The Quest For The Radical Middle (a book review)

A pastor friend of mine recently gave me this book to read. I've always been interested in church history and movements within the body of Christ. Bill Jackson starts off this book with a big picture definition of what he calls the "radical middle". I enjoyed it. Although I've always been skeptical of liberal doctrine, I've wondered how a Christian can be a "Calv-menian" in theological terms. I guess what I mean is..how can I reconcile the obvious extremes that are found in scriptures? Extreme axioms that, to some, appear as oxy-moronic contradictions.

I think it was Frank Martin who said "The truth is always held in balance between two extremes"

Here are some examples:

Jesus is man......................................Jesus is God

Saved by faith alone.........................faith w/out works is dead

The Kingdom is here.........................the kingdom is yet to come

Follow the Spirit................................let all things be done orderly

Foolish confound the wise.................appoint qualified apostles and approved deacons and pastors

Worship in Spirit................................Worship in Truth

Moses...................................................Elijah

Be Ye Holy (biblical legalism)............law of liberty (license, biblical freedom)

It is finished

(work of the cross is complete )........It is happening (sanctification, process)

And so on.

I enjoyed reading about the history of the Vineyard movement and all of the players involved in church history. Chuck Smith and Calvary Chapel, The Jesus movement people, John Wimber, Jack Deere, Bill Hybels and others all play apart in the History we find ourselves making in the Bride of Christ.

I'll leave you with one of Bill Jackson's excerpts from the book that I loved:

"Why did Christianity spread so rapidly in the early years of the church? Over and over again we can see that the first Christians didn't out argue pagans--they outlived them! Their relation to the world was proactive instead of reactive. They simply made Jesus their master and routinely gave to those who stole from them, loved those who were persecuting them, blessed those who cursed them, lived humbly and laid down their lives for others! It was in observing these kind of revolutionary communities that outsiders saw and understood the gospel."

Be blessed today!