josh.turansky

A video clip from Francis Chan has been floating around the internet the last couple of days called “The New Middle Road”. It runs for about four minutes and starts with Francis retelling an experience he had in his church. I have embedded the video below.

The basic outline of the story is about a long time church attendee complaining about Francis being too zealous for Jesus, and this man proposes an alternative middle road. It seems like the man in Francis story did not want to be as zealous as Francis. And this man wanted to live a “middle of the road life”.

The whole idea of a middle road is obviously problematic and I do agree with Francis in his pointing to the many “cost of discipleship” type verses. But I had a couple of problems with what Francis was saying as well.

1. What if the man was not suggesting a throttling down of his zeal for the Lord, but a different expression of his zeal?
2. What if the man was reacting to a pressure he felt to be a pastor or in full time ministry in order to meet up to a standard of spirituality?

The reason I ask these questions and sympathize a little with this man is based on my own experience. I have noticed over the years how the “narrow road” is defined as a particular lifestyle, or a set of daily activities.

Francis did not really ingratiate himself to my sympathies when he made fun of the “middle road” idea, oversimplified the commands of Jesus, and neglected to share the fact that the church has made mistakes in this arena before. (At least it was not in the clip I watched.)

In the second and third century of the church there was a real wrestling with how to apply the universal commands of Jesus to everyday life. Unfortunately  the Catholic church developed and higher/lower view of calling. They viewed the clergyman fulfilling a higher calling and the layman participating in a lower calling. In their eyes it was more spiritual to be a church elder, or monk, than a simply laymen. This line of thinking stuck with the church for centuries and left countless men and women feeling condemned.

I just think it is important to teach the “cost of discipleship” verses along with the verses that talk about Jesus work in all walks of life. A plumber can be a disciple of Jesus while he is working on pipes. A doctor can be a disciple of Jesus while he is caring for the sick. A politician can be a disciple of Jesus while he serves his delegates.

It can be condemning to oversimplify the commands of Jesus, and give not practical application of those commands.

So while we laugh along with Francis Chan at the absurdity of the middle road, lets make sure we are helping people understand  how to be a disciple in every part of life.

1 Corinthians 7:20-24 “Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called.  21 Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. 22 For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave.  23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.  24 Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.”