Middle ground is usually thought of as a place where people come to when they are in agreement, have reached an agreement or are in the process of making an agreement. The old duel comes to my mind. You start with your backs to each other and on a signal take however many paces (let's say 10) and you turn around and fire at the other person. One or both of you is wounded, dies or "wins". Not exactly a win/win situation if you ask me. Whenever I've been asked to meet on middle ground for anything I am slightly apprehensive as someone has to win making the situation a win/lose situation. For that very reason the Bible tells us to meet with our adversary on the way to court and settle the issue before the court declares you a winner or loser. Middle ground speaks of a place where we can be in agreement to not agree. The justice system has an "Alford plea" that does the same thing. The person accused admits there is enough evidence to convict them but maintains their innocence. Where am I going with this? We use all kinds of devices in order to avoid being accountable for our own sin. When we do so, we seek to have "middle ground" with God. Since he is God and has made middle ground for us in Jesus, there is no device we can manufacture to level the playing field. We are dead before being made alive in Jesus. If you haven't been made alive in Jesus you are still dead.
When I look around me and examine my life I can see many times that I settled for middle ground and missed the opportunity to either be blessed or to bless others. These times also brought about grief as I have fallen into sin and brought shame on my testimony of what God did on the cross for me. It's hard to justify any wrong and try to find middle ground with God. But, that's what Christian and non-Christian do. They seek to meet God and to meet with God in what we consider middle ground. God has no middle ground. He met Moses in the burning bush and told Moses to take off his sandals as he was standing on "holy ground." God is the middle ground for the Christian. There is no calling God to our place of sin and expect him to be comfortable with the life we are living. That would be contrary to his character. Compromising his stance and his love and mercy is not even part of the equation. Why do we think we can make a bargain with God on our terms. The middle ground with God is at the foot of the cross. There are no other terms or conditions. Mankind can only be saved through calling on the name of Jesus Christ who lived, died and rose from the dead so that one cay we can stand on holy ground.
Middle ground also brings up thoughts of compromise. If you give in to this, I'll give into that and we can meet in the middle. With a world gone crazy we have sayings like, "different but not wrong." and "why can't we all coexist." Politicians and peasants alike utilize this system for self promotion, profit and of course to win. Christians do as well. As a pastor I was once told by the deacons that they would have to choose to sin against God rather than take disciplinary action to a church member in sin. I was shocked beyond belief. You could feel the presence of God leaving the meeting. Meeting or making middle ground your "agreement" with God costs. It doesn't just cost you; it costs everyone involved. When our government tells us that we cannot raise our kids as the Bible says we should we see all kinds of ramifications fall upon both them and our society. Giving middle ground to those who hate God isn't justice, it's sin. Thinking that we have a right or the right to compromise and seek middle ground when God says otherwise in his Word is sin. Call it what you may. Live with what you want. However, know that you have made the choice. Can you live with middle ground as a Christian when God isn't there?
It's your choice. Why don't you stop choosing middle ground. It doesn't exist for the Christian.
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