Stay on the horse

This quote is from Spiritual Warfare: A Biblical and Balanced Perspective. It certainly applies to the extremes that one finds in regard to that topic. But I think it can apply to more than just spiritual warfare.

Living the Christian life is not merely about mastering one truth or even a set of principles. Rather, it is learning to think and act biblically. We must be reminded of certain truths frequently so that we don't become unbalanced or myopic in our view of the Christian life... Making a similar observation, Martin Luther once noted that Christians are often like a drunk trying to get on his horse. First, the drunk falls off one side, only to climb back up and fall off the other side.¹

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction, and Newton's 3rd law doesn't just apply to physics. For every bad teaching, there is probably an opposite but equally bad teaching. If we're not careful, we'll be like Luther's drunk who never stays on the horse. I may recognize the error in teaching A, but to avoid it, I may swing to teaching B which may have its own problems, just different ones. I've done this. You've probably done this too.

It's helpful to realize our biases. Unless I admit that I can be unbalanced, my discernment meter will be turned off and leave me open to being tossed about by every wind of doctrine. Christian community can be invaluable in this regard, too. Solid teaching and preaching is an obvious safeguard but so is fellowship. You may begin to see me tipping and vice versa. My weakness may be your strength and vice versa. Through iron sharpening iron, we can help one another to stay on the horse and stay the course.

Spiritual Warfare: A Biblical and Balanced Perspective, Brian Borgman & Rob Ventura, Reformation Heritage Books, 2014, pg. 1

Edited 9:08 AM for wording.