Fence-Straddling
According to the August Reader's Digest, Arizona's Senator Carl Hayden "has a marked aversion to fence-straddling." He is quoted as saying, "I have found that you have to take a stand on every issue, not only for your conscience's sake, but to avoid making a fool of yourself. If you inform yourself well and take a definite stand, both sides will respect you."
Jesus said "the children of this world are . . . wiser than the children of light." Senator Hayden states that which all gospel preachers, elders should practice but some will not. Many are supposedly "fence-straddlers." Some want to wait to see where the majority are going then jump on that side of the fence, and they won't have to make a confession in the Advocate. Others want to be on the most popular side and will not take a position on any issue that might cause them to "miss a meeting" or an opportunity to work with a "big" church.
I know some preachers who say they are on neither side of the current issues of cooperation and Benevolent Societies. Since these issues are causing division within the body of Christ it seems inexcusable that any gospel preacher should be so disinterested that he has not "studied" the issues and reached some conviction concerning them. How can a gospel preacher be a "fence straddler" regarding issues that are dividing the church? I have found that some of these brethren who say "I am undecided" will speak out in favor of institutionalism, and speak lightly of those who oppose.
Senator Hayden is quoted in this article, not because he is an authority religiously, but because he speaks words of wisdom. He has been a Representative and/or Senator for some forty-seven years. He said he found it necessary to take a stand on EVERY ISSUE for two reasons: (1) for his conscience's sake, and (2) to avoid making a fool of himself. It seems to me that every gospel preacher and elder should study the issues well and take a definite stand. It is impossible to tell where some stand. Some preachers do not want you to know where they stand — some conviction! How can you live with yourselves brethren? Doesn't your conscience bother you when you do not take a stand for truth? Aren't you afraid of appearing foolish in God's sight as well as man's by trying to "ride the fence" on such grave issues? If you take a definite stand both sides will respect you, suggests the Senator, and I believe this is right. I know that I have much more respect for the brother who takes a firm stand and contends for it, even if he doesn't agree with me, than I have for the brother who strays astride the fence and is afraid to take a definite position. Certainly a brother may take a definite stand and later learn that he is wrong and change his stand and brethren will still respect him, if he will only explain why he has changed, giving scriptural reasons. But those brethren who have definitely changed but who stedfastly deny their change men have little respect, and they appear the more foolish.
So brethren if you are "on the fence" concerning current issues, study the matter well and TAKE A DEFINITE STAND!! Not because the wise Senator suggests such but because the New Testament teaches that you should. Note, "that ye should earnestly contend for the faith." (Jude 3), "Preach the word .... reprove, rebuke, exhort . . ." (2 Tim. 4:2), "Casting down imaginations." (2 Cor. 10:5), "be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you . . ." (1 Pet. 3:15). Surely every preacher and elder should be able to state whether he is in favor of human benevolent societies doing the work of the church, or opposed to such. Whether he is in favor of centralized control or opposed to such. Then why be a "fence-straddler"?