LIMPING WITH TWO OPINIONS
Elijah came near to all the people, and said, "How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him." And the people did not answer him a word. 1 Kings 18:21, R.S.V.
Even though our teachers had told us not to play "crack the whip" while skating in the old gymnasium, the game was popular to try when the teachers were not looking. The large pillars that broke up the floor area--part of the reason for our teachers' warnings--just served to make the game more challenging. But I'll never forget watching one young man as he snapped at blurring speed from the end of the whip, to find himself heading straight for a pillar. For a split second he thought he would steer to the left. Then he changed his mind and tried to pass it on the right. From all appearances, however, his final decision was to go on both sides at once. He limped very painfully off the skating floor.
A young girl was portraying among her friends the image of a worldly-wise, liberated former Christian. Yet she was careful to live in her parents' presence as a sweetly docile model of innocence. It was a painful day for her when her friends came for a visit and, within her parents' hearing, began discussing the recent wild time they had shared with her.
Trying to try to hold two conflicting opinions at the same time is painful, even downright crippling. Living with one foot planted firmly in the value systems of the world and the other foot dangling within the supposed shelter of the church door is wrenching to one's integrity, as well as to one's reputation. This will always produce dysfunctional people, silly parodies of the strong, purposeful men and women God is capable of producing.
It is no wonder, then, that when Elijah pointed out to his people how foolish they looked limping along with one foot on either side of the fence, they had nothing to say. There is no defense for self-inflicted pain, no sensible explanation for mental and spiritual duplicity. There is something very inspiring about Elijah's straightforward manner of dealing. He sets before the people the two clear alternatives: God or Baal. Getting off the fence, even on the wrong side, makes more sense than the painful, integrity-shattering fantasy that one can walk both sides at the same time!
Elijah came near to all the people, and said, "How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him." And the people did not answer him a word. 1 Kings 18:21, R.S.V.
Even though our teachers had told us not to play "crack the whip" while skating in the old gymnasium, the game was popular to try when the teachers were not looking. The large pillars that broke up the floor area--part of the reason for our teachers' warnings--just served to make the game more challenging. But I'll never forget watching one young man as he snapped at blurring speed from the end of the whip, to find himself heading straight for a pillar. For a split second he thought he would steer to the left. Then he changed his mind and tried to pass it on the right. From all appearances, however, his final decision was to go on both sides at once. He limped very painfully off the skating floor.
A young girl was portraying among her friends the image of a worldly-wise, liberated former Christian. Yet she was careful to live in her parents' presence as a sweetly docile model of innocence. It was a painful day for her when her friends came for a visit and, within her parents' hearing, began discussing the recent wild time they had shared with her.
Trying to try to hold two conflicting opinions at the same time is painful, even downright crippling. Living with one foot planted firmly in the value systems of the world and the other foot dangling within the supposed shelter of the church door is wrenching to one's integrity, as well as to one's reputation. This will always produce dysfunctional people, silly parodies of the strong, purposeful men and women God is capable of producing.
It is no wonder, then, that when Elijah pointed out to his people how foolish they looked limping along with one foot on either side of the fence, they had nothing to say. There is no defense for self-inflicted pain, no sensible explanation for mental and spiritual duplicity. There is something very inspiring about Elijah's straightforward manner of dealing. He sets before the people the two clear alternatives: God or Baal. Getting off the fence, even on the wrong side, makes more sense than the painful, integrity-shattering fantasy that one can walk both sides at the same time!
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