My son-in-law, Austin, was commenting earlier this week on the different ways that this world has attempted to strike a dichotomy between two things that really make no sense being separated from one another. The polarized political landscape in the United States is an easy example. But he was also thinking about ways in which different generations emphasize different ways of living (i.e. planning vs. spontaneity, strictness vs. leniency, hard work vs rest, etc.).
As he seeks to follow Jesus in a polarized culture, Austin realized how much the Kingdom of God exists in the tension of two things. Grace and truth are not biblical concepts and ways of living that we need to choose between; rather, we can learn to balance them with one another as we learn from the life of Jesus and receive guidance from the Holy Spirit in our lives. Even though we may naturally lean toward one or the other, we need to follow Jesus by holding grace and truth in balance.