Law of Non-Contradiction

The fundamental principle of rational thought is the law of non-contradiction. The concept is pretty straightforward. Simply stated, a thing cannot both be A and not-A at the same time and in the same sense.

Let's think that through briefly. Take, for instance, two statements.

1. "It is sunny outside."
2. "It's overcast outside."

If taken at the same time and in the same sense, it would be nonsense. It cannot be both. But if we take it at different times ("Yesterday it was sunny outside; today it is overcast outside."), we have no problem. If we take it in different senses ("It's sunny outside in Arizona, but overcast outside in Seattle."), we have no problem. These are not contradictions. Or a biblical example. John wrote, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1) Are we looking at a contradiction here? Is it saying that Christ was both God and with God at the same time and in the same sense? No. John is saying that in one sense Christ was with God (the Father) and in another sense He was God (the essence of God). It's a standard Trinitarian view.

Proving the law of non-contradiction (LNC for short) is somewhat problematic, of course, because it is a fundamental premise. It is a starting point. Without it, there is no means of significant communication or determining truth. It is, for instance, the way we determine if someone is lying. We assume "truth" and locate contradictions to it. Besides, refuting LNC assumes the law in order to refute it ("It cannot be both true and not true in the same sense at the same time.") It isn't proved; it is a given.

So why do people argue that contradiction is perfectly acceptable? "Well," you have likely heard, "your religion may be true for you, but it is not for me." Like that makes sense? Look, if Christ said, "No man comes to the Father but by Me" (John 14:6), then no other religion can be true ... or Christianity is not true. There is no "true for you but not for me" here. Cannot be. (Cite LNC.) I know you've heard people argue, "Sure, that's what the text says, but that's not what it means." It doesn't matter if you trot out multiple Scriptures, dictionaries, commentaries, Church history, even 2000 years of Christian concurrence. It doesn't matter if you point to Jesus's promise that the Spirit would lead His disciples into the truth. This privileged class has apparently bypassed all of that and come to a clear understanding that no one else ever did. And, oh, by the way, it's not what the text says. Because, you see, they have "new insight", some special means of divining what it says different than ... well, you know ... what it says. I've even heard people argue that God could contradict Himself, as if that is possible, reasonable, or suitable.

Dear reader, rest assured, the Law of Non-Contradiction is not a mere human construct. It is the nature of truth. If a single one of you at this very moment is saying, "No, it isn't", you're employing the very law you intend to negate. And if you embrace contradiction, you leave yourself nowhere to stand. In that case, the God who does not lie (Num 23:19; 1 Sam 15:29; 2 Tim 2:13; Titus 1:2; Heb 7:21; Mal 3:6) is certainly capable of lying, His promises are not reliable, and you may find yourself standing in front of the Judge Who says, "Sorry, changed My mind ... you go to Hell" just because He wants to. Further, if this is your position, please feel free not to bother arguing the point (or, frankly, any point) with anyone else, since all arguments hinge on that law. This ought to ease a lot of the debates, right? (I don't suppose I'll be holding my breath on that one.)