The Via Media

Eternity Online: John Edmiston (Editor)



Eternity-Inspiration for Monday 1st  December 1997


The Via Media

(Ecclesiastes 7:13-18 NIV) Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked? {14} When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future. {15} In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these: a righteous man perishing in his righteousness, and a wicked man living long in his wickedness. {16} Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise-- why destroy yourself? {17} Do not be overwicked, and do not be a fool-- why die before your time? {18} It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. The man who fears God will avoid all extremes.
Cardinal Newman rebelled at the overly great love of moderation of the Anglican Church and became a Catholic. In one of his criticisms he said: "This is what the Church is said to want, not party men, but sensible, temperate, sober, well-judging persons, to guide it through the channels of no-meaning....." In other words the Anglican Church as he perceived it was rudderless and compromised. He wanted a religion with a definite structure and belief which said "Yes" or "No". (This not intended as a criticism of either the Anglican or Catholic churches). This is just one example of the debate that has raged perpetually. Is Truth at one extreme or is it "in the middle"? Well its both! Absolute Truth often appears to be radical and extreme - for instance Jesus' call to discipleship is extreme and penetrating. On the other hand Truth may occupy a middle ground. Between say miserliness and irresponsible profligacy lies the good and generous steward. In the West we are almost persuaded that Truth is always in the middle and negotiable. The Via Media has become the Only Solution and we are afraid of the demands of absolute holiness and radical love. When Christ calls us to be immoderate and passionate about our faith we back away and often become very wary indeed. ("Via Media" is Latin for "the middle way/path")

Solomon argues that: " The man who fears God will avoid all extremes." In the Hebrew the word extremes is not there but it is implied by the argument. Alternative literal translations are: "(Ecclesiastes 7:18 NKJV) It is good that you grasp this, And also not remove your hand from the other; For he who fears God will escape them all." and "(Ecclesiastes 7:18 NRSV) It is good that you should take hold of the one, without letting go of the other; for the one who fears God shall succeed with both." Its quite a puzzle. But central to the argument is the concept of "its not either/or but both and.." The wise person grasps both parts and holds them strongly and wrestles them into a synthesis that works and which brings success. For instance there are fundamentalists who are angry at everyone and who emphasize holiness and there are liberals who emphasize peace but jettison basic Christian beliefs. It is possible to hold onto both a biblical holy and loving lifestyle where we are at peace with all men as far as it is possible with us without compromising the core truths. This seems a much wiser way forward.

These verses also say "who can straighten what God has made crooked" and imply that God makes the bad times as well as the good times. "{14} When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other." This is not to say that god is evil or the author of evil. "Bad times" may be the result of God's judgement and that is not evil. Or they be His testing as in Job. Believe it or not God probably has a few bad times planned for your life to strengthen your faith. However when such times are from God they are a) relatively brief b) they result in the growth of our faith. Bad times from Satan are filled with unending despair and hopelessness and have a sharp cruelty to them.

Finally there is Solomon's perplexing exhortation to not be "overly righteous" with the clear implication that such people destroy themselves. "(Ecclesiastes 7:16 NKJV) Do not be overly righteous, Nor be overly wise: Why should you destroy yourself?" Solomon has perceptively seen that there is concern with meritoriousness which distorts ones ability to relate to others and to function in life. Many of those who join the more legalistic "bible cults" such as International (Boston) Church of Christ have this character flaw. Everything the person does is concerned with gaining religious merit and they become wooden, lifeless and "dead" within themselves and have no personality of their own. They become enslaved to a neurotic need to have merit and be holy and full of religious knowledge. I was caught up in that sort of mindset for years. Certainly I learned a lot of Scripture but I was not a real person and had little warmth and no ability to relate to others. Gradually I came free. Life after legalism is much better! What seems to be so logical and so worthy is in fact a destructive trap. When you leave legalism behind you are not compromising but growing. I still love the Scriptures but now I have contentment, joy and peace. I still love holiness but I let God's grace work it naturally into my life. The spiritual life is like the trees in a forest - they aren't laid out neatly in rows. When they are you suspect you are in a man-made plantation. Manufactured holiness is like the plantation, real holiness is messy but beautiful like the forest.

Prayer:
Lord teach us where Truth lies, whether it is here in the middle or there at the extreme. Grant us wisdom in all things and in especially how to live the Christian life by Your grace and Your grace alone. Amen.

---------------------------------------------------------------

This devotional may be freely distributed for ministry purposes

Questions and comments may be sent to:
[email protected]
(not to the list please)

John Edmiston ([email protected])
Editor - Eternity Online Magazine http://www.eternitymag.com/
A Biblical Corner of The Internet
Eternity Inspiration - Free daily devotionals
http://www.eternitymag.com/etinsp.htm
Tell your friends to subscribe!