“Right” and “left” are words that have come into common usage to describe politicians and governments in this day of ideological conflicts. Those who lean to the right are those who hold more conservative values and who favor the rights of the individual, while those who go to the left are those who favor state socialism. We even hear of the “extreme left,” and this term probably refers to those who would go, in varying degrees, over to complete socialism or even communism.
The divergence between the Western nations and such communist states as Russia and China has come, at least in a large part, from this ideological rift. Russia and China have gone all the way to the left; the Western governments have remained to the right — some more and some less. In the past 30 years, however, both Russia and China have altered their practices somewhat, allowing more of the tenets of capitalism to take hold in their economies. They found over the years that pure communism just did not work. In such countries as the United States, there is a strong conservative element that leans heavily to the right, but there is also an increasing amount of leftist pressure. This internal conflict of ideologies is growing in those nations that are to participate in the Roman Empire alliance, and perhaps it will bring about that lack of cohesion in it described in Daniel 2:4343And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. (Daniel 2:43) as iron that “is not mixed with clay.”
These turbulent crosscurrents may well provide the fuel to produce that awful massacre (in those days of trouble after the Christians are taken home) mentioned in Revelation 6:44And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. (Revelation 6:4): “There went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another.” This is a description, not of international warfare, but of hand-to-hand wanton killing — anarchy. The forces of evil are already at work, but we can thank God that there is still that restraining Power — the Holy Spirit, who “lets,” or “hinders,” the full display of evil while He is here. (See 2 Thess. 2:77For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. (2 Thessalonians 2:7).)
Christians May Become Extremists
Christians may also become extremists in their thinking and practice. They may turn to the right hand or to the left from that pathway which God has marked out in His Word. Now God does not want us to become “rightists” or “leftists,” for neither is according to His mind. He knew the tendencies of the human heart and warned Israel four times in Deuteronomy (5:32; 17:11, 20; 28:14) and twice in Joshua (1:7; 23:6) not to turn to the right hand or to the left from all that was enjoined. Much of our Christian pathway entails keeping Scripture in its proper balance, and the only way to do this is to walk with the Lord, in the power of the Holy Spirit. When it is properly read, the Word of God always drives us back to its source — the Lord Himself.
It is needful that we should take heed to all the Word of God if we are to be in God’s ordered path. What heresies and divisions have come into the church on earth through stressing one-sided truth! When part of the truth is emphasized at the expense of the rest, it can become positive error.
The Lord Jesus said to His Father, “Sanctify them through Thy truth [not just a part of it]: Thy word is truth” (John 17:1717Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (John 17:17)). And the Apostle Paul could say to the elders of Ephesus, “I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God” (Acts 20:26-2726Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. 27For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. (Acts 20:26‑27)). Many have been the points of controversy where one part of the truth has been pressed at the expense of the other. We will mention a few.
Sovereignty and Responsibility
Much confusion has been caused by those who pressed God’s sovereignty at the expense of man’s responsibility, and vice versa. Both are perfectly true and, when kept in their respective balance, are harmonious. There is no imbalance in the Word of God; all is perfect. The same was true of the Lord Jesus Christ as man down here. He was the fine flour with no one feature more prominent than another. He was “full of grace and truth,” perfectly blended. Here again the imperfection of men comes out; we are apt to show grace at the expense of truth, or to display a decided lack of grace while pressing truth and righteousness. May we learn more of Him and not “turn to the right hand or to the left.”
Gospel Activity and Teaching
Then there are those who put all the emphasis on the gospel; they measure everything in terms of getting people saved. These give little or no attention to establishing saved souls in the truth. They forget that Paul was one of the greatest gospel preachers that ever labored for souls, but he said, “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: whereunto I also labor” (Col. 1:28-2928Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 29Whereunto I also labor, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. (Colossians 1:28‑29)). And to the Ephesians he wrote of the great spiritual blessings we have in heavenly places in Christ, which go very far beyond the mere knowledge of salvation. Nor was he content with that alone; he prayed for them that they might enter into these blessings (ch. 1) and that they might walk in the good of them — “that Christ may dwell” in your hearts (ch. 3).
We would not say one word to discourage an evangelical spirit, but let us remember that the saving of the soul is only the beginning. Those who are saved should grow and make progress in the truth, and that truth should be reflected in their daily lives. Shallow indeed is that work which rests satisfied with the knowledge of sins forgiven and is remiss about growing in the knowledge of the Savior Himself, or is careless about walking becomingly down here.
Communion With God’s Thoughts
We may go to one extreme and lose our interest in the gospel, but to do so is to be out of communion with the thoughts of God, for He is ever interested in the gospel of His Son. Or we may be carried away with evangelical zeal and stoop to use methods of which our Lord cannot approve. We may see such methods succeed in others’ labors, because God is sovereign and may bless His own Word, although mixed with things He cannot sanction; nevertheless, we are to follow the rules and turn not from them to the right hand or to the left. Faithfulness, and not apparent success, is the gauge by which our Master measures; “well done...good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21,2321His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (Matthew 25:21)
23His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (Matthew 25:23)).
Paul was careful to communicate spiritual things by spiritual means (see 1 Cor. 2:11And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. (1 Corinthians 2:1)3 JnD). All that passes for the work of the Lord in present-day evangelism cannot meet such a requirement, nor will it receive a reward. Only that which is done according to God’s Word will be rewarded (see 2 Tim. 2:55And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. (2 Timothy 2:5)). We are apt to forget that unless the Spirit of God works in the heart, all our human persuasion, eloquence or pressure will not save one soul.
Zeal for the Gospel
May the Lord increase our gospel zeal a hundredfold, but may it be balanced with doing it only by approved means, in separation from all that is not of Himself, and by seeking to lead saved souls on in truth. And may we seek out a right path ecclesiastically in which our own feet may walk. This is a matter that many ignore, as if our connections were of no consequence. May the spirit of our hearts be, “Lord show me now Thy way,” and, Lord, “where wilt Thou?” Then we shall be neither “rightists” nor “leftists.”
One final word. An older brother, now with the Lord, used to tell us that if we walked in an extreme position on one side of the road, we would get bricks thrown at us (figuratively speaking) from those in the extreme position on the other side of the road. He further remarked that if we seek to walk a pathway before the Lord, not going either to the right hand or to the left, we will likely get bricks thrown at us from both sides. We must be prepared for this.
P. Wilson (adapted and updated)