What is a moderate?

     Some time ago I heard a radio commentator say that a "moderate" is one with no convictions about anything.  He was speaking of those in the political realm but my mind quickly grasped the broader spiritual implications.  There is a place, in personal conduct, where to moderate yourself is good, but there is also danger if we are not careful where we choose to "moderate".   I am afraid that "moderation" as we are seeing it, has not only brought ruin to the political world we live in, which was that commentator's point, it is bringing ruin to the church, and ultimately will bring ruin to individuals.  There is a time and a place to practice being moderate, but it is a slippery slope.   There are some things, some truths that ought to be black and white to us;  no interpretation needed.  Firm, sure, unshakeable truth and truth's convictions.  There should be truths so important to us we won't let go of them for anything.  There should be convictions about loving God  so much we would die for Him, if so called to do.  Yet, today, many are saying we no longer are required to love God with all our being, that we are to just love people.  That is deadly moderation.  There should be convictions about sin so strong we will never surrender. When we try to play "moderate" with sin,  as some now do, before long, down the slope we go and the whole idea of sin has little or no meaning.   Today, preachers are refusing to use the word "sin" or "sinners".  According to them we are all victims, hurting people, mis-guided folks, but never "sinners".   Today, as a result, you don't have to be re-born, just  be "nice", smile a lot, join the church and you are considered saved.   

    One of my favorite movies was "Lonesome Dove".  It was great western but also a great story about men with convictions.  They had such a conviction about rustling and crime that they hung one of their best friends for making the mistake of traveling with,  and falling in with men who were rustlers and murderers.  The story was magical to me because that theme.  They were not perfect men and some of their convictions might cause our eyebrows to be raised today, but they were men of convictions, men of integrity.  They lived and practiced their convictions.  When we look at the church, politicians, businessmen, pro-athletes, do we see that today?  If you have watched politicians sell their souls, even their so called "pro-life" position for money in the recent health care debate, you have seen a sickening sight.  You have seen what moderation does.

        

      Even more alarming than the spectacle of politicians with a "for sale" sign on their forehead,  is preachers with the same look about them.  They have moderated to the point that the only truth they preach is the one that is "convenient".   When we look at preachers, spiritual leaders, etc., do we see deep convictions?  Do we see men living and preaching their convictions?    In the matter of truth, a long time ago men started down this slope.  They watered down, rejected and re-defined truths from the literal New Testament until what is truth now, in much of the church, is as it  is in the world - whatever you want it to be.  I remember one such person, on television, defending her version of Christian in which abortion is quite acceptable, declaring "we each read the Bible and come to our own set of truths".  Really?  Truths chosen from among truths, at the whim of man, is not truth at all.  It is an act of self-will made comfortable by a charade.  It is iniquity.  Many will miss the rapture, not because they were bad people, but because they did not receive a "love of the truth",  2 Thes. 2:10.

    The slide away from truth, in the church world, has been going on a long time.  Preaching convictions with conviction often makes people uncomfortable - challenging and confronting.    The people-friendly church of today can't have that.  Their measurement of success is by counting heads and if they make people uncomfortable, they might lose some heads.  And those heads will take their money with them.  About the only challenge people are presented with is "be nice".   Even Pentecostals are reluctant to preach Holy Ghost baptism, the very thing that makes them pentecostal,.  Why?  It confronts people.  It makes them uncomfortable and after all, the comfort of man is what matters.   The Holy Ghost is being squeezed out of many churches, even so-called "spirit-filled" churches.   Why?  His presence demands something of us.  It confronts us about where we are with God.    The Holy Ghost has come to "convict" us.    Did you know that "faith" is otherwise known as a "deep inward conviction"?  When Jesus comes, will He find any?