I have long had an affinity for Coke and peanuts. I remember as a young child being at my parents’ store and enjoying as my afternoon snack a twenty-five cent bottle of Coke and five cent bag of peanuts. The two mixed together produce a taste that is incomparable to any other. I have noticed over the years, though, that the key to maximizing the enjoyment of Coke and peanuts is balance. What I mean by that is that if one is not careful, he/she could eat all of the peanuts and still have a fair amount of Coke remaining; or one could drink all of the Coke and have peanuts still rattling in the bottom of an otherwise empty bottle. I often tell people, jokingly, that the key is proper peanut to Coke distribution. It is only in that balance that Coke and peanuts can be enjoyed to the fullest.
On a similar note, this same type of balance is necessary as it pertains to the joy found in Christianity. So many people’s lives are given to extremes. Some eat far too much and become obese. Others fear that extreme and eat as little as possible and are undernourished. Neither are happy in their condition because happiness will only be found in a “healthy” (excuse the pun) balance. Some are too lazy to do a bit of work and find themselves in financial straits, ignorantly wondering “Why?” Others fear that extreme and become obsessed with work, allowing time for little else. Again, both are unhappy in their states because satisfaction is only going to be found when proper balance is found. Much of the same is found among Christians.
As with everything else in life, Christianity is comprised of things that are positive and negative. Positives of Christianity include such things as love, grace, mercy, longsuffering, redemption, salvation, and heaven. These are all essentials and thoughts to which we must give emphasis, recognizing them as drawing points of Christianity. However, an extreme exists. Some want to recognize nothing but these positive points that are uplifting, encouraging, and joy-filled. This presents a problem because such an extreme does not represent “all the counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). Therefore to combat that extreme others comprise another extreme focused only on the negatives of Christianity such as sin, Satan, discipline, consequence, condemnation, and the reality of hell. However, this does not remedy the problem but rather escalates it because this extreme neglects “all the counsel of God” as well. The positive extreme ignores the protective measures of Christianity while the negative extreme ignores its attractiveness. Neither is truly effective and neither brings glory to God. What then is the answer?
True joy and satisfaction is found in balanced Christianity. The positive aspects will convert the soul while the negative will protect it. We must be both for Christ and against sin. I think Paul had that in mind when he encouraged Timothy to “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove (negative), reprove (negative), exhort (positive) with all longsuffering and doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:2). It is only according to that Divinely instructed method that Christianity will truly be enjoyed. It is not found only in the “happy, happy, joy, joy” mindsets characterized by many; nor in the “doom and gloom” that defines others. But just like with Coke and peanuts, the true joy of Christianity is found directly in the middle, where balance resides.