We Don’t Need Moderates. We Need Truth Tellers.

A divided Washington and a seemingly polarized America has spawned a tried but tired narrative:

Given the division and dysfunction in the United States, we need moderate leaders who will help bridge the chasm between extremes. We need people who know how to compromise. 

In reality, our great country finds itself reeling and unmoored because far too many people, for far too long, have subscribed to this well-meaning but ill-conceived philosophy.

To get along, they’ve gone along.

To try and secure peace, they’ve sacrificed principle.

To find agreement, they’ve ceded authority.

Tragically, many of the people leading the charge have been members of old mainline Protestant denominations. The slide has been steady but precipitous – and many years in the making.

Well over a hundred years ago, it was Mark Twain who observed:

“You never see Presbyterians ranting, shouting and tearing up the ground. You never heard of a Presbyterian going crazy on religion… You never see any of us Presbyterians getting in a sweat about religion …”

In other words, don’t worry about polity, theology or orthodoxy. Just take a big deep breath. Don’t worry, be happy. 

Because of that very apathetic attitude, there are ministers and pastors of mainline denominations today who don’t even believe in the deity of Christ or His bodily resurrection from the dead.

Of course, “moderation” means different things to different people – as does “extremism.” But if believing in the inerrant, infallible Word of God qualifies us to be “extreme” – so be it.

“So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth,” we read in Revelation (3:16). Being “good” isn’t good enough – we need to be good for something.

Compromising over hymns or praise music and robes or skinny jeans is one thing – but as Christian believers, we cannot moderate fundamental, foundational truths that are constantly under attack in today’s culture:

Life is sacred. In Jeremiah we read, “Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations’” (1:4-5).

The Bible is clear there are two genders. We read in Genesis: “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (1:27).

As Christians, we must speak clearly and fearlessly on matters about which God’s position is evident.

Katy Faust is an author and the founder of “Them Before Us” – a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and championing the rights of children. She was a recent guest lecturer at Focus on the Family’s Lighthouse Lecture series in Holland, MI.

Just yesterday, she tweeted:

“I don’t think the Left knows what it’s done. 10 yrs ago I was a nonconfrontational pastor’s wife. Today I’m willing to speak up, lose ‘friends’ and spend hours researching and writing to fight progressive extremism. The Left radicalized me.”

Can you relate? 

By “radicalized,” Katy is not referring to the definition popularized by violent terrorists. She’s talking about being compelled to action. There is too much on the line and too little time left to do something about it to be passive.

In the current age, we need Christians to stand firm in their faith – and rise up against a runaway culture. 

Jesus was loving and compassionate – but He also pulled no punches. He was not shy when it came to sharing truth or calling out evil and wickedness. In fact, Jesus once compared certain people to weeds. He said He would send His angels to “throw them into the fiery furnace.” He said people who didn’t do His will would be cursed and sent to eternal fire. 

Jesus was kind – but the kindest thing you can do is tell the truth with grace and love.