The Only Absolute

How many “absolutes” do you think there are? Are you absolutely sure? Here is a definition of “absolute.”

Complete or Perfect: Without any flaws or missing parts (e.g., absolute silence).

Unlimited: Free from control or restraint, like an absolute ruler with total power.

Certain: Proved beyond any question or doubt (e.g., absolute proof).

Pure: Not mixed with anything else (e.g., absolute alcohol).

Richard Rohr, in his book Things Hidden: Scripture as Spirituality, writes that:

The only absolute ever promised us in the Bible is Yahweh/God, and in relationship to Yahweh all else is indeed relative.[1]

I am absolutely sure of God and God’s love for you and for me. It is wisdom when we are completely awakened to that reality! I pray for each and all of us to be on the journey to growing into the maturity of Christ Jesus (Ephesians 4:13, but read 4:9–16).

Paul says that nothing else can take God’s place or “come between us and God’s love” (Romans 8:38–39). Rohr says that morality is a common counterfeit for religion and often substitutes as a false absolute. Paul writes about the law in a special way and shares in Romans and Galatians a theology against the idolatry of law, which is essential to understanding the entirety of the Bible. The relationship between law and grace is a central issue for anyone involved in religion at any depth. It is the creative tension between religion as requirements and religion as transformation. Is God’s favor based on a performance principle, or is it an entirely different economy and equation? There is a constant war going on between law and grace in which grace must, and always will, win![2]

The Old Testament is made up of the Law, Historical books, Prophetic books, and the books of Wisdom. We can break these into three categories if we put the Law and Historical books together. The other two main categories found in the Hebrew Scriptures are the Prophetic books and Wisdom books. In these three categories, we can see three movements that parallel the normal development of spiritual consciousness, and even human growth. These three movements are 1) order, 2) criticism, and 3) integration.[3]

The Law provides ego structure, identity, exclusivity, boundaries, loyalty, and necessary discipline to counter the imperial ego. The Law gives the shapeless self a container, a ground on which to stand, a place from which to move out. We cannot discard the very concepts of ideals, absolutes, laws, boundaries, and goals, or we will get nowhere. If we do not have a solid container, we are not held in one place long enough to go deeper.[4]

In the Prophetic books, we see the clear emergence of critical consciousness and interior struggle in Israel. The prophets offer an objective outer witness, which is the death knell for both the individual ego and the group ego. Until we move to self-reflective, self-critical thinking, we do not move to any deep level of consciousness at all. Most people choose to remain in the first stage of consciousness. Until an objective inner witness emerges that looks back at us with utter honesty, we cannot speak of being awake or conscious. Waking up is required. It is painful but necessary to be critical of yourself and your own system, whatever it is. Remember, prophets are always rejected by their own (see Luke 12:51–52) and are usually killed (Luke 13:34). That sets the stage for understanding Jesus and the rarity of the third stage/phase called “integration.”[5]

This third stage/phase of spiritual growth leads us to transformation is found in the focus of the Wisdom books: Psalms, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Job, and Proverbs. In these books, a new mindset of non-dualistic thinking emerges. The Hebrew people finally become secure enough to deal with mystery and complex issues that cannot be resolved, that allow no closure, and that demand trust, surrender, and moving to a deeper level that will be called biblical “faith” itself. For example, God answers none of Job’s questions, but rather leads him deeper into mystery.[6]

The Law is the thesis. It lays the groundwork against which the Prophets develop a positive antithesis—a critique. Now people struggle into consciousness. Then, and only then, come the Wisdom books, which are a synthesis and integration of the first two. Stage three wisdom ended up inspiring a whole new religion—a religion that people trapped in stages one and two always misunderstand.[7]

Transcendence to higher levels of consciousness always means inclusion of the previous levels. True wisdom will honor and include both the Law and the Prophets, exactly as Jesus said: “to bring them to completion” (Matthew 5:17).[8]

May your October be a time of growing into wisdom and awakening in the Spirit of Christ Jesus! I hope this will give you a different perspective and appreciation for the Hebrew Scriptures, the Old Testament!

Dr. Fitzgerald

[1] Richard Rohr, Things Hidden: Scripture as Spirituality (New York: Convergent, 2026), p. 74.[2] Ibid., p. 74.[3] Ibid., p. 75.[4] Ibid.[5] Ibid., pp. 76–77.[6] Ibid., p. 77.[7] Ibid., pp. 77–78.[8] Ibid., p. 78.