Extremes aren't helping us much

The last 6 years have truly been for me somewhat eye opening along with being challenging.

Being out of full time ministry and leading a church was not my plan, but it presented maybe a God ordained window to experience and to learn more widely?

One greater than I could have ever planned.

And to be honest one I wouldn't have planned for myself...

Ever since I began to follow Jesus in 1991 I have been fully engaged of what many would consider a pentecostal or charismatic form of faith expression.
Before that I was actually brought up in a very conservative farming community Presbyterian church.

And for the past six years I have been involved in ministry outside the church, attended a large variety of styles and theological bents and been again involved more recently in a Church under a more conservative stream.

Something I have seen if I can generalise a little for moment, is that people seem to many times love to find a position on stylised faith, theological position, self considered “this is the best model” mindset and camp there. 

Not satisfied with that, many then try and go to the perceived extreme of that position and belief structure.

This extreme pendulum swing creates I believe a dynamic that doesn't help the Church in general, where we then promote our position as best or preferable. We can become potentially blind to other options and even blind to what God might be wanting to do with others, and maybe even us.

Here are some recent examples I have seen:

(Note - not everyone I have seen for the sake of this blog size)

Holy Spirit was Then vs Holy Spirit is for Now

There have become ever more pendulum extremes of belief on the Holy Spirt.

Some believe the Holy Spirit is active now in our time and something we should embrace to truly be the Church, to truly understand what it is like to follow Christ. That without this key attribute of faith you will lack power, special gifting and even the ability to continue in faith.

Another group states clearly that the Holy Spirit has been part of the historical narrative and isn't important for today. That the Holy Spirit helped establish the Church and helped us get the Bible. That anyone seeking to explore this aspect of faith is a 'weirdo' and probably just looking for an emotional experience - one the other end of the pendulum considers fake or even demonic.

Apostles are Historic vs Apostles operate Today

I have some sympathy for the debate and confusion around the concept of Apostles. 

I have to admit that I have been bemused and disturbed by the seemingly liberal use of the term. Where all around the world people are declaring themselves to be an Apostle.

Here are the two extremes of the pendulum:

Apostles only existed nearly 2000 years ago to establish the Church and that the role of Apostle ended with the book of Acts and the writings of the New Testament in general.

The other extreme is that Apostles could and should exist today and anyone can be an Apostle. 

My personal opinion is that both extremes are problematic and purposefully ignore what the Apostles even taught about being Apostles. #ironic.

And I add to my thinking that my reading of the early Apostles is that it was not something to attain for but was a recognition of an office.

Bible Stories are Historic and Allegoric in Nature vs Bible Stories being Examples for Now and even Life Giving

One camp loves the extreme of reflecting on the stories and the accounts in scripture and then creating narratives based on what they personally would like them to mean. Sometimes going to great lengths to try and prove they are wrong, that God's character and motivation is evil and they have discovered some hidden truth.

The other camp firmly believes in the Bible so much that everything including what to eat, what to wear, who to talk to, where to live is intrinsically linked to scripture and must not be questioned or deviated from.

Declarations of Faith are Wrong vs Declarations of Faith are Best Practice

Here we have the idea of making passionate verbal statements either in private to God or in a larger group setting related to something of faith. Hence why they are called declarations.

One group thinks this is potentially demonic and to be avoided as abhorrent behaviour.

Another group thinks that they have the potential to change everything we don't like, and without using them we won't see God do something.

For me the extremes are both problematic.

One ignores the many times Scripture records people of faith making declarations.

The other thinks they can get God to do anything they want, like they are in charge of the Kingdom.

I could go on and on with examples...

I am also disturbed by the extremes of the 'name it and claim it' hyper faith movement as much as the claims that the Holy Spirit, the gifts and everything related to them, finished thousands of years ago.

I am disturbed by endless arguments over who is right and who has the best model of Church.
I am disturbed that many ministries are based on critique and not on Christian discipleship.
I am disturbed that the Pharisee mentality has never really left Church history.

I am disturbed by passion at which others look to destroy brother and sisters of faith.

For me, I am determined today not to tell you who is right, or even what to think.
What I am determined to do I believe is to encourage you to look at faith and its practice in your life more deeply. 

To avoid taking and holding an extreme position as you continue to work our you salvation with fear and trembling - wrestling with God and what it means for you to follow Him right now with all your heart mind and soul.

Something to think about...

Watch Out

As someone passionate about faith, understanding it, living it, and where I can, defending it, the reporting of what is happening around faith today has my full attention.

And I want to suggest it should have your attention as well.

Jesus said these powerful and I think important words that I want to share today:

"Watch out that no one deceives you" 

Matthew 24:3 NIV

He goes on to say after this all important and attention grabbing phrase the different ways this could happen to you and me.

I am reminded that there is first of all potential to be deceived along with deception being around.

I am reminded that I need to take responsibility for my faith, what has been entrusted to me freely, and guard what God has deposited in my life.

I am reminded that what I believe matters for eternity. What I study. What I watch. What I look at. And also what I propagate into the world.

Other Bible verses encourage things like:

Study to show yourself approved. 2 Timothy 2:15

Be ready to give a reason for the hope you have. 1 Peter 3:15

Make the most of today. Ephesians 5:15-16

Invest wisely with what God has given me. Matthew 25

My big takeaway is that I need to wrestle with my faith and protect it.

To watch out that I am not deceived. Because deception could be around any corner if I am not purposeful to avoid it, to have mastery over it.

Can I encourage you to do the same?

Watch what you watch.

Analysis carefully what is presented as fact.

Measure the so called truth out there against God's truth.

Something to think about...

View Numbers Update | August 2026

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Thank you to you amazing people for checking it out!

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Growing Faith vs Tested Faith

...you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

James 1:3 NIV

I was thinking about the challenges we have faced in the last few years and this verse came to mind.

I think maybe I have focused more of doing things in faith, having more faith, more than the concept of God allowing my faith to be tested. 

Growing in faith is challenging and creates an adventure in faith, testing on the other hand feels a whole lot different.

James goes on to explain why this happens.

To produce other key attributes in my life, to get to the "not lacking anything part", the testing part, the uncomfortable seems to be a necessary step.

But it is not easy and is many times hard to reconcile,

For example the more I have considered myself to be living in, operating in faith, I wonder if God has allowed it to tested as much? Not something I can quantify, it is more of a feeling.

My hearts prayer today...

"God please use this time to grow me into who you need now and in the future. " 

"Help me to handle this season better."

"I can't want for what comes next after this work you are doing."

Maybe you can relate or this helps in some way?

Something to think about...

Maybe the Opposite Should Be True?

When I look at the New Testament teachings about how to best do this "christian living" thing, what the apostles wrote and what of course what Jesus said, I have always found that their statements countered the culture of the world we live somehow.

The concepts of turn the other check, when someone ask something to give them more, to forgive your enemies. It is an endless list of contradictions to the way the world recommends and acts. Even I would say counter many times to our nature and intuition.

It is for me what helps set apart Jesus teaching from all other religious leaders.

He never seemed to just teach what was expected or was already accepted, it was supposed to be better!

Then something like what I saw in the last week happens.

And something inside me says, "hey this can't be right???"

I will link the video I saw below, but in case the link doesn't work, let me paint the picture for you.

It shows two men riding in a horse drawn carriage into a lavish venue arrangement. 

People dressed as angels wave their fake wings.

Both men are dressed in finery with one wearing what appears to be a crown and robe like he is a king.

And then the "icing" on this whole visual cake is there is announcer who proclaims and I quote, "A man of God makes a glorious entrance. The man of God of the universe!"

I have a strong reaction to this video.

It strikes me as being something that is completely opposite of how Jesus taught us and especially leaders should act. In my opinion this is dangerous and wrong!

It takes respect into what many could construe as idol worship.

Scripture clearly teaches concepts and patterns for removed from what is shown here.

He must increase and I must decrease. John 3:30

Humble yourself so that he can lift you up. 1 Peter 5:6

God responding to a contrite heart. Psalm 51:17

God opposing the proud! 1 Peter 5:5

Leaders should serve. Matthew 23:11-12

Can I encourage you to not be tricked to live as the world lives and how these so called leaders operate? Let the challenge of Jesus teaching, what the apostles and early church taught, challenge your being and give you a better way to live for Him.

Something to think about...