Interestingly, some read my other thread as advocating FOR centrism, when in reality it was noting that EVERYONE is a centrist to someone else so the claim is problematic. Perhaps some missed the argument. So here is another thread on the non-centrism of the gospel: 1/8

Jesus in Luke says, “To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other: “‘We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not cry.’ 2/8

For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating & drinking, & you say, ‘Here is a glutton & a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by all her children.” Lk 7:31-35

“The children's games mentioned in 7:32 illustrate the fact that these hearers complained equally when John refused to play 'Weddings' and when Jesus refused to play 'Funerals' When they 'piped', and asked for a message that was undemanding and cheerful, John fasted & talked 4/8

...about sin; he was too gloomy, they wanted something brighter. But when they 'wailed', and expected from the rabbi of Nazareth a solemn discussion on morals and religion, Jesus went to parties and talked about salvation; he was too exhilarating, they wanted something more 5/8

...proper. For the news of the kingdom is always new, unexpected, upsetting. It will not fit in with men's preconceived ideas, nor pander to their prejudices. It digs far deeper than their shallow understanding of the evils of Satan's kingdom, and soars far higher than their 6/8

...low view of the glories of God’s kingdom.” (Michael Wilcock, The Message of Luke, 92)

This means the gospel is not a middle ground between polarities. It is more like (but not exactly like) a combination of incompatible extremes--incompatible, that is, according to the 7/8

...human categories and ideologies. But the gospel is the wisdom of God and his children recognize it as such. 8/8