Have you ever felt like you are a ‘tweener’ within the broad scope of Christianity?

Before I proceed, let me define what the word ‘tweener’ is. “Tweener” is a slang word that describes a person who is not a ‘pure’ anything. This word is commonly used in sports to describe a player whose size and skill sets either makes him too tall and too slow to play one position or makes him too short and easily to be taken advantage of in another position. A good example of the word ‘tweener’ was used in the NBA Draft last Thursday night describing a 6′ 5″ basketball player who played two-guard in college with expert skill. When his name was called up in the draft, the commentators deemed him as a ‘tweener’ because he, at 6′ 5″ tall was deemed ‘too tall and slow to play two-guard in the NBA’ and also deemed ‘too short and not physically built enough to play small forward in the NBA’. That is what a ‘tweener’ is.

Many days, I feel like a ‘tweener’ within Christianity.

Why do I feel this way? Because I wonder where do I fit in somedays within Christianity. Even though I partially agree with some (not all) of the message of the Religious Right, I am disturbed at their ‘always right, we do the thinking for you, be our clone for Jesus and do what James Dobson wants, and government is the evangelist of the church that we should be doing’ methods of broadcasting their message. Even though I like some (not all) of the methods the “Emergent” churches are using to spread the Gospel, I am appalled at how many within that movement will eventually compromise and even revise the true Biblical message of Jesus Christ just to gain their footstool of notoriety.

In reference to the Holy Spirit, I admire the Reformed theology attempt to teach solid, basic, core fundamental truths tied back to the Word but am appalled by the many within Reformed theology who quench the Holy Spirit and some take a cessationist mentality to the Holy Spirit. I admire the Pentecostal / Charismatic attempt to operate under the power, influence, and giftings of the Holy Spirit but am appalled by the many who have very little regard for the written Word and will justify anything with the ‘more bizarre means it is more of God’ mentality.

Am I cutting through the chasm right down the middle between the two sides of extremes or am I balancing the fulcrum between two integral parts of Christianity? I feel like I am a ‘tweener’ in reference of the Word vs. Spirit debate that resonates in my mind. I feel like a ‘tweener’ with my blog where I do not talk about the equation of conservative politics to ‘real christianity’ nor do I talk about emerging churches who think different than my father’s Christianity equates to God’s move on their life.

Is the ‘tweening’ the pathway down the straight and narrow road? Or is it the inability to connect, engage, fellowship, and contribute to life in God’s eyes? As I grow older, I discover that the ‘tweening’ gets broader as the road gets narrower. Where are the other ‘tweeners’ in this Christian walk?