DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- PILGRIM'S PROGRESS -- THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD

PILGRIM'S PROGRESS – THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD

"I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:6-8)

"Just then the porter at the lodge, whose name is Watchful, seeing that Christian had stopped his progress as if he would go back, cried out to him, asking, 'Is your strength so small? Don't fear the lions, for they are chained and are placed there to test your faith and to discover those who have none. Keep in the middle of the path, and no harm shall come to you."

Christian was on his way to the Celestial City, but when he thought about what Timorous and Mistrust had hold him about the lions, his heart became fearful. But he kept walking forward, thinking that he would come to a place of rest and peace. As he traveled, he spied a lodge not too far ahead, but there were lions along the path. He did not know that the lions were chained and could not touch him until the keeper of the lodge, whose name was Watchful, encouraged him to stay in the middle of the road and he would be okay.

There is an old negro spiritual that says, "Christian, keep in the middle of the road; Christian, keep in the middle of the road, Don't you turn to the left, don't you turn to the right, but keep in the middle of the road."

How many Pilgrims have been attacked by lions because they left the middle of the road to go after some strange doctrine. I have been tempted to do that myself. I have seen The Church goes through fads in the past 50 years and they are alluring because they are new and exciting, but they draw people away from the Gospel. Things like the Shepherding Movement, the Latter Rain Movement, the Laughing Movement, the Prosperity Movement, even the Charismatic Movement – all have their appeal but they can move people off the middle of the road of the Gospel and people are mauled by lions in the process. Even though they are chained and have no power, still they seek whom they may devour (I Peter 5:8). They will chew you up and spit you out.

God warns us about this. The Holy Spirit prompted Paul to write, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables" (II Timothy 4:3-4). Itching ears are always listening for something new and exciting.

If I have learned one thing in my Christian experience it is this: stay in the middle of the road. The Gospel of Jesus Christ, and Him crucified and risen again, is the middle of the road. Straying from these doctrines will cause confusion and in some cases cause people to lose faith. I am safe if I keep in the middle.

Love, Dad ,