How to Spot a Fanatic

There is something in human nature that will take a truth to its logical limits and try to set it in cement. Naturally we want everyone else to live it to the letter, (just as long as it isn’t us!) Thankfully, many of us have learned by observation that those who preach an absolute
commitment to some cause always have a reason why they cannot live it themselves.

Hopefully, we all eventually mature to a level where we try to avoid imposing our standards on others because we have grown to recognize that we ourselves never could meet other people’s expectations. But we do experience the discomfort of some who feel it is their mission in life to impose often legalistic views and who see themselves as “the guardian of the truth”.

For just regular Christians, extreme “Christians” can make us feel sinful or inadequate. They paint a picture of total dedication and deep commitment which sort of works until you see their feet of clay! The message is always that we are lukewarm. The inference is that they are Hot and we are not!

Folks in the religious world are so used to such rhetoric that they never imagine achieving the imagined standards they hear preached about. Somehow we can feel more justified in our inaction by listening to extreme preaching. We are able to relegate it to a part of our mind that says “what they really mean is...” or “they must mean someone else because they know I could never reach that standard.” We are able to feel sanctified or even justified just sitting there listening to heavy duty guilt trips. There is a kind of masochistic streak that emerges which keeps us under the spell.

Sometimes sadly we can actually rate the quality of a lecture, sermon or presentation by how condemned or inadequate we feel afterward. This justifies our inaction. Take note of the poor souls that put up with being demeaned and harangued in cults. They never say boo to a goose or touch others lives’ positively. They are left without anything useful to contribute to society.

Such people should be involved somewhere that they can be accepted and treated as normal but they don’t because that also would make them feel guilty. The problem seems to be that people are getting beaten up and seem to like it!

We put up with too much hogwash! Heavy legalism is a control device. We deserve the guilt we feel if we don’t reject it.

Extremists are in the business of constantly moving the goal-posts out of our range and don’t make us feel confident that we can ever achieve their projected standards. The worst aspect is, we often pay them for their abuse!

Recently, a friend and I were discussing the multi-level marketing phenomena of the last century. We were wondering why the many Christians involved could not preach the gospel with the same enthusiasm and obvious dedication. It could not be because of all the money they were earning; it was soon evident that nobody was earning much at all after the huge operating costs were counted. Then why was it they could feel so strongly as to even offend or destroy good friendships in the name of soap?

There was a high degree of extremism displayed by the leaders of these schemes. People gathered to hear the great testimonies of financial success but who do you know that really did sell a lot of that soap? They went to a bunch of meetings and preached a lot of rhetoric but at the end of the day people got enough joy just going to the meetings... In short, they began to behave the same way that they did in church, they just sat and excused themselves. The idea was good until the extremists moved the goal-posts.

We all can recall instances where people have applauded excessive and even unscriptural preaching because it confirmed their low feelings about themselves. Condemning social behavior from the pulpit was never a ministry that Jesus modeled. Actually he condemned the very religious behavior that such preachers use in order to make financial gain. They use basic cultural issues to beat people with. “I don’t smoke and I don’t chew, and I don’t run with those that do!” Matthew 23:4: “They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.”

Nowadays many are made to feel guilty if they are not sacrificially giving time, money and loyalty; conforming unquestionably to the culture of big organizations. This is nothing less than big business and corporate greed invading the world of faith and volunteerism; an ugly cultural trend of centralization, motivated by extreme greed for power (and money of course). The people drawn to such social groups are those who do not ‘own’ a vision but need to have one provided by the momentum of belonging.  

Humans find it easy to preach a religion of extreme rules or requirements to qualify as a member or be acceptable within the group. This is typical in all of the world’s religions including Christianity and Judaism. Why? Because it confirms and justifies people in their state of unworthiness and low self image and makes them easier to control.

I am appealing for moderation. Moderation means we don’t buy the old line. This word ‘moderation’ has come to falsely mean wishy-washy or lukewarm. The word does not mean such things:

Noun: Moderation means bringing within bounds or avoidance of excesses or extremes; absence of violence; calmness without excess; restraint.

Synonyms of moderation are: toleration, steadiness, sobriety, coolness, the golden mean, temperateness, quiet, temperance, lenity, patience, sedation, fairness, justice, constraint, forbearance, reasonableness, dispassionateness, poise, balance;  The act of moderating, mediation, settlement, governance, regulation, restriction, limitation, reduction, controlling, assuagement, alleviation, composing, soothing, quieting, placating, sobering, tempering.

                  

We do see a total lack of these qualities in many religious circles because such moderation is taken for disinterest, unresponsiveness, or even vying (competing) for control. People are encouraged to make a display of their emotional commitment to indicate approval or participation. “Let’s all say amen!” Those who do not do so are branded as being in opposition or disapproving. It may be that they do not like acting out something they do not deeply feel and just do not want to go along with the general feeling.

      Yes there is a flipside, some people just need to ‘get a life’ and find some joy in their miserable existence. What measure do we use to judge or discern people’s response or lack of response by? Observation is a poor indicator because many can and do fake support or enthusiasm. All this becomes obvious when the real work needs to be done.

Now if you think I mean that cool unresponsiveness reflects moderation you are wrong! A moderate person can be extremely joyful or happy and leap around like any fanatic. Only it is real. Interestingly, unresponsiveness is mostly the control technique favored by dangerous fanatics. They want you to respond while they hold themselves in reserve. It makes them feel powerful. When you don’t respond to their rhetoric, you make them feel stupid. You may be right but they will definitely not like you.

Extremism actually requires people to function outside of their deeper beliefs. It judges those who do not conform as being in opposition. It assumes lack of enthusiasm is disbelief and they are probably right. You will find it hard to believe a fanatic. A true moderate will always find it hard to find agreement with an extremist. They will enjoy the excitement but need time to process things. Most extremists want your decision right now! If this means you experience more of Jesus, you may need to do it now for Him. Otherwise politely decline.

There is a mood or atmosphere of extremism that can catch you off guard and sweep you into its headiness. In India they have a word; Melee. It describes an event like a riot but it really is an atmosphere that is tangible and frightening. I have been close to getting caught in one. You could literally feel it like a wind blowing into a huge crowd and see them sway with it then briefly go crazy. Get me out of here!! Lots of people can die in these events.

The German public stood by and condoned ugly extremism and excessive behavior by the Nazis because extremism has that effect. Their own moderation was shut down. They had no voice because some extreme loony told them that they didn’t and they bought it. A moderate person should have sufficient rule over their own spirit to not be swayed by the voice of unreasonableness but you can be shouted down. Many moderate people left Germany quickly or were soon dead. The same moderating influence that made them leave could have brought restraint to what was going on but there was a risk of exposure which would definitely make things worse. Who can blame them from getting out of Germany when they saw lunacy looming? Albert Einstein was one of them that got out. Smart people avoid fanatics.

I do smell the potential for such ugly extremism to erupt in our world again. I know we see examples in terrorists every day but I mean good people going bad. I mean crazy extremism erupting in our so-called civilized culture. I do think it will become some form of religious extremism that takes hold. All extremism is religious (Nazism was) in one way or another, it is a human condition. Something can start from totally secular origins but we will make it religious by our fervor and sense of rightness. Therefore right is good and good is God etc. This logical extension is pervasive.   

I am not trying to prophesy doom here. I am saying we need to bring restraint to society through being a moderating influence. Philippians 4:5 “Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.” This is not achieved by being a boring wet-blanket kind of person. On the contrary, true moderates are simply people who think about things and put others first. They are people who take a bigger view of life and respect the broad base of society.

No, I’m not saying you have to be a bleeding heart liberal either and I am not preaching tolerance for all kinds of stuff you don’t like. I am saying that we need respect and decency. I am also saying we need people who do not hate and do not hide from life as it is. We can be big people and bring so much peace and restraint right into our own corner of the world. Really then a true moderate is a lover of people whoever and wherever without distinction. You may need some foundation to such an attitude so seek it out.

Romans 14:17‑18 “For the kingdom of God is not about matters of food and drink or micro ethics; the Kingdom is manifested through righteousness, and peace, and joy inspired in us by the Holy Spirit. For he that lives this way is serving Christ and is acceptable to God, and approved of men!