Spiritual Balance

Friends

I had a friend ask me if I see my self as "the Middle Man", which is the name attached to my blog. The answer is, undeniably, "yes". It is not simply a title, but a description not only concerning philosophy but also theology. Someone once said, "the truth is generally found somewhere between the two extremes," and I believe that this is proven over and over gain by circumstances, people and just life itself. Another wise saying is "moderation in all things." Yet, why do you hear it more in relationship to dieting than anything else? Hmmm. Many of the things that I am going to share are observations about life and godliness -- they are not "the rule of thumb" or "the law," just a perspective.
We may not understand or appreciate "balance" as much until we see matters that are "out of balance." When you drive your automobile down the road and the tires become "out of balance" what happens? Your car starts to wobble some and it is very annoying. So it is with life -- when people become out of balance, they begin to wobble and it creates multiple difficulties for them and for those around them.
In relationship to the principle of balance -- reason, passion and ethics are all areas that affect us as we seek to live the Christian life. I believe that God made all people to be logical, passionate, ethical to one degree or another. As it relates to "how we live our lives as Christians," I believe that these principles naturally, and spiritually apply to us. I would view passion and ethic as matters to be gauged vertically -- to be likened to a thermostat. As it pertains to passion and ethic, there is "no place to go but up" -- we need to "be burning bright at the top of the thermostat;" we must be all for Jesus in relationship to this principle. Reason is a matter to be gauged more horizontally -- to be likened to a scale. As it relates to most issues found in the Scriptures, I believe that we need to be balanced in our reasoning. There are a few exceptions to this -- I would call them "essentials." (See Acts 2:38-39, 1 Corinthians 11:23-29 for example.) There are certain passages that set reasonable precedents for us, as well. (See Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2, 1 Timothy 2:8-15 for example). But for the most part, our reasoning (as well as our ethic, passion) needs to be founded in prayer and wisdom (as learned from the Word of God). I believe that wisdom and experience teach us that being "extreme" or "dogmatic" as it relates to most issues only leads to contention and division for the church...and in this, there is no wisdom. Paul teaches Timothy concerning such matters in 2 Timothy chapters 2, 3. Paul also shares with the Roman Christians in chapter 14 that Christians need to be reasonable with each other as it relates to most issues (matters of opinion). Some may want to do things one way, while others may wish to do things another way. Paul indicates that there is room for all! There is room in the church to believe, practice, worship in more than one particular way and it is okay. What Paul does indicate is that when one group imposes on the other group(s) that their way is "the only way" that it leads to trouble.
The person who goes far to the "right" philosophically and religiously becomes self-righteous, leaning on his own understanding. He takes "law" to an extreme and it becomes his rule. He insists that all there is -- is authority, and that it is all objective. "I have it figured out" and "everyone must agree with me" is his perspective; you have to believe exactly the way he believes in order to be acceptable (there is an overemphasis on objectivity). He becomes controlling and dictatorial in his extreme. In essence, his wisdom becomes the rule.
The person going to the far "left" philosophically and religiously also leans on his own understanding, but it is from a different perspective. He takes "freedom" to the extreme and it becomes his rule. For the person who goes to the extreme left there really is no law (anything goes); he insists that there is "no authority" but that everything is subjective. For this person, you cannot be certain to believe in anything authoritatively in order to be acceptable (there is an overemphasis on subjectivity). He becomes carefree and dictatorial in his extreme. In essence, his wisdom also becomes the rule.
Both of these represent extreme perspectives concerning life and godliness and neither are balanced -- this is not wisdom. Both of these types of people will tell you that they "find freedom" in their beliefs, but in reality, they are truly bound. To ignore the commands of God makes us lawless and puts us in bondage. (For example, see John 14:15-31). To add laws where God does not do so makes us law-bound, and likewise, puts us in bondage. (For example, see Matthew 15:1-20). Neither is correct. There is no balance... and true freedom is found in a genuine balance. We must be "set free from having to live according to law" truly, in order to experience -- genuine Christian liberty (Galatians 5:1ff). At the same time we must pay attention to those critical principles which Jesus reveals in order to experience genuine Christian liberty (Mark 16:16ff). As it has been revealed, it is not possible to have unity with those on the far left or the far right; unity is only possible where there is love, wisdom, and certain moderation.
Some of the best wisdom found in the Bible has to do with "balance". The books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, written by Solomon are filled with information concerning the wisdom of "balance." In Ecclesiastes, He says there is a time for everything (3:1-8); He also says not to be excessively "righteous" or "wicked" (7:16-17). What does he mean by this? Does this mean it is okay to be a "little wicked" or not altogether "righteous?" It is symbolic -- and it means, be balanced as it relates to life. Many of the Proverbs reveal the wisdom of following God and the folly of leaning on one’s own understanding. Life is for the righteous man and death for the wicked. There is a balance in this. "A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is His delight" (11:1). "A just balance and scales belong to the Lord..." (16:11) -- figurative expressions with eternal value.
Jesus challenges those around Him to do what is right, with balance as a key component. His wisdom reflects a balanced perspective -- "Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to God what is God’s" is a reply he makes to those who seek to trap Him at one point (Matthew 22:17ff). His Sermon on the Mount reflects "balance." "Blessed are the Poor in Spirit" -- why? "They shall inherit the kingdom of God" (Matthew 5:3). When Jesus talks with Nicodemus in John 3:3ff concerning what is necessary to be "born again," He says that he must be born "of water and Spirit" -- two elements, one birth. In this, there is balance. When Jesus talks with the Samaritian woman in John 4:1ff, He tells her that those who worship God must do so "in Spirit and in truth." Both elements are necessary for life and godliness. When we partake of the Lord’s Supper, we take both the bread (representing His body) and the fruit of the vine (representing His blood); in this there is balance. In one of my Psychology classes, a professor whom I greatly admire said, Jesus was the most balanced individual ever to live -- intellectually, philosophically, theologically. If He had taken a personality test, this would have proven to be true; it would reveal a perfectly balanced personality and life.
Balancing the tensions of the roles we play in our lives: Husband, Father, Counselor, Minister, Preacher, Friend, likewise, is important; we need to be able to "bend" without "breaking" – "blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape." It is arrogance to assume that we have all of the answers – we need to exercise humility and faith in the Lord and not be dependent upon self-sufficiency. Other tensions needing to be balanced in our lives are: Immanence and transcendence; sovereignty (God rules) and free will (God gives us freedom of choice); grace and obedience; and unity and doctrinal purity.
Balance is the key to individual and church growth. Paul says that we Christians must "keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesisans 4:4), which is an excellent reflection of the balance required for us to experience growth as a body of believers. We must value both unity and peace if we are going to arrive at growth. A church, like Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7ff), that has the maturity to live according to unity and peace is going to receive the blessing and the praise of the Lord. We have numerous examples of how we should conduct ourselves in relationship to "balance." I believe that we will be wise to consider these principles and make them our own individually and corporately.

Don