Middle Ground
Last time, I talked about how the abundant and full life has nothing to do with our circumstances, but it should come as a result of our aggressive and active faith in Jesus. If we are truly living with an aggressive and active faith in Jesus, what would that actually look like? Merrill Tenney suggests that this type of faith would result in a vigorous, growing, and expanding life that would be in conflict with the opposing forces in our surrounding environment. If this is true, I think that I am probably scared that if I actually lived like he suggests, that I would stick out and be labeled as a “Jesus freak.” But I think Jesus actually set a great example for what this type of life could look like. Jesus certainly was in conflict with the opposing forces in His culture, but His life was also attractive and engaging. As I look around, I see both extremes but rarely a harmonious balance. For example, I often see Christ followers that certainly are in conflict with their surroundings, but there is not much about them that is attractive and engaging. Then on the other extreme, I see people that others are drawn to, but they have just blended right in with their surroundings and there is nothing that makes them distinct as a Christian. Is it possible to find that middle ground?
I think that it really depends on who we take our cues from - the world around us, or God as revealed in Scripture. Even then people will differ on what that means. I think on the extremes, both the person in conflict and the person who blends in, you see people taking their cues from the world around them primarily. The person in conflict has assumed a posture of reaction to everything that’s wrong, and the person who blends in is doing all he/she can to be relevant or politically correct or cool. I think the person who looks first to Scripture (the whole Scripture, and not just Romans or Leviticus or whatever suits their cause) will do a better job of finding that middle.
It’s the tension, baby. No formulas.