Extreme Truth

It is possible, I think, to take just about anything true to an extreme that as absolutely false. When the Reformers argued that God would keep His own from finally falling away ("Perseverance of the Saints"), the Roman Catholic Church argued that this would lead to rampant sin without consequences. Therefore, it cannot be true. There are hyper-Calvinists, hyper-Dispensationalists, oh, likely hyper-just-about-anything-you-can-think-of-ists. There is likely someone for every right, biblical truth that will take each and every one to a place they were never intended to go. Human beings, it seems, can think logically and rationally, step by step to the wrong conclusion.

The problem, of course, is that when folks take truth to a false extreme, the onlookers tend to then question the truth. "Well, that's obviously wrong ... so this is likely wrong as well." And this is the very same problem. The truth in this case is that the extreme was wrong, so the next extreme would be to call the truth wrong.

It's an easy mistake. Dismiss Calvinism because we've talked to hyper-Calvinists and we know they're wrong. Dismiss spiritual gifts because we've talked to extreme Pentecostals and we know they're wrong. Dismiss Christianity because we've talked to bizarre, extreme Christians and we know they're wrong.

I am convinced that the truth that is biblical Christianity is a thin line. Okay, it doesn't take real convincing. Jesus talked about the narrow gate that leads to everlasting life, and we're all pretty clear on that, but He also spoke of the narrow way. "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it" (Matt. 7:13-14). The truth that is biblical Christianity is a thin line. I am also convinced that it is a "middle of the road" sort of thin line. It avoids the extremes. Pick an extreme, and you're likely to find that it is outside of biblical Christianity. God wants everyone to be rich? Not in there. God wants everyone to be poor? Not in there. God wants us to all be healthy? Not in there. God wants us all to be sick? Not there either. Extremely inclusive or extremely exclusive is not likely to be found in the pages of Scripture.

So let's be careful. Any truth can be taken to a false extreme. Let's not do that. Neither let us dismiss something that is true because someone has taken it somewhere it shouldn't go.