This is a 7 part series and this is part 3. For part 1 click here and for part 2 click here.
And now, stupid statement 3…
The Truth is Always Somewhere in the Middle.
No, the fence is what’s in the middle and, as believers, we are called to get off the fence and choose righteousness.
Joshua said (Joshua 24:15)
“But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”
God is not a big fan of the middle
- Luke warm is the middle
- Political correctness is in the middle
- Tolerance of sin is in the middle (actually it falls square in the camp of sin, but we like to think of it as in the middle)
- Not getting involved is the middle
Let’s take a look at how God feels about each of these.
For the low down on lukewarmness look at Jesus’ words to the church at Laodicea,
“So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” Rev. 3:15-17
Does that one need any explaining?
Didn’t think so. Let’s move on to the next one.
Is a PC approach to life found anywhere in the Bible?
Yep, Paul talked about this wimpy way of life to the Galatians (2:10),
“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
You might know this as, “people pleasing.” Here’s a quick cure for free…
Run this race called life for an audience of One (Jesus) and you won’t ever fall into the trap of people pleasing again. Your new goal will be “person” pleasing (1 person, Jesus) and that’s a lot easier to track then “people.”
What about tolerance? This can’t be bad can it? What’s wrong with live and let live?
Nothing, unless what you’re tolerating is sin. And, these days most of what people want tolerated is just that—sin. Not something sort of “in the middle”—just sin, plain and simple. And God never tolerates sin—he eradicates it and washes us clean of it. Why? Because He’s an intergalactic party-pooper? No, but because He knows what sin will eventually (if not immediately) do to us and He loves us too much to simply “tolerate it.”
And finally, “not getting involved,” or it’s evil, middle child twin, “I’m just going to stay out of it,” need to be exposed.
Does God’s word have anything to say about the Christ follower who sees the right thing to do but chooses to stay on the sidelines, uninvolved?
Sure it does. Here’s just one instance…
James 4:17 says,
“So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”
Them’s the facts. Now choose. As for me, I’m staying out of it. 😉