The Gospel(?) of the Slippery Slope
Apr 17th, 2009 by John
I got into quite a vibrant discussion about the dreaded “slippery slope” with the seminarians in my Missional Church: Church and Culture class at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. What struck me is how many different segments of evangelicalism fear the dreaded slippery slope. I’ve heard it discussed by people in the church, members of church staffs, pastors at pastoral gatherings, and I’ve read about it in books. You would think that the dreaded slippery slope is the new evil fourth member added to “the world, the flesh, and the devil.”
In the seminary setting, avoidance of the dreaded slippery slope took the form of protecting a firm reliance on the inspired Scriptures and holding fast to received evangelical doctrines. In the larger arenas, the slippery slope is usually that ordaining women will lead to ordaining gay people; belief in some expression of evolution will lead to denying the atonement; reading the TNIV will destroy the USAmerican family,and anything emergent or emerging is dangerous to Reformed faith, etc.
Is there a slippery slope? Of course. I think every reader can offer an anecdote of those who have sadly scooted down it. But what bothers me is the fear attached to the dreaded slippery slope. We are liable to start shaping our evangelical beliefs and practices in an atmosphere of fear rather than the vibrant, robust glory of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I don’t think that is it healthy to have as our reference point the dreaded slippery slope. We become stressfully reactionary rather than courageously proactive with the unstoppable Gospel.
“Light has come into darkness and the darkness did NOT overpower the light.” Do we really believe this? If we paint the dreaded slippery slope the color of darkness, and all we do is protect our fragile evangelical faith from the dreaded slippery slope, then darkness in fact will shape our faith.
Jesus’ world was blinded by thick, rich religious and political darkness. The last thing Jesus feared was the dreaded slippery slope. A Spirit-empowered Man who can walk on a dark, raging sea does not get antsy about a slope, slippery or not.
Holiness is the most resilient reality in the universe. Why we evangelicals have made it feel like eggshells boggles my mind. Holiness is mighty, unbreakable cables, not flimsy spider web strands. Where are the Calebs of this generation who will shout not “Give me my mountain!” but “Give me a slippery slope and watch me, with the Gospel and the Spirit’s power, turn it into a ladder toward God”?
I think I’ve got the best eleven seminarians in the school. I think they are poised to engage this world with the resilient truth of the gospel of the kingdom of God.
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I think there are slippery slopes but they usually come in pairs. While avoiding slopping toward some form of liberalism you encounter the slippery slope of fear and paralysis. Which is worse?
Life is slippery. Get movin’ anyway.
Michael,
Excellent comment and observation. Thanks.
The irony is that people who actually are on the slippery slope live in denial (perhaps ignorance is a better term?). I’ve been on a number of them myself over the past few decades. But the fact of the matter is my heart was always for the Shepherd and He was always able to get me off the slippery slope in one way or another and keep me moving forward in this adventure called life. By the way, Webster’s first definition for adventure is “an exciting and dangerous undertaking”. In reading Psalm 23, the dangerous part relates to the sheep, not the Shepherd. He knows how to take care of His own … if they just carefully listen to His voice.
Ken,
Thanks for the comments. I appreciate your thoughts.
John
Terrific reflections, good friend. The slippery slope is a threat to those who are not quite prepared to defend their position. Seminarians (and God knows you and I were there), particularly those who attend the evangelical variety, are heavily burdened with the duty to defend an orthodoxy they don’t fully grasp. The nagging question is this: what if I discover I’ve got it wrong? I’ve learned to accurately parrot the key tenants of the faith, but the so-called supporting arguments fall well short of air-tight. If I give in, compromise, back down – I’ll be banished. So I hang on tightly to the rail and at the same time fear that my defense will not convince anyone – especially me. One slip, and I’m a goner. You can see it in their eyes. Hear it in their voice. STAY AWAY FROM THE SLOPE… IT’S SLIPPERY.
Be prepared. Life happens.
Hey, Cally-Forn-ya, Friend! How’s it going, Ken? Great observations. Thanks for stopping by and contributing to the saga–How to kill the dread slippery sloooooope!
As a mountaineer (back in the day) I have climbed up and down some actual slippery slopes. To ensure our safety we always had the proper gear–crampons for our feet and an ice axe in our hands. Also we practiced our “self arrest” technique in safe places incase we needed it up on the real hill. But most importantly we were always roped together–that way if one fell the others on the team could hold fast and then go about a rescue. Only fools tried to go it alone. I wonder if there’s any corrollary to this and the moral and spiritual slippery slopes discussed above.
Barb,
Yes, I think you’re on to a great reality in your analogy–the power and protection of compassionate community. Thanks for commenting.
Hey John, I strongly agree with you … so much of what defines contemporary American Christianity is based on fear, identity issues and social control. Thanks for posting this.
Firm footholds…
Stop living in fear of the slippery slope….
hey.. wait a second.. wasn’t martin luther himself a tragic victim of the slick seductive slope of satan?
i’ve been stunned by the multitude of issues that have triggered this response from people i’ve conversed with. it always turns up at a different spot on the mountain depending on our view, the way that the sun glints off the crags. we get blinded and fear the unknown beyond what we are comfortable with.
but you know what, I don’t think i can name a single individual i’ve known personally that has actually fallen down one of these slopes into oblivion. not in any theological sense.
the only true slippery slopes I see around me are anger and rage; pride in our right interpretations; fear and bitterness; a desire to limit who our neighbours are….
thanks for this john!
God is Love,
and the Love of God is a greater power than than the power of fear.