What do Clover spread and philosopher Aristotle have in common?

...They both think that the middle ground is best! Anyone remember this advert of Clover's, proudly declaring that it has half the saturated fat of butter?

The Greek philosopher Aristotle had a similar belief known as the Golden Mean and reasoned that the midway is the desirable virtue (e.g. coruage) unlike the deficit (cowardice) or excess (recklessness).

I like to have a "middle is best" approach to most things in life too and this extends to my faith. My interpretation of the Bible is somewhere between the hard-line fundamentalism which takes the Bible so literally that it removes it from its cultural time and context, and wishy-washy liberalism which sees the Bible as just a good book which people wrote to sum up their idea of God. I believe the Bible to be divinely inspired but written by people. This gives it a unique authority which no other book can claim, but it must also be read with its original intended context and culture in mind, so no treating it as a science text book please!

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. ~ 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)

It's not what you know...

I'm trying to find employment at the moment and part of that process involves attending group sessions designed to help you find work. At one of these sessions I was told of the different ways companies employ people. Some, I was told, have a recommendations policy meaning they find new staff through the people who already work there. So if a member of staff has a friend or family member who would also like to work there, they can get in through the back door, so to speak.

I feel at a distinct disadvantage because of this because I am not related to anyone who can get me a job where they work. But it is one example showing the truth of the statement, "It's not what you know; it's who you know." 

In some ways, being a Christian is much the same, although that doesn't mean you have to know Christians to be one yourself! No, there's only one person you have to know to be a Christian, and he wants you to know him: Jesus Christ. It really is that simple.

Anyone who believes that Jesus was a real person - and acknowledges his authority as the Son of God - is saved. This is the Good News and there are no catches. You don't have to achieve anything before you accept Jesus' offer of eternal life, nor do you have to be of a certain background. No, God loves us all equally and sent His own Son to be our friend and Saviour. He loves you already, and would be overjoyed if His love was returned. The entire message of Jesus is based solely on love - love for God and love for one another, even love for ourselves!

Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' " ~ Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV)

It is therefore very sad when other things cloud this simple message, or distort it entirely so that the message of love is ignored. Christians and non-Christians alike sometimes feel that this simple message is either too easy, too good to be true or just plain unfair. Shouldn't we be rewarded because of our efforts, not because we know someone who will get us out of trouble? Well, truth be told, our efforts will never be good enough, not even by human standards, and definitely not by God's. Yet He still loves us more than we could ever know, despite our obvious and frequent failings. Trying to earn your forgiveness or way into heaven makes for a very self-dependent culture where some will forever be aiming for perfection (and failing) and others will wonder what's the point in even trying. So the only way we can get right with God is to accept that we're not perfect and admit that we need his saving grace. And grace is something that God is willing to deal out abundantly.

GRACE: God's goodness lavished upon us when we don't deserve it.

MERCY: God withholding punishment when we do deserve it.

So why then do people like to add to the message, insisting you need to do x, y and z before you stand a chance of going to heaven? Don't overcomplicate a simple message, especially an important one! I feel Jesus best expresses his purpose in John's gospel, chapter 3, verse 16:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." ~John 3:16 (NIV)