Extremes of anything are not good. Extreme personalities are unbearable. Extreme relationships, toxic. Extreme weather, disastrous.
Then we have extreme faith. We all know what that can look like.
Compared to extremists, most people in the western world classify themselves as moderate. For a generation raised on terms such as diversity and tolerance, moderate life is standard. They own a moderate house, earn a moderate income, with moderate views.
It seems these moderate attitudes have crept their way into Christianity, creating a wish-washy mix of spineless believers. No faith, little hope, dull, and apathetic.
The Sunday School greats on whom we were raised were not moderate. They chose a radical life, not status quo. They pushed boundaries, and conquered kingdoms (Hebrews 11:33).
Imagine a moderate Moses: "Let my people go."
"No."
"Oh. Very well."
A moderate David: "Yep, that giant sure is big."
Would a moderate Jael have nailed Sisera's head to the ground? A moderate Shadrach, Meshash and Abednego would have bowed to the statue and missed walking in the fire with Jesus.
Then there were the prophets. Take Ezekiel for example. If you've read the book of Ezekiel - okay, so you probably haven't read the book of Ezekiel - you will know he was not moderate. The opening verse says,
On July 31 of my thirtieth year, while I was with the Judean exiles beside the Kebar River in Babylon, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.
Yep, visions of God. Totally not moderate.
John the Baptist was not moderate. Paul was not moderate. Preaching all night long was not moderate.
And then there's Jesus.
Jesus is not moderate.
Healed the sick with mud and spit, touched the unclean, criticised the self-righteous, and let's not forget, he rose from the grave. Jesus is not moderate.
Yet in our comfortable, modern churches, with sermon notes on our phones, and a convenient, timed-to-the-second one- hour-fifteen-minute service, we then go about the rest of our week knowing we have given God the nod.
Our cookie cutter world would like us to stay moderate - Oh, you're a Christian. That's nice. Don't let it offend anyone else. Fit in this nice little box like the rest of us moderates - but Christianity is more than ho-hum faith. It is power. It is fire. It is life.
So I say enough of moderate Christianity. Enough lukewarm living. Wage war on moderate in your life. There's more. So much more.
Go Deeper
But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets (1 Corinthians 2:10).
There is greater revelation, revival, and renewal for the earth. What's more, it's there for the taking. Deep secrets exclusively aren't for academics or those who have fasted and prayed on a mountain for three hundred days. The only qualification for deeper revelation and revival, is hunger. Wake up sleeper, there's a banquet before you. Get passionate. Get radical. Get hungry.
Stand Out
For God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body (1 Corinthians 6:20).
Followers of Christ should not blend in to culture. The world expects you to be different. They do. They expect you to talk clean and live more wholesome lives than they do. They don't expect you to gossip, lie, or steal. People want a higher alternative. They are tired of the moderate life. The world needs you to stand out for your faith. You were bought with a price. Be the difference. Be light in the darkness.
So Beyond Moderate
And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it (Matthew 11:12).
You are already radical. Faith in Jesus Christ is radical. There is no point trying to hide it. The Kingdom of God is forcefully advancing, you may as well join in. We are no a retreating army. Satan is losing ground. His days are numbered. He is defeated. Don't settle. Go after the things of God like you would pursue a crush. These are desperate times. Be desperate for God. Desperate for his Spirit.
It's time to shake out of your moderate lifestyle. Yes, believer, I'm talking to you. You can change the world. Don't tolerate moderate. You were created for more.
A bunch of radical Christians set out from the upper room to turn the world upside down. And they did. Now it's our turn. Never doubt that a generation of radical, committed Christians can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
I'm Sarah Coleman, an Aussie passionate about Jesus & family. Through blogs and books I minister life and encouragement. Download my FREE eBook, Be Amazing: You Know You Want To. Find more of my thoughts at sarahcoleman.com.au.
Publication date: October 7, 2014