The Path of Balance, a Road Less Traveled

The Narrow Gate from the Pilgrim’s Progress

By Bp. Joseph Boyd (Ancient Church of the West)

The diagram below shows why it is so hard to build a balanced and Christ-filled diocese. 

In Christian life, imbalances and reactions lead to vices, while balance and restraint lead to virtues. They are tied together in a continuum, and people are tempted to swing from one side to the other, rather than maintaining a wholesome balance. 

We can see these two extremes emerge in our context between the liberal Episcopal church and the hyper-conservative Old Calendarist Orthodox churches, where people who are abused on one side swing all the way to the other side, thinking that an embrace of opposites embodies a return to virtue. The end result of this reaction is further fragmentation and the intentional cultivation of a vice that is mistaken as a “virtue.” Sincere love is the fruit of the Spirit, and our hatred and anger do not further the righteousness of God, so we must strive to subvert our own process of reaction and confess and forsake our internal resentments, so that we can be passionless and clear, a mirror of God’s will in the face of our own human brokenness and lust. What makes it hard to love others, or that which makes us fear others, is not of God, and we must reject it and embrace the suffering and martyrdom that comes from following Christ and facing our humanity, rather than running from our pain. 

Maintaining this balanced position is also a struggle we feel in our own Jurisdiction, as people use past hurts as justification for shutting down and hiding out, rather than prayerfully, humbly and cautiously serving the community. When we hide, we may feel comfortable, but we are also cutting ourselves off from God’s grace, which is only found in transparency and obedience. Many feel that they can hide and judge others from their place of spiritual “cover”, but this is merely a self-deception, coupling pride and disobedience into a false holiness. While some may be fooled by this facade, ultimately, it robs those lying to themselves and the people believing this lie of true fullness in the Holy Spirit and spiritual fruit. 

The general principle behind the continuum of virtues and vices is that, if something feels too easy, then it is probably an imbalance. Walking the pathway of virtue requires dynamic tension, accountability, confession, and constant work. Anything that breaks this dynamic tension of learning, teaching, discipling and being discipled, is an imbalance that cripples the Church’s work, and stymies our spiritual growth.

Our Lord taught us the same principle in Matthew 6:13-20, when He said: “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”

So, as we continue to live and grow, we should not “oppose” things, but rather, be “for” what Christ taught us to do and teach. Reacting and resenting another “side” ends up pushing us towards an opposite, which is also a vice. Instead, we should repent of our own sin, ask God for mercy, and continue to do what Christ has shown forth by the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. This kind of meekness and quietness will keep us on the “straight and narrow.”