A Valuable Lesson For Keeping Out Of Ditches

This writer grew up on a country farm near Samnorwood, Texas back in the 40′s. We had very few paved roads in those days. When it rained, we had to be very careful to keep out of ditches on both sides of the road. Often in trying to keep out of one ditch, it would be easy to oversteer and end up across the muddy road in the other ditch.

A valuable lesson can be learned from the above experience. As Christians, we must realize that there are “ditches” on both sides of the spiritual road. On one side is the “ditch” of liberalism. John wrote, “Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son” (2 John 9 KJV). In our day, some in the Lord’s church are heading toward, or are already in that “ditch” of liberalism, ignoring the plain teachings of God’s word.

But the other “ditch” is just as dangerous. In keeping out of the “ditch” of liberalism, there are those in the church who have begun to bind where the Lord has not bound and look upon all with an unfavorable attitude who do not follow (or agree with) their ideas, opinions, or philosophies, even though they are not substantiated (or authorized) by God’s Word. Some even pull off from faithful congregations and begin new congregations following their ideas, opinions, or philosophies.

How is a Christian to keep out of either “ditch”? One must strive to stay in the “center” of God’s Will (Matthew 7:21), ever studying His Word and praying for wisdom to follow it (2 Timothy 2:15; James 1:5-6; cf. Proverbs 2:1-9), neither adding to nor taking from it. “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish aught from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you” (Deuteronomy 4:2 KJV).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets