We Really Don't Know Extreme.....

First of all, the job is going great.  I LOVE my students....they have no idea how much.  It blesses me beyond belief. 

About what's going on with my title.....

Lately, I've been thinking about how people always think mine and Dustin's views are so extreme.  I began to think about the other extreme people I know. I then began to think about when is it right or best, and when or if is it ever wrong..  I have come to the conclusion that the world only sees extreme christianity as an offense.  I think of people that think....."oh, there they go with that extreme religion again."  However, I never hear anyone say, "Oh, there they go with the extreme liberalism." Why is it that extreme christianity gets the bad rap?  The world is very extreme in pushing self-seeking lust into our face. 

I've come into HUGE combats with people over the secular music thing.  They act like I go around preaching that people are going to hell if they listen to it.  It's like people get offended when they find out that's what you view.  Since when is it a crime or since when has it become an offense for me to have personal boundaries that I live by?  Pastor Jacob said it best when he explained scripture on judgement.  He explained that you are able to inspect others to the same degree you have drawn the same boundaries in your own life.  It's called living in the LIGHT.  When you are living in the light, when someone points light (judgement) at you, it doesn't blind you and take you back.. When you live in darkness, one ounce of light is blinding.  We should all strive to continually get better.  I mean this sounds like practical biblical application to me. (By the way, I'm not saying I think it's okay for everyone to act like jerks.)

Anyways, I was thinking about when is it pleasing to be extreme and is there a time to have an off button?  Well, as most of you know, I'm a huge Teen Challenge advocate.  I know it's a part of who I am; therefore, extremism is the ticket for individuals coming from extreme departure from God. 

I do feel that my "extreme" boundaries have played a huge role in keeping me pure and saved throughout my life since childhood.  So people may try and point the finger at my life, but I know those values were put there by God and I contribute my childhood salvation and endurance of it to boundaries that are set in persuit of holiness.   I still don't understand why people view such little boundaries as extremism.

So, call me extreme.....call me critical......call me judgemental.  My Jesus paid an extreme price for an extreme cause.  All of us have yet to imagine how extreme it actually was at that time.  I'd rather be "extreme" here than be considered "mediocre" in heaven. 

I'm not sorry for anything that I do in the name of my Savior.