I did not make that word up.  “Tensegrity is a design principle that applies when a discontinuous set of compression elements is opposed and balanced by a continuous tensile force, thereby creating an internal prestress that stabilizes the entire structure.” (Scholarpedia)  I know; at this point you’re probably going, “whaaat?!” Bear with me, because this concept of tensegrity has a lot to offer us as Christians pursuing a biblical worldview.

What is Tensegrity — in Plain English?

I was first introduced to this concept — an architecture/engineering term that comes from combining “tension” and “integrity” — through a random social media post, and the definition was a bit more simplified for us non-engineers!

“Tensegrity is a design principle where a perfect balance of tension exists between points, giving rise to a particular structure, which otherwise could not exist. Tensegrity is a dynamic blend of tension and integrity, creating form.”*

So basically, it refers to a kind of structural integrity that’s created by tension formed by opposing forces.

Have you ever tried that partner exercise where two people sit back-to-back and they have to try to stand up together?  If one person presses back, you both just tip over.  If the other person presses back, you both just tip over.  But if you both press back equally, you create a balanced tension that stabilizes you both and allows you to stand.  (See the video below if you’re not sure what I’m talking about.)

Tensegrity as Biblical Worldview & Theology

I was immediately struck by how fitting this concept is in theology & worldview!  As you know, I’m constantly talking about balance.  This idea of tensegrity takes it even a step further, illustrating how we need more than just to merely not topple off the road onto a ditch, but that we actually need the tension of holding seemingly “opposing” ideas simultaneously in order to provide the right structure and integrity to our worldview & theology.

• God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility.
• Headship & submission of husbands & wives and equality of all in Christ /shared commission.
• The Kingdom of God already established and not yet consummated.

These, and so many others, are seemingly “opposite” things that must be simultaneously held.  If we drop any one, our theology loses integrity.  Lose multiples, and the worldview structure becomes unstable indeed!

In my mind, I envision this as standing in the center of something, holding ropes that are tied to opposite sides or corners of a structure.  As long as you’re holding onto both ropes, you’re holding the structure together…but it doesn’t work if you drop one.  (Real-life architectural tensegrity is more complex than this, by the way, and it’s also super-cool.  Check it out.)

*Sorry; I can’t find the post again now, so I’m not sure who to credit with this easier-to-digest definition.
**Tensegrity image used for title & pinnable images by Bob Burkhardt via Wikimedia Commons; CC BY 2.5.