The "Radical Center"

Susan went along with me on a business trip to Palm Springs and we enjoyed the warm weather there during the week and then spent Friday-Sunday in Laguna Beach where we enjoyed some good food and looking at the Pacific ocean. During that time I was able to read the book “Seeing Gray in a World of Black and White—Thoughts on Religion, Morality, and Politics” by Adam Hamilton. This is a challenging book that I would recommend you read. I don’t agree with all of his conclusions, but many of his thoughts are good and worth your consideration. He talks about how we need to seek a “radical center” in a lot of our conversations about controversial religious and political issues rather than having to always be on the extreme right or left. Here are a couple of excerpts from the book:

“The radical center avoids lambasting either the right or the left, though those in the center may be attacked by both extremes. They will not be conservative enough for the conservatives, or liberal enough for the liberals. But two defining characteristics of the radical center will be a willingness to find what is good and true in others, and a commitment to practicing love. The radical center will seek to take seriously the words of Paul who said, ‘Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.’ (Ephesians 4:29)…..

Christianity is in need of a new reformation. The Fundamentalism of the last century is waning. And the Liberalism of the last fifty years has jettisoned too much of the historic Christian gospel to take its place.”

Susan and I heard Rick Warren speak yesterday in Lake Forest, California and he preached on the prayer that he led at the inauguration. He mentioned how he was trying to take the center, but that he was attacked from both sides…and how ironically it is easier to go the extremes of a position…then you only get attacked from one side.