Balance is something we all need in our lives. Some people are workaholics, and they never have time for the people or things for which they are working. Some people are health nuts. They work out vigorously every day. They watch what they eat, and spend their extra time trying to figure out a better way to be healthy. Each of these examples needs balance.
As Christians, we need to avoid extremes if we want to grow into mature Christians. Many who claim the name of Christ have been disillusioned by the church, and have sought to shy away from the doctrines of the faith. However, the Bible is full of doctrine. Jesus himself taught doctrine.
John 7:16 “Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.”
One reason so many refuse, to use the word denomination or doctrine is because they don’t want “restrictions” on their faith. Yet, Jesus put many restrictions on His followers. This side of the coin wants to major on the fact that God is love, and He is, but He is also Holy and instructs us to be holy. We are to study to know and live by all God has instructed, not just one aspect of the Word.
II Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Those on one extreme use music as the main means of communicating with God. When you even mention worship, they automatically turn their thoughts to the latest music that causes them to sway and feel all emotional inside. They base their religion on how it makes them feel. They would rather emphasize love over truth. Please, do not misunderstand me. I love to worship through music. I am very involved in music at our church, but it can’t take the place of the Word! It never seems to cross their mind that the Bible teaches we are saved by the preaching of the word.
I Corinthians 1:18 “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”
There is another extreme. This one is the opposite of the touchy-feely sect. These are the ones who are very legalistic and emphasize knowledge and correct doctrine, but they leave out love. Their attitudes are harsh and very unkind to those who do not see things their way. They are just as far from what the Bible teaches as those who avoid teaching the doctrines of the faith. They will talk about love but have a hard time showing it to those who are different or don’t agree with them.
One of these extremes deals with everything from their heart or the emotional part of them. The other is basing everything on the head knowledge. Neither of these is what the Bible teaches. If we are to be Biblical Christians, we must have both love and truth. We are to love as Christ loved. Our love is to be unconditional, and available to all. It is to look past the sin to reach the person. To love them and teach them the truth and bring them to salvation. Biblical love is a fervent love for others, but this love is in line with God’s truth as revealed through His word.
We must combine truth with love. Truth without love breeds arrogance, which is a sin, but love without truth leads to a self-centered emotional state, which is also wrong.
When we know the Bible, we can’t help but love others. The truth of God’s word will also lead us to a life that will point others to Christ. Paul was a great example of the proper balance of love and truth. No one doubted where he stood when it came to the word, but they also knew He cared. He dedicated His life to telling others about Jesus. His letter to the Philippian church shows he is balanced. He prays for them to abound in love, but he also reminds them that this love is bound up in knowledge and judgment. The word judgment here means discernment.
Philippians 1:9 “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;”
Through our love for God, we will learn how to love others. Our love for others will encourage us to learn all we can about God, through His word. Then we can lovingly teach others the truth, so they too can grow. We must know the word to live a biblically balanced life that will influence others to turn to Christ
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