the two sides are separated from truly understanding one another and see things in opposite directions. Only the third side can take apparently antithetical beliefs and achieve compatibility and affinity where none existed before in the finite mind of man. This is not because the Third Side of the Coin is yet another anthro-centric creation. It is not because it somehow ‘solves’ the impossibilities either. The answer lies in the divine balance of Scripture which teaches that divine / human, spiritual / physical, infinite / finite elements can co-exist in the mind of God who devised it. These concepts are typically halved by the minds of men who ignore the coin’s other sides to focus upon their preferred ‘heads’ or tails’ theology. The Third Side realizes that the two sides are not competing but complementary. Only the Third Side protects us from creating a man-made 50% true doctrine and provides all 100% of the truth.
What The Third Side of the Coin is not?
The Third Side of the Coin is not about creating an illusory ‘new truth’ where none actually exists. It is not about a theological confluence that merges black and white to create grey and as in the Soteriology debate creates hybrids such as the so-called Calminian or Arminist. It isn’t a compromised middle state between conflicting opinions. The Third Side isn’t reached by mutual concession or modification of doctrine. This has produced such mongrel beliefs as theistic evolution. The Third Side is not about conceding two enemy combatants to sign a truce for the sake of peace. Concession of this kind in essence merely gives in to falsehood and forgets that our Lord said, “I came not to send peace, but a sword.” (Mt. 10:34)
Whose behind your theology anyway?
The Third Side of the Coin is not worried about hurting the feeling of those who contend that 'we've always thought this way’ or ‘don’t you know that famous Dr. and Rev. so-and-so believes this.’ The Third Side is not about accepting doctrine just because someone else did and puts to the test our ways of perceiving things, not to be ornery but to “test the spirits” (I Jn. 4:1) as we are commanded. It is time we moved away from building theology upon the mantles of human personalities in efforts to establish doctrine. The two sides stand apart without the Third Side and either applaud its own side or finds appalling the other side. Its time we accepted that truth does indeed have a third side. A balanced side, a side free of prejudice, free of imbalanced personality driven doctrines.
The Mystery element of the Third Side
The Third Side is not for those who cannot admit that Scriptural truth requires accepting various antinomies as a mystery of God, when God chooses to keep doctrinal doors shut because “The secret things belong to the Lord our God.” (Dt. 29:29) Much of what we do wrong in theology tends toward trying to force open doors of theological mystery that when humanly opened create man-centered theology and forget that God doesn’t reveal all obscurities. Only with the third side can we experience that “all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,” (II Tim. 3:16) and not just the verses that support our pet ‘heads’ or tails’ doctrinal side. The Third Side encompasses “the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27) found on both sides of the coin and proposes a complete, impartial, and balanced theology. Without letting go of either side, the Third Side is “Holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.” Tit. 1:9
Some Chinese coins have four sides. The Fourth Side touches the First and Second Sides in a full 360° circle, too, but it's a shorter trip than the Third Side takes. Sadly, the Third and Fourth Sides have no contact. In China, anyway. But enough of deep theological/numismatic discussion. Are you about to bash Calvin?
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