Is Anyone Truly Moderate?

[jimmyjimmy]

There aren't too many who self-identify as extreme or radical, which means that most people see themselves as moderate, but in reality, are they, or do they just think they are?

I have two other questions for the group.

1. Is being moderate something to be desired? Why is it better than a strong zeal, either left or right?
2. Must "bridge builders" be moderate to be effective at peacemaking?

 

[Tigger45]

Anyone who knows me in the real world would consider me OCD when it comes to Christianity. Especially non-believers. But I try to approach witnessing in a gentle and informative style. I think that's what I would call moderate as used in this threads SoP.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Does anyone "moderate" submit (bring subject) every thought, dream, idea, imagination, hope, possession, family , friend, job, action and deed to Jesus , once for all time, forever without question ?

1. Is being moderate something to be desired? Why is it better than a strong zeal, either left or right?
2. Must "bridge builders" be moderate to be effective at peacemaking?

(1) no. It's not.
(2) no.
(subject to clarification due to word meanings/ etc/ as God Permits)

 

[Albion]

Moderate here means temperate.

Why that wouldn't be an ideal to be achieved, regardless of one's particular ideology, is something will have to be explained to me.

On the other issue, I suppose that it is not absolutely essential to be polite and measured when debating something controversial, but it does seem more likely to produce results, wouldn't we all agree?

 

[Hieronymus]

Moderate is lukewarm i.m.o.
So yes, plenty of moderate Christians...
(myself included i'm afraid..)

 

[Albion]

Moderate is lukewarm i.m.o.
So yes, plenty of moderate Christians...
(myself included i'm afraid..)

If that were the meaning that defines this forum, there would be a point to be made. But it's not. The meaning here is exactly as I said.

Read the Statement of Purpose and tell me where you find "lukewarm" or anything close to it being part of that statement.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Moderate is lukewarm i.m.o.
So yes, plenty of moderate Christians...
(myself included i'm afraid..)

Is "moderate" better than "pretend" ?

For yourself, only Jesus can teach you how to be not lukewarm.
For yourself, TODAY, find out. (as Jesus says "TODAY, if you hear His Voice...." (see) )
People usually can't tell you nor show you, as you've seen and said..... when everyone thinks everyone is "okay" , everyone is not in a good place.

 

[jimmyjimmy]

Moderate here means temperate. Why that wouldn't be an ideal to be achieved, regardless of one's particular ideology is something will have to be explained to me.

On the other issue, I suppose that it is not absolutely essential to be polite and measured when debating something controversial, but it does seem more likely to produce results, wouldn't we all agree?

There are good points to being moderate, and I try to aim at them. And yes, debates are much more pleasant with temperate people.

Where I frown on moderate is in being lukewarm or dispassionate. Maintaining a position of halfway between conservative and liberal is also unappealing to me, and I don't think it represents/reflects God charter either.

 

[Albion]

There are good points to being moderate, and I try to aim at them. And yes, debates are much more pleasant with temperate people.

Where I frown on moderate is in being lukewarm or dispassionate. Maintaining a position of halfway between conservative and liberal is also unappealing to me, and I don't think it represents/reflects God charter either.

I understand that, but you put your thread in the "Bridge Builders--Moderate Christians" forum, which of course caused me to think that you were commenting on the meaning of the word as used here.

 

[Hieronymus]

If that were the meaning that defines this forum, there would be a point to be made. But it's not. The meaning here is exactly as I said.

Read the Statement of Purpose and tell me where you find "lukewarm" or anything close to it being part of that statement.

Sorry, didn't look at the subforum this is in.
I'll have a look at the SoP.

 

[Albion]

Sorry, didn't look at the subforum this is in.

It's easy to do. I did it twice today in other forums that didn't look, by their titles, to be off limits to me but were.

 

[Hieronymus]

Is "moderate" better than "pretend" ?

It can be both too...
Pretentious yet lukewarm...

For yourself, only Jesus can teach you how to be not lukewarm.

Well, some people of the Faith around me would also help.
We could encourage eachother and gather in his Name.

For yourself, TODAY, find out. (as Jesus says "TODAY, if you hear His Voice...." (see) )
People usually can't tell you nor show you, as you've seen and said..... when everyone thinks everyone is "okay" , everyone is not in a good place.

I'm quite alone here with my faith.
Itś frustrating...

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

I'm quite alone here with my faith.
Itś frustrating...

Once an elderly man in the mountains
far from anywhere he could hope to get to and do anything
prayed.
and Yhwh heard him
and Yhwh answer his prayer.

 

[BrianJK]

If one leans to the conservative side on some issues and the liberal side on others, the balance could be considered moderate.

 

[jimmyjimmy]

I understand that, but you put your thread in the "Bridge Builders--Moderate Christians" forum, which of course caused me to think that you were commenting on the meaning of the word as used here.

I pose the question, can a person who is not a moderate be a bridge builder?

Here's another question. Was Jesus a moderate?

Also, I'm still not clear on how the term is used in the SoP.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

I pose the question, can a person who is not a moderate be a bridge builder?

yes

Here's another question. Was Jesus a moderate?

no

Also, I'm still not clear on how the term is used in the SoP.

the definition changes day to day, even from the same people.
the churches are especially good at this "definition changes" when it suits them,
the bigger they are, the more they use it.

 

[Albion]

I pose the question, can a person who is not a moderate be a bridge builder?

Here's another question. Was Jesus a moderate?

Also, I'm still not clear on how the term is used in the SoP.

It means that those discussing here will conduct themselves temperately, politely.

 

[Paidiske]

1. Is being moderate something to be desired? Why is it better than a strong zeal, either left or right?
2. Must "bridge builders" be moderate to be effective at peacemaking?

To me (I consider myself moderate), being moderate is not the opposite of strong zeal. I can be very zealous. But I am not likely to be very zealous for extreme or fringe positions or petty matters or personal preferences, but to reserve zeal for the core of orthodox belief. For second-order issues or adiaphora, I'm much more likely to adopt a generosity of approach.

I think what a bridge builder needs is the ability listen sympathetically across differences. This is not necessarily an abandoning or compromising of one's own position, but a willingness to put that to one side as one listens, trying to hear the commonalities and the areas where consensus may be sought. That is, I guess, a kind of moderation; a moderation of ego if not of doctrine.

 

[jimmyjimmy]

It means that those discussing here will conduct themselves temperately, politely.

Thanks for your reply; however, I don't someway with a similar understanding from reading the SoP.

The SoP has one line that might fit your explanation, "Moderate Christians believe in treating others fairly." which contains nothing unique to so called "moderates". It can be said for any Christian, and is part of the site wide rules of CF: "Please treat all members with respect and courtesy through civil dialogue."

Below (The SoP) looks very much like the definition of liberalism. Culture defining ones understanding of scripture, rather than the other way around, is what defines liberalism, is it not?

This forum is for those who find themselves being open to new ideas and societal changes while clinging to their historical beliefs of the Christian faith. Moderate Christians believe in treating others fairly. Ministers and moderate Christians tend to be more accepting of more modern language and translations of the Bible. Moderate Christians believe in the Bible but remain open to new understanding of it, which can include being based in culture and God given reasons.

There are many denominations that would fit into the Moderate Christians forums, and participation here would be central to the unity of similar beliefs with growth and understanding of scriptures. It is for discussion, rather than debate of these understandings on subjects that are specific to moderate Christians. If you wish to debate theology, please go to General Theology or one of it's sub-forums where appropriate debate can be held.
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[Paidiske]

Culture defining ones understanding of scripture, rather than the other way around, is what defines liberalism, is it not?

It's my experience that most people use "liberalism" to mean something pejorative, and then find something with which they disagree on which to hang the label.

To me, a liberal is someone who is happy to depart from orthodoxy (and therefore, a liberal Catholic might be a bit different from a liberal Anglican, and so forth).