Only One Way
“For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” 1 Corinthians 1:17 (ESV)
A phrase has recently gained popularity in some pulpits and podcasts: “The Third Way.” It’s an old concept being recycled. Today, it’s offered as a middle path between what some call the “harshness of the right” and the “radicalism of the left.”
On the surface, The Third Way sounds compassionate and nuanced—an attempt to rise above division and choose love over dogma. But in the light of Scripture, The Third Way looks less like a bridge to truth and more like a bypass around it.
The Apostle Paul warned this would happen.
In 2 Timothy 4:3–4 he cautioned, “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”
That “time” isn’t coming—it’s here.
What Is the “Third Way”?
Third Way advocates argue Christians should avoid polarizing opinions on moral and doctrinal issues—especially those that conflict with popular culture or social fashion.
Instead, they say, we should find “common ground,” emphasizing inclusion and empathy over conviction. They believe this approach is a “more Christ-like posture.”
But while Christ embodied perfect love, He also embodied perfect truth (John 1:14).
Jesus never watered down morality to make people more comfortable. His approach was to offer compassion to the sinner while calling out the sin.
When a woman was caught in adultery, he said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” (John 8:11).
The “Third Way” would have stopped after the first half of that sentence.
Truth and Love Are Not Opposites
The main problem with The Third Way is that it pits love against truth—as if one must exchange being truthful for being loving.
Paul never preached moderation when it came to truth. He called the Galatians “foolish” for tolerating teachers who distorted the gospel (Galatians 3:1), even saying an angel who preached another gospel should be “accursed” (Galatians 1:8).
In fact, he ties them together: “Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,” (Ephesians 4:15).
Truth without love is harsh but love without truth is hollow.
Jesus never sacrificed one for the other. His love led Him to the cross precisely because sin was real and righteousness is non-negotiable.
To claim that “loving well” means refusing to speak clearly about sin or repentance is to redefine both love and discipleship. Worse, it denies the entire purpose of Christ’s sacrifice at Calvary.
If we don’t turn away from sin, we essentially reject the need for atonement on the cross.
Discipleship Demands Conviction
Modern discipleship sometimes seems more like a therapy session than a changing of hearts. The Third Way encourages this trend by redefining following Christ as a journey of self-discovery rather than self-denial. Accepting our flawed nature rather than rejecting it for a new life in Christ.
But Jesus said plainly, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23).
There’s no third way between crucifixion and comfort. Discipleship is not a halfway surrender.
A church that can’t clearly say “thus says the Lord” has already lost its authority. Scripture—not affirming allyship —must govern our faith and our theology. The Word of God is not a debate class; it’s the final word.
Paul’s second letter to Timothy reads like a message for today: “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” (2 Timothy 4:2).
That command doesn’t invite balance between right and wrong. It calls for bold proclamation of truth in a world that despises it.
The Call to Stand Firm
The “Third Way” is attractive because it takes away the offense of the cross. It offers:
-Relevance without repentance,
-Belonging without true belief,
-Compassion without confrontation.
But in doing so, it empties the gospel of its power (1 Corinthians 1:17).
Paul didn’t tell the Romans to find a moderate path between the flesh and the Spirit—he told them to put to death the deeds of the flesh (Romans 8:13). He didn’t tell the Ephesians to compromise with darkness—he told them to expose it (Ephesians 5:11).
The true “Way” was declared by Jesus Himself: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).
There is no third way.
A Prayer for Courage in Truth
Father,
In a world that prizes compromise more than conviction, teach us to stand firm in Your Word.
Give us hearts that love deeply but never at the expense of truth.
When the world tempts us with easier paths, remind us that You are the only Way.
Strengthen Your church to preach with clarity, live with holiness, and love with courage.
May we never seek the approval of men more than the approval of God.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
May God always guide your path.