Balanced Faith: Avoiding Extremes in Christian Living (Direction 7)
Baxter's Directory
From Part 3 of Baxter’s Christian Directory. Chapter 7: Directions for the Discovery of the Truth among Contenders, and the Escape of Heresy and Deceit. Direction 7
Introduction
“Maintain an awareness of the harm and risk associated with both extremes. Don’t become so fixated on avoiding one extreme that you disregard the danger of the other. The limited perspective of inexperienced individuals makes it challenging for them to consider both sides and properly recognize the risks of both extremes. While they focus solely on rejecting and opposing one set of errors, they overlook those on the opposite end. Generally, the sin or error we fail to notice poses a greater threat to us than the one we do observe (especially if the winds of temptation are blowing in that direction).” Richard Baxter
The Peril of Tunnel Vision in Christian Living
In our walk with Christ, we often encounter challenges that require discernment and wisdom. In this offering of spiritual direction, Richard Baxter recommends a timeless reminder of the importance of maintaining a balanced perspective in our spiritual lives. His words echo the biblical principle found in Proverbs 4:25-27: “Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.”
Baxter warns against the danger of becoming so focused on avoiding one extreme that we unwittingly fall into another. This spiritual tunnel vision can lead us astray, causing us to neglect important aspects of our faith or misinterpret God’s Word. As the Apostle Paul cautions in 1 Corinthians 10:12, “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” Our Christian walk requires constant vigilance and a willingness to examine our beliefs and behaviors from multiple angles.
The Wisdom of Spiritual Maturity
The mark of spiritual maturity is the ability to navigate the complexities of faith with discernment and grace. Baxter points out that inexperienced believers often struggle to see beyond their immediate concerns, failing to recognize the potential pitfalls on both sides of an issue. This limited perspective can lead to an imbalanced faith, where certain truths are emphasized at the expense of others.
The apostle Paul addresses this need for spiritual growth in Ephesians 4:14-15: “So that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.” As we mature in our faith, we develop the capacity to hold seemingly contradictory truths in tension, recognizing that God’s ways often transcend our limited understanding.
The Hidden Dangers of Unexamined Beliefs
Perhaps the most crucial insight Baxter offers is the recognition that our greatest spiritual dangers often lie in our blind spots. The errors and sins we fail to notice can pose a more significant threat than those we actively guard against. This principle aligns with the psalmist’s prayer in Psalm 19:12-13: “Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me!”
Our spiritual growth requires ongoing self-examination and a willingness to receive correction from God’s Word and fellow believers. As James 1:22-24 reminds us, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.” Regular reflection on Scripture and open dialogue within the Christian community, especially older, wiser, and more mature followers of Christ, can help us identify and address these hidden areas of weakness.
Key Principles
1. Balanced Discernment: Strive for a well-rounded understanding of Scripture and Christian living, avoiding the pitfalls of extremism.
2. Continuous Self-Examination: Regularly assess your beliefs and behaviors in light of God’s Word, being open to correction and growth.
3. Community Accountability: Engage with fellow believers to gain diverse and more mature perspectives and help identify blind spots in your walk with Christ.
Questions for Discussion and Personal Reflection
1. Can you recall a time when focusing too much on one aspect of your faith caused you to neglect another important area?
2. How do you typically respond when confronted with a perspective that challenges your current beliefs or practices?
3. What role has Christian fellowship played in helping you maintain a balanced faith? Can you share an example?
4. Are there any areas of your spiritual life where you suspect you might have blind spots? How can you address these?
5. How do you distinguish between healthy conviction and unhealthy extremism in your walk with Christ?
6. In what ways has your understanding of Christian living become more nuanced as you’ve matured in your faith?
7. How can we cultivate humility and openness to correction while still standing firm in our core beliefs?
8. What practices or habits have you found helpful in regularly examining your spiritual life?
9. How do you balance the need for clear moral standards with the recognition of God’s grace and the human condition?
10. In what areas of Christian living do you find it most challenging to avoid extremes? Why do you think this is?
Action Steps
1. Daily Scripture Reflection: Commit to spending time each day reading and meditating on God’s Word, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal any areas of imbalance or blind spots in your faith.
2. Seek Diverse Perspectives: Intentionally engage with fellow believers who have different (yet biblical and trustworthy) backgrounds or viewpoints than your own, listening with an open heart and mind.
3. Accountability Partnership: Find a trusted Christian friend or mentor to meet with regularly, discussing your spiritual journey and inviting their input on areas where you might be prone to extremes.
4. Journaling for Self-Examination: Start a spiritual journal, regularly recording your thoughts, questions, and areas of growth. Review your entries periodically to identify patterns and potential blind spots.
Closing Prayer
O gracious and all-knowing God, we come before Thee with humble hearts, acknowledging our propensity to err and our need for Thy divine guidance. We beseech Thee, Lord, to grant us the wisdom to discern the manifold dangers that beset us on our spiritual pilgrimage. Illuminate our minds with Thy Holy Spirit, that we may perceive the subtle snares of extremism and the hidden pitfalls of our own presumption.
Grant us, we pray, the grace to walk the narrow path of righteousness, neither swerving to the right hand nor to the left. May we be ever vigilant, not only against the sins we readily perceive, but also against those that lurk unseen in the shadowy recesses of our hearts. Teach us to examine ourselves with honesty and humility, and to receive correction with gratitude and meekness.
We implore Thee, O Lord, to nurture within us a mature and balanced faith, rooted in Thy unchanging Word and nourished by the fellowship of Thy saints. May we grow daily in the knowledge and love of Thy Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, until we attain the full measure of His perfect stature.
In all things, keep us mindful of our dependence upon Thee, lest we fall into the trap of spiritual pride or self-reliance. And as we journey onward, may our lives be a testament to Thy transforming power and a beacon of Thy truth in this world of confusion and extremes.
We offer this prayer in the name of our Lord and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Amen. (Richard Baxter)
Thank you for engaging with this study on balanced Christian living. I hope you’ve found it enlightening and challenging. If you’ve been blessed by these insights, I encourage you to share this lesson with others in your spheres of influence. Consider subscribing to receive more studies like this, and invite your friends and family to do the same. Together, we can grow in wisdom and grace, becoming more like Christ each day.