The Doctrine of the Excluded Middle
Text: Luke 11: 14-28
Intro: Christianity has long been the battlefield of heated and sometimes
violent
battles over what some describe and defend as "middle ground". Entire
denominations have arisen because of this undocumented and ungodly
belief. In the liberal agenda today, we hear the word "tolerant" being used
repeatedly. This is nothing more than a new found word for the same old
battles over middle ground. Others in our church world, have taken this
doctrine, and in their quest for religious power, used it for nothing more
than a spiritual ball bat to beat people into submission. As with most of
the doctrines found in God's Word, we cannot let the abuse of this doctrine
prevent us from seeing the truth of it. In our text, Our Lord dogmatically
and emphatically declares to all who will hear, that there is no middle
ground. He exclaims the doctrine of the excluded middle. From this text
we will attempt to exposit and expound the truth as spoken by our Lord.
"Ye shall know the truth, and the truth will make you free". The opposite
of truth is bondage. We have too long been in the bondage of attempting
to live in the middle of the road. It is time that we recognize that the
middle of the road does not exist in the spiritual realm.
I. The Scene in Which This Doctrine is Declared
This scene must be viewed with two thoughts in mind. There are the people
who are present, and there are the priniciples that are presented. A proper
conclusion cannot be drawn unless we consider each one.
A) People of Different Classes were present
1) The Inner Circle was there (vs 1)
These disciples were the ones personally chosen by our Lord, and
purposedly commissioned by our Lord. This group constituted the
inner circle, the close associates and the devout followers of Christ.
Yet, even in this inner circle, there was one who was a traitor and as
Jesus described him, "was a devil from the beginning".
2) The Interested Crowd was there (vs 14)
This was a mixed multitude, who possessed mixed feelings and
thoughts about the Lord's work. Many of this group followed only to
see and sense the thrill of the miracles performed. They were not so
much interested in the person of our Lord as they were in the perfor-
mance of our Lord. No doubt, this mixed multitude was comprised of
men, women and children, and probably could also have been those of
different nationalities.
3) The Intolerant Crowd was there (vs 15)
This group was the devout, declared and dedicated enemies of the Lord.
Their only interest was to find fault and hopefully to end the ministry of
this man. They constantly dogged the steps of our Saviour, and they
were cynical in every circumstance. They could not deny that this mira-
cle had taken place, so they attributed Jesus' power to the devil. They
boldly accused our Lord of being an imposter.
4) The Ignorant Crowd was there (vs 16)
These people were more interested in a sign, than they were in the
Saviour. They were completely ignorant of the fact that their eyes were
beholding the very Son of God, and they ignorantly desired a further
sign or proof. This crowd is still with us today. These are the sign seekers
and the star gazers, and they cannot see the forest for the trees.
5) The Impressionable Cry was there(vs 27)
In the midst of all these different people, there came forward a woman
who seemed to have a little more religion that the rest. She should be
complimented for her recognition of deity, but she must be condemned
for attributing this deity to the wrong source. She was close, but not
converted. Recognition of the womb that bore our Saviour is commend-
able, but only recognition of the saving work of our Saviour is converting.
She was almost persuaded, but altogether lost.
B) Principles of a Definite Content was Presented
Before our Lord thunders forth this doctrinal statement in verse 23, He
lays the ground work and foundation for this statement. No truth can ever
stand without a proper and permanent foundation.
1) There are only two Sources in the World (vs 17)
This verse states an emphatic truth, in that "the Lord knew their
thoughts".
He knew where they were headed in the thinking, reasoning, and interpre-
tation of His ministry. Our Lord dogmatically declares that there are only
two kingdoms in the world. They are the kingdom of Satan and the king-
dom of God. A second emphatic truth is declared in that, "a house
divided against a house falleth". In other scripture, Jesus said, "How can
two walk together unless they be agreed". Today, we have as many
religions, cults, sects and denominations as there are trees in the forests.
Our Lord ignores these divisions, and declares that there are only two
kingdoms in the world.
2) There are only two Strengths in the World (vs 21-22)
In verse 21, Jesus describes first a strong man, who is armed with
certain
powers and armor for battle. He further states that this strong man is one
who possesses a palace, which indicates that he has a kingdom. This
strong man is Satan, who has certain powers, and his kingdom is on this
earth. But, in verse 22, there enters the scene one who is "a stronger
than the strong man". This description is one of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Notice that this verse states that the "stronger than the strong man will
overcome and defeat the strong man, and divide the spoils". The strong
man (Satan) had power to possess the man in verse 14, but the stronger
than the strong man had power to defeat the strong man and his work.
II. The Specifics From Which this Doctrine is Described
A) There is a Specific Affirmation
In verse 23, Our Lord brings down the curtain upon all false doctrine, by
declaring the most dogmatic, emphatic, specific and undeniable affirmations
ever made. This affirmation states that there is "no middle ground". This is
the doctrine of the excluded middle. He purposely makes this statement
personal by these words "He that is not with me(my person), is against me
(my person). He that is not with me(my ministry), is against me(my ministry).
His ministry was seeking and saving lost people. With Him, you are actively
in an ongoing manner, seeking those which are lost. Against Him, you are
actively in an ongoing manner, sending people to hell. "He that is not gather-
ing is scattering". The word "scattereth" means "to drive away". This is the
doctrine of the excluded middle.
Illus: J. Harold Smith - there are only two things in the middle of the road.
Yellow lines and dead skunks.
This is plain enough that a five year old child could understand it, without
knowing one letter of the Greek alphabet.
B) There is A Solid Acclamation
The word "with" means "alongside of', walking in the same direction as".
This implies "casting your lot with". Jesus is saying to all who will listen,
"Have you attached yourself to my person, are you walking alongside of me,
are you walking in the same direction as I am?" "He that is not with me,
is against me". He that gathereth not, scattereth". The true reality of these
words is based upon the spoken Word of our Lord, and not upon our thoughts
and feelings. Jesus did not make these profound statements without a full
consciousness of who He was. We see this truth described more fully:
1) He is the God-Man
These were not the words of some religious figurehead, nor of one of the
many religious gurus. These were not the words of some zealous left
wing militant activist. These were the words of the only begotten Son of
God. He was the only revelation from God. He was Emanuel - God with
us. Jesus claimed that only He could know the Father and that is true
because only God can know God. Only divinity can comprehend divinity.
He came from the Father, He was one with the Father, He did the will of
the Father, and when His ministry was completed, He ascended back to
the Father. Jesus was declaring that "I, and only I, am able, willing,
worthy and qualified to speak and stand on this truth".
2) He is the God Message
In our examination of this discourse, using our carnal capabilities, we
probably would conclude that the Lord is drawing the line too finely, or
making the edges of this doctrinal statement too sharp. But regardless
of what man might think or suggest, our Lord is the only one who has the
right both as God and as man to establish the basis of our salvation and
our service. He not only is the message, but He is the messenger. He
is the only way, only truth and only life. If we are not attached to the Lord,
we are against the Lord. If we are not in the bonds of faith, we are counted
in the bands of fighting. If we are not relinquishing our supreme devotion
toward Him, we are relinquishing our solid disagreement toward Him. One
might declare, "I have nothing against God, let Him do his thing and I will
do mine". This carnal reasoning is what got Satan thrown out of heaven,
is what got Adam and Eve kicked out of the garden, and what has caused
hell to enlarge itself.
III. The Summons in which this Doctrine if Directed
In our carnal examination of this scene, we would conclude that there are at
least
five different and distinct classes of people present on this day. But right in
the
middle of our vain conclusions, Jesus steps to the forefront and declares that
in
God's eyes, there are only two groups present. Just as surely as there are only
two kingdoms, one of Satan and one of God; and just as certainly as there are
only two sources of strength in this world, that of the strong man(Satan) and
that
of the stronger man(Christ), as just as assuredly as there is only two
destinations
at the end of physical life, either heaven or hell; and just as certain as there
are
only two roads available, the high road to heaven, and the low road to hell;
there
are only two classes of people in this world. "He that is not with me, is
against
me. He that gathereth not, scattereth". This is the doctrine of the excluded
middle. In this building today, there are only male and female. Only boy and
girl, man and woman. There are not any elite "its" and no neutral persons. If we
were
to draw a chalk line down the middle of this building, and ask all males to go
to the
rightside, and all females to go to the leftside, and all "its" to stand in the
middle,
there would be no "its" standing on the chalk line. She that is not a male, is a
female. He that is not a female, is a male. Jesus drew a line down the middle
of this crowd, and declared the doctrine of the excluded middle. This divine
summons can be further understood by:
1) A Present Danger (vs 24-26)
Now our attention is again directed to the dumb man, who had experienced
a physical miracle of the Lord. We have a clear view of a person who gets
close to salvation, but never enters in. He was close enough to the fire to
feel the heat, but turned back to darkness and coldness. Notice that the
dumb man was, at first, possessed by only one demon. Also notice, in vs
24, that this man says "I will return unto my house where I came out".
When he decided to turn back, he was then possessed by seven demons.
In this statement, we see a divine example of the doctrine of the excluded
middle. This man may have thought he could remain in the middle of the
road. However, when he turned back to the old life he came from, our Lord
Jesus declared, "the last state of that man is worse than the first". This
man was influenced in the flesh, but never included in the spirit. He felt an
emotion, but never saw enlightenment. This man touched heaven, but
probably wound up in hell. You are either gathering the scattered, or you
are scattering the gathered. The choices are plain, either sell out or sit down.
Either be born again, or burn in hell. Either live in darkness, or step into the
light. You are either saved or lost, in or out, up or down, heaven or hell, the
Saviour or Satan, either walking along side of or walking away from, either
in love with the Saviour, or in league with the devil. There is no neutrality,
no middle ground, no middle of the road. This is the doctrine of the excluded
middle.
2) A Proclaimed Tragedy
If a person goes through life, not with Jesus, then that person will
die, not with
Jesus, and spend eternity in hell, not with Jesus. Just as assuredly as we
have seen that there are only two kingdoms, two strengths, two roads, two
destinations, there are also only two choices. The question is "Where am I,
and where am I going?" If, in this life, you never hear these words of our
Saviour, "Enter thou into the joys of the Lord", then you will hear these words
of our Saviour, "Depart from me, I never knew you". No middle ground.
We also have a directive to the saint in these verses. The question to the
saint, is not whether you are in the house, but which side of the room are
you on? Are you standing on one side of the room, by yourself, attempting
to be a self contained van headed to heaven, or are you on the side of the
room, where you can sit on your father's lap and have an intimate reationship
with Him. Jesus once asked his disciples, "Will you also go away?. Their
answer was this, "Where can we go, thou hast the words of eternal life."