Balanced Christians

[fishstix]

It seems that many Christians who I meet fall into 1 of 2 categories.

1 - Super strict, bordering on legalistic, head in the clouds, air of spiritual superiority.

2 - Lukewarm, pick and choose what they want from the Bible, convenient moral standards (often act wildly different depending on whether they are in a group of Christians or non-Christians)

I've seen plenty of examples of both on these forums. I myself tend towards one of those if I don't fight it. Where are the Christians who have a balance between being on fire for God and having their feet firmly planted on the ground? The ones who have healthy spiritual lives and yet are still ordinary people. The kind of people who wouldn't respond in shocked disbelief if you told them about a struggle, yet whose advice would be based on the Bible, not on popular opinion. I've met a few of these, but not all that many. I would like to mature into such a Christian myself one day, with a balance between being in the world and not being of it.

 

[renaistre]

I think I am fairly well balanced, but then again, most people would probably say that.

I actually have met a lot of Christians who fit the balanced discription you gave. I have also met a lot in the other two catagories, although I think I have met a lot more lukewarm Christians than legalistic Christians, especially among young people.

Local churches (at least in my area) tend to attract people who have similar beliefs. So I have been to churches where most of the people are very legalistic, and I have been to churches where most of them are lukewarm. This is one of the reasons my family has had a hard time finding a church we are comfortable at, because they do tend to be extreme one way or the other.

From some of your other posts I have gotten the impression that you live in a somewhat remote, or at least rural, area. But if you have the opportunity to try different churches, you might be able to find some groups of "balanced" Christians that can become friends or mentors.

In my personal experience, IFCA churches tend to attract the kind of "balanced" people you describe, but I don't know if there are any of those in Canada.

 

[Ceris]

Its hard. I stive to be what you called a "balanced" Christian and constantly have to pull myself back when I find that I am wavering towards one side or the other.

 

[DogBluff]

I'm not disagreeing with anyone, but doesn't it say somewhere in the Bible that if a Christian is not "on fire" for God then we won't be accepted into the Promise Land? If so, then I hope that we're all try to be a no. 1.

 

[fishstix]

I'm not disagreeing with anyone, but doesn't it say somewhere in the Bible that if a Christian is not "on fire" for God then we won't be accepted into the Promise Land? If so, then I hope that we're all try to be a no. 1.

By #1 I didn't mean "on fire", I meant just what I said - Super strict, bordering on legalistic, head in the clouds, air of spiritual superiority. Someone can be on fire for God without being any of those things. That's where the whole balance business comes in.

 

[DogBluff]

Oops! Sorry FishStix! I must be reading it wrong!

 

[fishstix]

Oops! Sorry FishStix! I must be reading it wrong!

Not a problem. I was trying to think of how I could clarify it, but sometimes I'm not the best at stringing words together.

 

[ITM45]

This is a good thread. I find that so many people in these forums are so far on one end or the other. There seem to be so many Christians that are VERY legalistic, and if you're not at their "level", you are a sinner.

I think that finding that balance is key. If you are too much towards #1, you will never have impacts on other people's lives...and end up becoming selfish and only concerned with your own spiritual benefit. But people in the #2 also don't do much good for the Christian faith because they claim to be a Christian but their actions show something completely different. I think we are all somewhat guilty of being in both of these catagories at times though...and I always fight to keep in the middle! LAter-

 

[jesus_is_my_life]

Cool topic, fishstix

For me, I'd have to say that I tend to be somewhat of a dramatic person, lol! And I struggle with being balanced. But the Lord has been helping me with this a lot. Those couple of verses in Porverbs that say that the Lord hates false balances unjust measures are an abomination to Him (summin like dat), those helped me get on track, lol! But I just keep on praying for the Lord to keep me balanced. Cuz, truthfully, sometimes I get so prideful in my "spirituality" that the Lord has to remind me that I'm not gonna reach anyone that way and other days, you wouldn't be able to tell if I was Christian or not...which is sad. But, recently I've learned the important of balance because imbalance gives place to the devil (so I've learned) and it's been cool. People will know that I'm a Christiann, but that I still go through difficult times ya know? I still go through the normal 19 year old's struggles in life--it's just that I go through them with Jesus by my side It's pretty awesome, living in balance!

 

[Biarien]

It's a hard balance, especially reconciling liberalism with conservativism (for lack of better words). I tend to lean too much toward the liberal side, I think, but I trust that God will guide me where He wants me to go, as long as I'm willing to accept His direction.

 

[Mr.Cheese]

Legalism verses licentiousness. I believe Paul on the one hand and the epistle of James on the other exhort us to remain not to one extreme or the other.

Love people. If all else fails approach a situation above all with love.

 

[aria31:30]

This is a very interesting post, fish. It's kinda like a challenge to be honest with yourself. I tend to lean on the strict convictions side. I have extremely stict convictions about certain things that other people don't. For example, I don't like to watch rated-R movies, I don't listen to secular music, I don't date, and I don't dress inappropriately. But these are my convictions, and I although I don't like to push them on other people, I tend to do so, especially when someone is discussing something that I feel strongly about. I am no way the spiritual superior type, though because I very often feel like I don't measure up, and I very often let that lying devil condemn me whenever I make a mistake, and that is often. But I know I'm not perfect, so I pray that God will keep me, and so far He has. So all honor and glory to God, and I also pray that one day I'll be that christian that he has called me to be. That woman of God that isn't ashamed nor afraid to stand up for what she believes in no matter what the cost, and most importantly one who will obey the voice of her Father no matter what the cost, for "obedience is better than sacrifice." It's hard to be that balanced christian, and I think we all have those days when we can be counted with the lukewarm or with the strict, but I don't think I'm specifically labeled one or the other. One thing I do know is that I'm saved and I wanna stay saved! Wow, what an eye-opener. Thanks, Fish!

 

[repentandbelieve]

Love people. If all else fails approach a situation above all with love.

I think thats pretty much the way Jesus would respond to this post.

 

[seangoh]

As a christian for a couple of years, the word "balance" is one of my favourite words. I would say that i'm a balanced Christian. I'm open, yet conservative. Open in that i'm willing to hear other viewpoints and ideas and to change my own opinion if necessary. I'm open to creativity and don't shun away new ideas as opposed to traditionalists. I'm conservative as i try to stick to bible principles as far as i can and know and stick to God too (depend on Him everyday). But of course, there is more to it than these definitions can define.

"For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. "Matt 7:13-14

Probably i can interpret this text in another way. It's like walking a tightrope, that's why we need balance.

 

[I'mHis]

This is a good topic. I go towards both ends sometimes. I really try to be balance, but it is hard sometimes. Thanks for bringing this up, it really made me think.

 

[rkonfire]

Talk about an age old topic. I think many people are scared to post on this because they realize there's a lot of validity around it. Anyways, great questions.

 

[smiling for God]

Being balanced is something that challenges me, however I think it also helps to strenghten my faith in Jesus. Thinking about being balenced thinking about where Jesus would stand, his take on each thing that happens in life.
Then there are the times that I don't want to think about it, don't want to be balanced, wishing that I could be like everyone else.

 

[DogBluff]

I completely agree with aria31:30. I lean towards the "on fire" bunch. Not meaning that I succeed in being that type of Christian all the time, but I strive to be a person that others see Christ in. One of my favorite lines from a song is CrossWay Quartet's " I Wanna Walk" :"...when they look at me they may catch a glimspe pf Him..."

 

[pieman3141]

Tough balance. I think the idea is to love, but be completely intolerant. You can do that.
Jesus could do so. And Jesus hung out with some bad characters as well as some "good" *coughs a lot* people.

 

[givemeacleanheart]

Where are the Christians who have a balance between being on fire for God and having their feet firmly planted on the ground?I've met a few of these, but not all that many. I would like to mature into such a Christian myself one day, with a balance between being in the world and not being of it.

I can definitely agree with you. Matter of fact, I've been praying that the Lord will help me to meet some authentic "God-Chasers", totally on fire for Christ. But, I've found when I've thought the person was really on fire they were only lukewarm. I have the problem of meeting believers, and I have to confess that I was in this place at one time, who confess to have a strong relationship with the Lord, but have strongholds in their life that they know are clearly opposed to our faith. I don't claim to have arrived yet, I believe the Bible when it says "have no confidence in the flesh" and I know that if it wasn't for the grace of God renewing my mind that I wouldn't have come this far.

So when I talk to friends have strongholds in their life I try to encourage them, but the problem is when they have strongholds in their life and they deny they are a problem or just don't want to change. Don't they understand that everytime you grieve the Spirit your heart becomes hard to the ways of Christ?

Herein lies the problem, I believe. Again, I've been here. But when the Holy Spirit convicts us and we know clearly what the Bible states about certain issues (I inserted the part about the Bible for a reason and I'll share in a minute) we can accept and repent or do what we want which is essentially saying " My ways are higher than God's ways" , whatever we are doing becomes more difficult to change. This is where Christians become lukewarm.

The reason I put in the part about the bible is b/c this has recently become an issue with a friend of mine where she is separated from her husband has no biblical grounds for divorce and just doesn't want to reconcile. So she says "I don't feel like the Lord is pressing me about it" and I told her we can't go just on what we feel, you have read the bible and you know what it says about this situation and by choosing your feelings over the Word of God, our instruction, absolute truth, you are choosing your way. She's continuing to divorce and continuing in an adulteress relationship.

So again a problem that I have I see alot of people who justify their actions and associations saying well Jesus entertained (sat with) Sinners... and all that kind of stuff. But do we forget that the Bible says "COME YE OUT FROM AMONG THEM" I'll share my faith with unbelievers, unfortunately until they want to follow Christ I try not to hang out with them, the same with believers who are lukewarm.

And for the super righteous - that's where discernment is key. I've been around some where I felt like I just could never be as holy and how would the Lord accept me and want to use me. But the more discerning I become the more the Lord shows me things in people that are not like him.

I just try to stay in the Word, pray without ceasing, and asking the Lord for a pure heart.

Where are the Christians who are "balanced"? I think they're working, watching, and waiting for the Lord just like you. I'm going to trust God to raise up some "balanced" people in my life. That will run the race with me, help me to punch some holes in this dark world.

sorry this is so long, I've been troubled with this issue, can you tell!

GOD BLESS