14
Nov
2008
WATCH OUT FOR PENDULUM SWINGS IN THE CHURCH
It seems that an attitude of extremism in one direction always begets extremism in the other direction. When the pendulum swings to the far right some men will try to grab it and fasten it in place there. Then reaction to that causes a swing back to the far left and some men will try to grab it there and fasten it in place. This is the relationship of legalism and liberalism. One invariably begets the other. The problem is that in spiritual matters both of these are off course. The extreme legalist presumes to speak for God beyond what God has said. The extreme liberal reacts against that, often angrily, and then turns around and does the same thing in reverse, i.e. speaks for God in declaring things to be acceptable beyond what God has said. Both of these are human judgments.
When Joshua was about to take over as Israel’s leader God told him to stick exactly with the law as He had given it through Moses. “Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:7) There is a ditch on both sides of the road. Legalism is wrong because it inserts human theory into divine decree. Liberalism is wrong for the very same reason. Jesus said, “If the blind lead the blind both will fall into a ditch.” (Matthew 15:14) The faithful disciple has an honest and good heart. He does not want any kind of “ism” but wants simply to follow the Lord’s instructions.
Historically there is a pattern in the way this happens. As long as God’s prophets spoke His word faithfully and the people gave heed, all was well. But by the time Jesus was on earth the Rabbis had developed a lengthy “interpretation” of the law, which later became the Talmud. It was a swing toward legalism. Jesus called these interpretations “doctrines and commandments of men.” He said they were “vain worship.” (Matthew 15:9) This demonstrates clearly the attitude of heaven toward human theories.
A similar thing happened later when the apostles delivered the inspired word. It was clear and as long as this word was preached and practiced all was well. But men began to assemble councils and other authoritative bodies and issue “interpretations” which went beyond what God’s word said and, in many cases, contradicted what it said. The Catholic Church came into being, more doctrines and commandments of men.
The “Restoration movement,” beginning around 1800, sought to establish a return to the Bible as the only standard of authority in spiritual matters, to call men back to an attitude of faithfulness to the Bible text. The goal was unity of all believers to be achieved in Christ. No man’s opinion was considered binding on others and nothing that was expressly stated in the Bible was considered optional.
In recent years many of the heirs of that great ideal have laid much of it aside and have compromised with human ideals of much less value. Among us the initial pendulum swing was to the far “right.” Legalistic minded men in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s led that swing and tried to fasten it there. Later a backlash of reaction against that was the next step and the pendulum swung far to the left and into liberal concepts. For some time now liberal theology has been dominant. The great need is to recognize again that both “ditches” are disaster. We still have the expressly stated word of God, the scriptures. They will, as they always have, bring the light of divine wisdom to heal the situation. We can get it right, but only if we apply the scriptures and trust them. Let’s pray for wisdom and then take care to apply what God gives us faithfully. It is the only right answer.