An Invitation to the Middle

Imagine.

To your left: a proud man. To your right: his proud brother.

The one is arguing his case; the other is pointing, shaking his head. The first is asking for love; the second is insisting first on holiness.

To which side do you run to show your support? Do you wrap your arms around the one who begs for acceptance? Or do you rise dutifully to the cause of holiness, crossing your arms in resolution?

(Everyone says you must do something. You cannot stand by in neutrality. By endorsing the one, you refuse the other; by rejecting them both, you make enemies of all.)

Can these brothers love each other in the midst of disagreement? Can they look past error? For it is clear that at least one of them is wrong, and each is certain it is not himself.

And if they can choose love, what then? How does this elusive, ethereal sentiment draw them closer? How can they truly be brothers if neither is willing to budge? How can they possibly find middle ground? How do they seek it? And does it really exist?

They needn't look any further. They needn't plead their cases or point their fingers. Not today. Today, we stand at that long-sought-after middle ground.

It is found at the foot of the cross. This is where sin and holiness meet and do battle. This is where grace triumphs that holiness may abound – where sin stands out in the open, stands beside its antithesis, and is drowned in the blood of its conqueror.

It is because of Good Friday that these two can remain brothers. It is because of the cross that they can be and do "family” even when they don't agree. Because it is the cross that atoned for the sins of the wrong brother – whichever he ends up being in the end. And it is the cross that atoned for the sins of the other brother, too – sins no less gruesome or deadly.

In fact, it is because of Good Friday that we can be and do “family” with redeemed sinners of all types – for such were all of us. But we were washed, we were sanctified, we were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Cor 6:11)

It is, indeed, a Good Friday.