I have recently been accused of having "extreme religious views". While the conclusions drawn from this accusation are absurd, and in fact provable lies, I found myself examining the charge nonetheless.
First of all, I have never heard of Calvinism being described as "extreme", though I suppose some would consider it so. But if I really consider my faith, it's source, strength, and impact on people's lives, it can be described in no other way. I would suggest that there were few if any at the foot of the cross of Christ who were shrugging, yawning, and indifferent while watching events unfold. The suffering was extreme. The claims Christ made were extreme. The reactions by the "religious" people of their day was extreme. (Kill him, he is blaspheming!) But most of all, the sacrifice of a sinless man was the most extreme act in all of history.
Two things make His sacrifice extreme;
1.) The totality of our own sin is extreme. We are not just a little sinful, falling once in a while. We are spiritual cripples, once in a while with all of our strength struggling up to our knees, before we collapse on our face once again. We cannot even begin to understand the depth of our depravity, the sinfulness of our sin. Somehow we cannot admit this to ourselves, let alone find a way to escape the results of it. We don't think we're really that bad. We trust in our own strength, our own wisdom, our own wealth. We ignore Romans 12:13, "Don't think more highly of yourself, but with sober judgement." And in action, we act as if we deserve His grace.
2.)His grace towards us, though totally, completely, immeasurably undeserved, is as extreme as any act man has ever seen. That totality of grace is the only thing that even gives our wicked hearts any desire to seek Him at all. It is not because we are smart enough to see our need of a Savior, strong enough to choose what is right, or wise enough to know the difference. It is grace alone.(Grace has been defined as undeserved favor. That seems to be a fairly good definition.)
The apostles apparently had "extreme religious views", for they were all killed for the message of grace that they preached. Although I have no claim to be an apostle, that's not a bad bunch to be lumped in with!
If my faith is not "extreme", I have missed the whole point of the gospel. The definition of the word "extreme" may be warped and twisted into something different than the above description, but that does not mean I should make it my goal to sink into the depths of mediocrity, striving not to offend anyone, and thus making the gospel totally irrelevant in the changing of lives. I will not apologize for the convictions that I have, resulting from at least a little recognition of this...
MY SIN IS TOTAL, IMMEASURABLE, AND CRUSHING. HIS GRACE IS OVERWHELMINGLY, IMMEASURABLY, UNFATHOMABLY MORE.
That is the most "extreme" contrast that the world has ever seen, or in fact could ever imagine.
