GOD-ORDERED BALANCE

GOD-ORDERED BALANCE Charles Curtman

We live in times when too many people — pastors, parents and politicians, etc. — too often “come across” as mealy-mouthed, middle-of-the-roaders, or mean-spirited. None of this is good; not in the home, in church, on the job, on social media or anywhere else. People in positions of influence need to be people who know how to, “strike a balance” where attitude and verbal communication is concerned. I consider myself to be a lifelong learner in this area. Everyone should be.

There is a time for pastors to “reprove, rebuke and exhort” with passion and without any mincing of words; but it must be done with “all longsuffering and doctrine” (2 Tim. 4:2). Good preaching, however hard or hot it is or isn’t needs to not only exhort people as to what they should do, but also explain, to some degree or another why they should do it. What is true of pastors and churches also applies to other relationships— parents and children, employers and employees, etc.

We should strive to have what we say and do motivated and moderated by charity (1 Cor. 16:14) while making sure that a false concept of “charity” (love) isn’t used as an excuse for compromise or at the expense of clarity when preaching, teaching or otherwise communicating Truth.

A God-ordered balance belongs in all our dealings with souls for whom Christ died.