Early in my life, I often heard the term “balance” to describe a superior way to live as a Christian. I think there is a biblical concept of balance, but also an unbiblical one. For instance, we don’t come to an interpretation of scripture or a biblical belief and practice by using balance. Advocates say that the truth, the right interpretation, the actual text of scripture lies in the middle somewhere in between the extremes.
The concept that I’ve described in part one and in this second part finds itself in history at least with the terminology of dialectics, triangulation, and triage. Philosophers and others used these words to communicate the way to determine what’s right or wrong and what to believe and practice or not. Theologians at one time crafted the English word, “syncretism,” which means synthesizing pagan religion with biblical worship.
Let’s see. The world likes worldly country music. Let’s mix that with Christian lyrics. People will like it more. It gives them a feeling. Let’s just say that’s the Holy Spirit. Syncretism occurred. This is dialectics, triangulation, and triage very often found in people who say they’re opposed to what I’m writing here.
John Frame writes that triangulation was the method of liberal Yale theological seminary when he attended in the mid-1960s. The school urged its students to triangulate. He said that fundamentalism and orthodox Protestant theology provided the antithesis, a reference to Hegelian dialectics. They encouraged students to “develop their own distinctive brands of theology. He expressed concern that this method now characterizes evangelical theology.
Another metaphor I’ve heard through my life is that you as a Christian need to decide what hill or hills you’re going to die on. Someone else told me, “Kent, you don’t want to burn all of your bridges.” Leave the bridge open to something you don’t believe and practice. If you burn all those bridges, you’ll be left with a much smaller coalition of allies or friends.
Should you refuse to die on a hill because of a biblical belief or practice? You want to live. Perhaps you’ll live longer if you reduce the number of things for which you might die. Jesus addressed this concept. He said, fear man more than God. Man can destroy your body. God can destroy both body and soul in hell forever.
I understand that Christians grow and churches grow. Not everyone stands at the same position. I’ve changed through the years, but I would call the old position unbiblical, whether it was more or less strict than the former belief or practice.
Many truths of the Bible are embarrassing for professing Christians to the world, especially now. Could believers do better with the world if they shaved off the more unpopular teachings of the Bible or reinterpreted them to move closer to the world? God knows that you’re doing it and He exalts His Word above His own name. He doesn’t accept this dialectic, triangulation, and triage approach to His teachings and practices. If it’s the truth, you don’t move from it, but if it isn’t, then you can and do.
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