Are you able to be a "moderate" Christian?

Question

Just a question, not an accusation or something I even have a strong feeling on. At least not yet.

I believe Jesus stated he was against those that are "wishy washy". Yet many want to only pick parts of the New Testament that they like.

Is being a Christian an all or nothing endeavor? Or is it just as complicated as the whole human experience?

That's why I have a good chuckle at anyone who knows the "100%" truth. That goes to all believers and non believers.

What do you say? Is there room for moderation in Christianity?

Answer 1

Yes, but its not fun. All of that Biblical research and soul searching/accountability.
Its more fun to be a Fundamentalist! They get to burn witches, bomb clinics, and have Inquisitions.

Answer 2

I hate making semantic arguments, although I seem to end up doing it a lot, but it really depends on what you mean by "moderation". I do think Christianity is a package deal. You buy that, you buy a lot of things that entrain with it. For instance, I've never been particularly comfortable with the idea of an Adversary. To quote Hobbes (the tiger, not the philosopher), I don't think the human race needs the help. But that is one of the ideas with which I'm stuck as a believer - and trust me, I intend to ask about that when I get the chance. So, in that sense, no - I don't think moderation is possible.

On the other hand, I don't believe that everyone is required to believe exactly as I do, even within Christianity. I believe there are Catholics who are Christian, I believe there are Protestants who are Christian, and I believe there are some who don't identify as either who are Christian. I believe there are decent, moral atheists. I can give you examples among my friends for each of those. I do not believe that the laws of this or any other country should be based on one sect's understanding of Scripture, and I would fight against the attempt to establish something like that. In that sense, I think moderation in Christianity is not only possible but, in fact, required.

Answer 3

The question lies not in being moderate, striving to be half way between the liberals and the conservative, as those are empty words which change from time to time.

The question is to determine what is truth and to embrace it fully, yet that does not mean to accept Sola Scriptura to begin with, nor the strict inerrancy of the fundamentalist. Neither you have to accept that the Bible is just a book full of uplifting stories but of no historical value.

Things can be more complex and interesting if only we make the effort to learn.

Answer 4

Obviously there's room for moderation in Christianity. A lot of people don't like to think about it, but Christianity and its beliefs have evolved considerably over the last 2000 years. What would Jesus think about people celebrating his alleged birthday by opening gifts under decorated trees, drinking eggnog and smooching under the mistletoe? Change is inevitable, and only the moderate Christian will be able to adapt. It's the only way to protect their faith from eventually becoming irrelevant.

Answer 5

Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice!

Oops sorry that was Barry Goldwater circa 1964 - but yes, the same principle applies to Christianity. We are clearly taught it is better to be hot or cold in our faith, rather than "lukewarm".

And when you think about it - where would any of us today be had not the apostles and the other early Christians been willing to face ridicule, torture, beatings, imprisonment and finally even death - all in the name of our LORD JESUS CHRIST?!?

So no - IMHO - there is no room for moderation in Christianity. Neither is there room for bigotry or intolerance. We must be patient and kind and good examples; but we must also boldly speak the truth. Like many aspects of our faith, a difficult balancing act!

Answer 6

I don't think so but I really don't know how to get around it either... I think you are right the bible saying it is all or nothing, I think it actually talks about just being 'luke warm' or something. I think that we just have to live as good people, and try to keep in mind what the bible says is right and wrong, and live like that. Of course we will still go off course every now and again, but we just have to ask for forgiveness... which is true in any relationship.

Answer 7

Sure why not. U have the Liberals who don't believe in the key doctrines and the Fundamentalists who believe every single word in the Bible on both ends of the spectrum. There is plenty of room for Moderates.

Answer 8

Based upon my experience here, I have less and less confidence in Christian moderatism. I see more and more negative qualities manifesting in biblical literalists, fundamentalists and the like; I see few voices of moderation and reason in Christendom. Is this the road Christianity as a whole is journeying? To choose dogmatic superstititon and ancient bigotries over love and peace? Perhaps it is time to oppose all fundamentalists as dangerous throwbacks trying to recreate ancient tyrranies.

Answer 9

As a total non-Christian, I have to say - not really!

Christianity SHOULD be an "all or nothing" proposition. You should have to confront the reality of your religion head-on, and either embrace it wholly, or discard it utterly for the nonsense that it is.

Most people (in America) call themselves "Christian," but they live their lives as atheists. Their "Christianity" only comes up in times of personal crisis. Even if they go to church every Sunday, it's only out of routine. They agree to agree, but never to examine or to question their beliefs.

If they really took Christianity to its conclusions, they'd be fundie nutcases. Yes, the fundies ARE the only "true" Christians - which is the strongest argument possible against Christianity. If you actually read the Scriptures - which I have, which is why I'm NOT Christian - Jesus is a hard-core salvationist who insists on a literal "Hell" for those who refuse to believe in him. It's a very black-and-white, with me or against me, George W. Bush type of position. "I would thou wert hot or cold, but because thou art lukewarm, I spew thee from my mouth." He's telling you right there - either be an "extremist," or you're not on my team.

I'm sorry, and maybe I shouldn't be complaining about self-professed "moderates." It's hard to find fault with Unitarian-type churches - except, indeed, for the fact that they insist on the "church" terminology, the "Christian" terminology. It's really just as if I started a neo-Nazi organization but insisted that it wasn't antisemitic. (And I know, never use a Nazi analogy if you want to be taken seriously.) I don't see any point in pretending that Jesus was really an accepting, forgiving, commie hippie ball of sunshine, and that he's just been misinterpreted by his followers. On the evidence of the Bible itself, the fundies are right. Moral: the Bible is wrong!

Answer 10

Like any poison, just a little Christianity kills important aspects of a persons reason and personality, so moderation and abstinence amount to the same thing here.

Answer 11

It depends on what you mean by "Christianity" first of all.

If by "Christianity" you merely mean a set of moral standards or values, I'm afraid you've got Christianity all wrong. God indeed gives His Law (Ex.20) that He expects us to keep perfectly (Matt.5:48). But we know from Scripture that *all* humans fall short of that perfection & earn the wages of sin which is death, both spiritual & physical--the evidence is that we all die. (Romans 3:9-18). In other words, we are all spiritually dead in sin & helpless to help ourselves.

But God sent Christ, the One & only God-Man to live the perfect life that God requires; to actually become the sin of all mankind (2 Cor. 5:21) & then die on the Cross to save all of us from sin, death & the devil. The Christian merely believes that in Christ's life, death & resurrection, they have been personally saved from sin, death & the devil.

So, a person either believes this or they don't. It's not a matter of degree. This would then exclude the possibility that a person could be a "moderate" Christian. This should also clear up for you that Christianity is not an endeavor as if we could ever earn the gifts that are given through Christ.

Having said that, a person can be a baptized Christian (received life as God's child, forgiveness of sins through Christ's sacrifice) & still compromise the beliefs that are rightfully theirs. This, unfortunately is because while we're on this earth, even the Christian still fights with the tempation to tell God what He means, rather than allowing God to tell us what He means in His Word (Romans 7:7-25)--or as you say to be "wishy-washy" & pick & choose what they like in the Bible.

I read the most excellent quote from Martin Luther in the book "Handling the Word of Truth" by John T. Pless the other day that speaks well to your question. John Pless says, "Confessional theology comes with a recognition that doctrine belongs to the Lord, but this is now being replaced by a variety of 'constructive' theologies. Luther, in his 1535 lectures on Galations, writes:

'Doctrine is heaven, life is earth. In life there is sin, error, uncleanness, and misery, mixed, as the saying goes, "with vinegar." Here love should...endure all things (1 Cor. 13:7); here the forgiveness of sins should have complete sway, provided that sin and error are not defended. But just as there is no error in doctrine, so there is no need for any forgiveness of sins. Therefore there is no comparison at all between doctrine and life. "One dot" of doctrine is worth more than "heaven and earth" (Matt. 5:18); therefore we do not permit the slightest offense against it. But we can be lenient toward errors of life. For we, too, err daily in our life and conduct; so do all the saints, as they earnestly confess in the Lord's Prayer and the Creed. But by the grace of God our doctrine is pure; we have all the articles of faith solidly established in Sacred Scripture. The devil would dearly love to corrupt and overthrow these; that is why he attacks us so cleaverly with this specious argument about not offending against love and the harmony among the churches.'

Pless goes on, "Doctrine is not from man but from God. It is not up for revision. In an age of relativism and religious pluralism, it is essential to confess the full truth of God's Word. Nothing that our Lord gives us may be set aside. Any error diminishes the truth of the Gospel, making Christ less of a Savior than He is. Insistence on purity of doctrine is not a matter of rigidity or inflexibility but of faithfulness to our Lord." And I might add, of true love & concern for our neighbor.

To say that no one can have the 100% truth (or on the other hand that the truth is only revealed to an elite group) is to say that God is unfaithful &/or plays favorites. That is *not* the God of the Bible, nor is it a god that I want to believe in or tell others about. God does give us the 100% truth in His Word. Unfortunately, we like to twist it & revise it according to our own sinful desires (Matt.16:13-23). There is nothing wrong with rebuking a fellow Christian when they have in mind the things of men rather than the things of God.