I don’t know about you, but I personally always try to be as agreeable as possible. Some may find that hard to believe, but it’s true. No one wants to be disliked, and the straight up middle seems like a great spot to be in. Seems like you can argue with more moral authority from a place of neutrality as well. There’s always something we can find wrong with extremes. Plus, there’s that word – extreme. Who wants to be that?
Extremes
However, it seems as if these past few years have redefined what “extreme” means. It’s as if we’ve been driving along a road, when all of a sudden, the road shifts. With no warning. Do you stay on the road you know will take you where you want to go or do you go along the easier route and hope for the best? To be fair, the latter road is better paved and is filled with other neutrally minded people. It’s the third way! Why not?
I’d like to argue for staying the course, and to embrace Biblical Foundational Truths. Granted, that road is less traveled and can be lonely and difficult. But it is by far the best way to move forward. We know we will experience rejection and ridicule at times by traveling this particular way, however let’s be clear here: It’s not that we moved. It’s that everyone else did.
Biblical Foundational Truth
To be a family that is “extreme” in their adherence to Biblical Foundational Truths can feel very daunting. What does that even look like? Will we have to discuss all the insanity that’s happening in our culture? Isn’t it better to keep our children in bubbles and not discuss these awkward topics? Can’t we just focus on the gospel?
I wish we could just “focus on the gospel.” Now please don’t misunderstand. Clearly, the gospel is the main thing we are called to share as Believers in Christ. But how is that worked out? Again, what does that look like on a day to day basis? Aren’t we also called to be salt and light in this world? And anyway, how are we to be salty and bright if we don’t know the cultural terrain we’re currently surrounded by?
The Mushy Middle
Right now, it seems as if many in the church want to put out any kind of light in order not to offend the darkness. The poor darkness assuredly has a reason why it’s so dark, right? Wouldn’t it be better to just ignore how dark it is, actually not to even talk about it, so that it feels more comfortable and we don’t have to deal with it? We don’t necessarily have to affirm the darkness, but we don’t have to call it out either. And thus – the mushy middle (this phrase has been coined by Allie Beth Stuckey, who you need to listen to if you don’t already).
But doesn’t God’s Word expect us to be different, a peculiar people (1 Peter 2:9)? We are called to blast some light around for God’s glory and our good. God is not just a God of love, but of righteousness, holiness, and truth.
A Choice
We must choose to equip ourselves with tools and resources that will help us and our children have a firm biblical foundation. Additionally beyond that, we must choose to educate ourselves to have a clear understanding of truth. Not my truth, or your truth, but THE truth.
Books are a wonderful way to communicate ideas. In the past when the culture was more aligned with cultural Christianity as the norm, no one thought much of which books were in our libraries and schools. However, that is not the case anymore. There are a lot of books out there that, for example, will teach our children disgusting perversions in the name of diversity. What’s worse is that many of those books come dressed with misleading titles and back cover summaries. And let’s be honest, how many summaries do we as parents even have time to read?
We don’t have the luxury anymore of being in the mushy middle. There is way too much at stake. The road has swerved, and we are left to make a decision. Do we just go with the flow and ignore the dumpster fire of our culture? Or do we move towards the goal of the upward call of Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14)?
What DO we do?
We need to inform ourselves of what is going on in our culture and how to appropriately engage with it from a Biblical worldview. As I’ve mentioned before in other posts, if we don’t do it, the culture will. It is anxious to take control over the influence we have in our families. What’s frightening is that most children have formed their worldview by the age of 13 according to studies by Barna (The Christian Worldview podcast discusses the latest findings). The culture is zeroing in on our children younger and younger. Truly, we don’t have time to lose.
MHM has many books that address these topics, for both parents and children. Neutrality is a myth. Being silent is a choice. Albeit the easiest choice, but a choice nonetheless. I’m not advocating for being a culture warrior, but rather a warrior for Christ. We are in a war, whether we recognize it or not. I pray we adequately prepare ourselves and our families.