I’ve read Lore Ferguson Wilbert for almost 10 years. I’ve been blessed by a lot of what she has had to say. She’s far smarter and much more insightful than I am. Two years ago she wrote about how more and more she finds herself in the mushy middle on a myriad of issues:
“…this mushy middle is where I increasingly am on many issues. The older I get, the more complex the world seems and the greater the need is for nuance and care around all our words. But, what I want to write about today is the belief that we in that mushy middle are on a journey toward one side or another because I think that’s what this generation of Christians uniquely faces—meaning you’re damned if you do and you’re damned if you don’t…Like the life of a Christian, I have no sweet resolution for this piece. My aim is to leave you feeling a bit, well, mushy. You have to go and do the work of what it means to inhabit your space with grace, peace, faith, hope, and love, and I guarantee you it will not look like my space and it probably won’t garner a movement of Instagrammable proportions.”
Yes, I’ve been mulling this over for two years. Because it keeps coming up. I see more and more believers advocating for this “middle way” or “mushy middle” as Lore puts it. And I keep finding myself feeling more and more unsettled every time I see it promoted.
Of course Jesus transcends politics. But, to say that God’s word is unclear about most things is intellectually dishonest and flat out untrue. Of course it can be confusing. Of course people are going to disagree and argue. Of course we’re going to have to wrestle through difficult passages and sometimes, like Jacob, we go to the mat with God Himself. If we’re looking for neon signs to guide us through each scenario and issue we face in life, then obviously we’re not going to get that.
If we’re hitching our wagons to a politician, a political or social cause, or a party platform, then yes, we need to reevaluate and recalibrate. We need to look to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. But glorifying the mushy middle will only drag you down to the dregs; like that last sip of coffee with grounds in it, we should spit it out.
I don’t want the mushy middle. I want rock solid truth. The mushy middle won’t help me withstand the storms of this life. The mushy middle won’t carry me through the flood waters when they inevitably sweep over me. The fire will rage and you must walk through it. BUT, fear not! Because our great God will be with us every step of the way.
If I go the way of the mushy middle I’ll find myself capitulating every which way to be palatable to a culture that’s headed to hell in a handbag. If I go the way of the mushy middle I won’t be a light shining in the darkness; I’ll be a flashlight with dead batteries.
Yes, let’s speak the truth in love. And let’s also realize that sometimes (perhaps most of the time), no matter how lovingly we tell the truth, people are still going to hate us. Because they hate God.
18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’ John 15:18-25
Today everything seems political. Everything seems divisive. We can’t let that scare us into silence simply because we don’t want to be viewed as political or divisive. We do not co-opt the world’s language or ways, but we do speak. We are truth tellers, image bearers, and ambassadors for our King.
Today when the world is trying to convince us that women should have the right to kill their pre-born babies and at that same time tell us that they can’t define what a woman even is, we ought not hesitate to speak the truth; that God created every single person in His image. Male and female He created them. And that being His image bearer makes all of us worthy of life. He knit us together in our mothers’ wombs! He knit us together! Friends, there is no middle way here!
I’m 12 weeks pregnant. According to my pregnancy app (yes, there really is an app for everything) my baby is the size of a kiwi and can now open and close his or her fists and curl his or her tiny toes. All of my baby’s vital organs are in place. My baby’s heart is beating rapidly. We even got to hear our baby’s heart beat 4 weeks ago and I’m waiting with bated breath for my appointment to hear that precious heart beat again. This baby, every baby is an absolute miracle formed and sustained by God. We should tremble in utter terror that we as a country have destroyed 63 million babies. We should be weeping and truth telling. We should be begging God for mercy and asking Him, begging Him to end this horrendous evil in our country.
By His grace, God removed my heart of stone and gave me a heart flesh so he could pierce it with His truth and love, so that He could shape it into his likeness. I fail daily and yet He is steadfast and sure.
The stakes are too high. The commands are clear. Put on the full armor of God and tell the truth. Even if your voice shakes.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. Ephesians 6:10-20
**Link to Lore Ferguson Wilbert’s blog post: https://www.sayable.net/blog/2020/6/10/love-islove-is-not-and-the-mushy-middle
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