Faithfulness ≠ Fanaticism

In his book The Reason for God, Belief in an Age of Skepticism, Tim Keller responds to one of the major deterrents to Christianity for those who are skeptical about this faith. That deterrent is fanaticism.

I am, without a doubt, a football fanatic. I help to coach my son's youth football team. Frankly, I'm happy that he wants to play football since it gives me an opportunity to coach. I have recently overspent in procuring NY Giants Super Bowl XLII paraphernalia. My body convulsed in scary ways when Eli Manning escaped a sure sack and David Tyree caught the football on his helmet as Harrison was hanging on his arm. I take what I'm sure is a sinful joy in wearing my NY Giants Champions cap in Borders and Starbucks at the Cap Center, right up the road from FedEx field. Though I did not play one single down, nor break one bead of sweat during training camp, I walk around saying we won the Super Bowl. The absurdity of it all!

There is a difference, however, between being reasonably obnoxious (in my opinion) as a football fanatic and what Keller describes as a Christian fanatic. He says on pp.56-7,

"When arguing for their faith they often appear intolerant and self-righteous... A fanatic is someone who is thought to over-believe and over-practice Christianity... Think of people you consider fanatical. They're overbearing, self-righteous, opinionated, insensitive, and harsh. Why? It's not because they are too Christian but because they're not Christian enough. They are fanatically zealous and courageous, but they are not fanatically humble, sensitive, loving, empathetic, forgiving, or understanding⎯as Christ was."

What then does intense, radical commitment to Christ look like? It starts with the recognition that I'm a Christian by sheer grace alone, and that I'm preserved to persevere in the faith by the power of God alone. If God left me to myself, I would fall away from the faith. As one preacher reminded me a few months back, "If God relaxed his grip upon us even slightly we would spontaneously combust in to all kinds of sins."

I think about Abraham's journey when I consider what faith in the Lord looks like. The first time the Lord spoke to Abraham is recorded in Genesis 12, and the last time is recorded in Genesis 22. In between, we see the ups and the downs of his life of faith. He lies about Sarah being his wife on two occasions. He leads his 318 men to rescue Lot, is blessed by Melchizedek, and refuses to take any of the spoils of war from the king of Sodom. And on it went. My point is that there were times when his faith was strong, and times when his faith waned. Yet, in chapters 12 and 22, the texts that frame, or bookmark Abraham's life of faith we see the overall character of that faith. His was a true faith that expressed itself in a willingness to radically obey God's word and commands even when it made absolutely no sense to him. He wasn't just offering up lip service when he said that he trusted the lord. He could be bold with the king of Sodom, but still intercede before God on behalf of that wicked city.

This balance of boldness, humility and compassion is hard for us to strike. That, however, is what will make a Christian stand out. Not because we're fanatics, but because of a humble yet unwavering commitment to this God who binds us to himself by sheer grace.

In Christ,

Pastor Irwyn