How to Know if You Are too far on the Right or Left
As the church continues to polarize, there is a increasing gap between those on the right and left of the fellowship. Both of these extremes can be damaging. Here are some ways to know if you are too far on one side. If you are on the right, and feel that you have an answer for every controversial issue, you have the correct interpretation for every scripture, and you have discovered the unassailable perfect pattern of the church, you are too far on the right. You are not being scriptural, you are being arrogant. Someone that claims to have all the truth on every doctrine and opinion is falling off the right sided cliff. On the other hand, you are too far on the left if you have every answer about church growth, all the answers about biblical spirituality, and have all wisdom on how to keep the young people in the congregations. Those on the far left mock the right because they present all the doctrinal answers while those on the left pretend to have all the practical answers. When you convince yourself that you have all the solutions to complex problems, you are not scriptural or spiritual, you are a know-it-all. The middle states, “I can know truth, but I do not know all truth, I want to be spiritual, but still struggle with the faith, and I reach out to the world with my heart, but still have not found the magical key to pack the building with converts.
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About The Author
Recently at a congregation I was visiting as a Pulpit minister candidate, I was asked by someone whether I am a Liberal or a Conservative. My reply: “I am a follower of Jesus. I am not concerned with being a liberal or conservative. I am concerned with following Jesus and I could care less whther someone considers me a liberal or a conservative because of that.”
It was a convenient way to nuetralize a very loaded question. But it is also the truth. I am sure Jesus appeared to be a flaming liberal to some and a staunch conservative to others. What can one do? The voice of the sage reminds us “Fear God and keep his commandments…” (Eccl 12.13).
Rex
Ithaca Church of Christ
Ithaca, NY
You will notice that the problem with the extremes is at the root pride. It is a matter of what the person is prideful about. Also, with the question of whether Liberal or Conservative, it can usually only be answered with comparing ourselves to one another, and not God.
You are right about the pride factor and comparing ourselves to one another rather than God. Unfortunately, the person labeling someone as conservative or liberal erroniously believes they are comparing that person against God.
You are right, which places them in a position of acting like God, a scary place to be it seems to me.
blessings
I heard a minister once say that most people’s definition of a conservative or a liberal is “whoever is to the right or left of me.” I thought that was pretty good, reminding us that it is difficult to use those terms because they are so relative. Let’s continue to pray for unity!
Andrew, thank you for the good comment, you are right, we judge it from where we are. Also, I watched the Nephews play hockey today. Tell them they almost played like Canadians. Quote me on that.
Based on how it seems many judge, I may all over the field, but I trust inbounds. More importantly, I’m concerned about heading toward the goal rather than away from it.
Bryan
Have you ever wondered where we get this left and right liberal and conservative thing in the church? Well part of it is from the political landscape in the USA. The other is this. Bible professors, School of preaching instructors, and editors of cofC brotherhood publications have labeled certain individuals and organizations as such. You know it may be true that we don’t have bishops in the cofC since we are non-denominational but in lieu of Bishops we have editors and Bible professors that tell everybody what to think and do. The right and left thing is something of our own creation. We will never all see scripture the same way. God did not make us that way. Just because someone looks at scripture differently does not make that person liberal or conservative it just means that their culture, education, and experiences are different. Sometimes I wish God would strike the next person dead who calls someone else liberal or conservative. Then maybe we would stop this foolishness. It does no good for the kingdom.
I can think of a lot worse things than being described as liberal or conservative. Actually, I could care less.
It’s certainly sad, though, to see that someone would wish God would strike someone dead for it-I’m actually a little surprised.