Ken Raggio teaches "Avoiding Extremism"

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Avoiding Extremism

We need an even balance, a well-rounded conviction,
and a brand that says "true Christian."

By Ken Raggio

Every one has a unique perspective.

Every concept under the sun is subject to a multiplicity of viewpoints. If the subject is "GRAY," there are those who would define it as a shade of black, and some who would define it as an off-white. If the issue is "LOUD," some would establish a criteria at XX decibels, while others at YY decibels.

It is both amusing and alarming, how we humans freely toss around labels like "conservative" and "liberal" when attempting to define one's polarity on an issue, because both are unreliable, inconsistent and misleading terms. A man who strives for the middle of the road becomes a conservative to the liberal, and a liberal to the conservative, when in fact, he is neither.

Labels are inaccurate and misleading, and encourage extremism

Is the one who defines gray as a shade of black a liberal, while the one who defines gray a shade of white a conservative? Or is the one who defines loud in the lowest terms the conservative, and the highest terms the liberal?

How about the possibility that gray is neither black nor white, or that loud is different things to different people? GRAY is GRAY. And LOUD is very subjective and its definition varies widely from person to person.

It is best to drive in the center of the lane

I don't know what it is that so often causes us to take an extreme position on important issues. Some people think it's safer to drive near the shoulder of the road, but there we may encounter roadside obstructions. Other people may think it is safer to drive near the center stripes, but there we may collide with oncoming traffic. Why not drive down the center of the lane? Even the center of the lane can sometimes be dangerous, but at least you will have all the principles of safe driving working in your favor.

Many people think Spirit-filled Pentecostals are radicals

It is alright that the world thinks of Pentecostals as radicals. In contrast to the extreme views of liberalism and social anarchy, we are radicals! Our unwillingness to compromise with the world over such vital issues as true salvation and true godliness is a strength of character we need not relinquish.

Separation from the world should not extend into separation from brethren

The need to isolate ourselves from sin and the world can easily develop into a tendency to disenfranchise ourselves from everybody who does not agree 100% with us. Any way you look at it, that eventually breeds extremism.

And that is the kind of extremism which eventually causes well-meaning Christians to be repulsed, and another form of extremism is born, which is extremism reacting to extremism. Many people who become extremists, will over a long period of time grow weary with that extreme and rebound to the opposite extreme, while rabidly denouncing their former position. In the end, neither extreme is right.

Occasionally, however, one of us gets carried away with the urgency of a certain issue, and we think it is a heroic act to stand for one side against the other. Surely, I'm not the only preacher who has done that. But in the arena of truth, there is only one position. God's! We would have added yours and mine, too, making another unholy trinity.

The trap -- extremism reacting to extremism

Should we attempt to replace free grace with legalism, or legalism with free grace? Can we squash licentious living with regimentation, or regimentation with licentious living?

Isn't there an alternative to being a conservative or a liberal? How about - "CHRISTIAN"!

Long suffering with those whose views are not 100% alike

Jesus insisted that we exercise longsuffering with our brethren. Longsuffering means suffering for a long time. Suffering their "stupidity" (in our opinion), their "ignorance," and so forth, while they finally see things "our way." Fortunately for some of us, if we will be longsuffering LONG enough, we will finally see it GOD'S way, and realize that neither of us were altogether right.

All have sinned

Sin exists somewhere in all of us. Holding a firm conviction against television does not provide credits to redeem on other sins, such as racial prejudice or sacrilege. We have no indulgences to sell or buy. Sin is sin under any guise. How can we boast ourselves against the man who was caught shoplifting, if we regularly exceed the speed limit by 20 miles per hour?

If I judge a man for his carnality, I must be prepared to judge the same thing in myself. "For as you judge others, so will yourselves be judged" (Matthew 7:1, New English Version).

Are we only motivated by extremism?

A truly thriving Church must not derive its adrenaline from lambasting other brethren, but from legitimate spiritual endeavors, including tearing down Satan's strongholds and establishing new beachheads for the Kingdom of God through fervent prayer, fasting and uncompromised preaching of truth.

Revival cannot be produced by merely abstaining from evil. If we think that living a holy life alone will produce revival in the world, we have been duped. Our holiness convictions must not fall into the category of extremism, or they will become our adversary. That is not to say that we should lower our standards, but that we should incorporate our convictions into a life of aggressive pursuit of God's blessing on this Church.

There are those who failed to see that the purpose of God for the Church was more that just to be a "spotless Bride," but a "glorious Church." The prophets concur that the endtime church will be greater than the ancient church. Do we believe that?

Focus on the real agenda

If we broadly interpret certain prophetic rules, namely, the 6,000 years of man, followed by the Millennial Sabbath in which Jesus rules and reigns in the earth, we can see ourselves in a very exciting place on the calendar. The 6,000 years since Adam and Eve's creation have just now expired, and the Church age is nearly closed.

IS IT POSSIBLE that God Almighty desires to see the Church unite its resources, genuinely pray through, and set out to evangelize the world with the Apostolic message in these last few days we have? Such an effort would surely result in massive numbers of conversions among all our congregations, and produce an air of excitement and faith that would spawn floods of miracles, signs, wonders, and healings. Can anyone deny that God desires it?

Only if we diligently apply ourselves to a course of action that purposely avoids extremism in any form or fashion can we hope to achieve that kind of spiritual climate. "Wisdom that is from above is first PURE" (James 3:17). The wisdom we preach from our pulpits must first be PURE! The wisdom we utilize in our personal evangelism must first be PURE!

We must muffle personal and private interpretations of scripture.

We must all speak the same thing, to the best of our abilities. Social and cultural prejudices must die. Our egos must give way to the common cause. Self-righteousness will have to be mortified along with all other kinds of misbehaving. If we desire to have a distinguishing mark, let it not be to distinguish ourselves from ourselves, but to distinguish ourselves from the world, the flesh, and the devil.