Trump/Biden. North/South. Rural/Urban. Conservative/Progressive. McDonald’s/Wendy’s. Poverty/Wealth. Traditional/Modern. Young/Old.
Do you recognize what these are?
They are polarities, opposites, and ends of spectrums that culture designates identity as. None of which I am endorsing in this devotional, these are merely examples.
But I want you to think about these. Do you fall on any end of this spectrum? If not the end of a spectrum, I guarantee you are in the middle ground of some.
Now, think of your life and beliefs regarding your Christian faith. Let’s examine a few spectrums.
Legalistic/Relativist. Catholic/Protestant. Perseverance (Once Saved Always Saved)/Conditional Security. Hymns/Contemporary Music.
You may think that I am now gonna suggest finding the “middle-ground” or a “win-win” situation to where your faith can accommodate both ends of the spectrum.
But I’m not. That is called compromise.
Doctrine is not supposed to be a “compromise,” although this is often how Christians circle divvy it up.
Christians are called to jump from the spectrums devised of the world, and walk in and by His light, therefore worshiping accordingly: In Spirit and in Truth (Psalm 119:05; John 4:24; Ephesians 5:8–13).
Truth is not subjective. God’s Word is truth and Jesus is His Word incarnate (John 14:6; 2 Timothy 2:15). In fact, truth has an objective place in the life of the believer. Functionally, it becomes ineffective when we allow external influences and biases to interpret God’s Word, instead of God’s Word interpreting itself (2 Peter 3:15-18).
These external influences and vain ideas attempt to carve up truth into spectrums and still call the spectrum, truth. In 1 Corinthians 1, Paul refers to unity in truth. He reasons to the Corinthian church that there can be unity and consensus in truth, despite this not seeming to be an option today.
“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment [Emphasis added]” (1 Corinthians 1:10).
This example, among many others, shows ideally what fellowship within the Body should be like as we worship God in Spirit and in truth.
Practically, if this is the intention, this should cause an evaluation of self. Where have the members of the Church split truth and where might repair be necessary in order to make the Church more effective in spreading the Gospel?
What spectrums have we constructed outside the Biblical view of life and outside the parameters of the Gospel and God’s grace?
Nice work!