It seems as though the word heresy sometimes gets thrown around with such ease and blatant disregard for fairness that it is almost completely lost its meaning. Something is not heresy simply because we disagree with it. Heresies and false teachings are real, but we must be careful about throwing labels around irresponsibly. There are many things that we will not completely understand until we have the opportunity to see the Lord face-to-face and in an ironic twist, there is a high probability that all of our questions and disputes will be forgotten because they will seem so trivial and irrelevant in the presence of the Lord. A far greater danger facing the church today is the emphasis of one teaching or practice over and above the others. In his farewell address Paul reminded the Ephesian church that he, *“did not fail to give them the whole counsel of the Lord.”* Space does not permit us the luxury of exploring all of the reasons why some teachings are promoted to the exclusion of others, but whatever the reasons, it is prudent to take note of the difficulties that can arise from an unbalanced diet. Some people if left to their own devices would completely ignore fruits and vegetables while attempting to subsist on sweets, but eventually problems and complications will arise resulting in poor health and fitness. On the other hand, a diet devoid of sweets can deprive us of joy, abundance and pleasure. As we continue to explore this metaphor, we will soon realize that there is no general agreement, especially as it concerns theology, as to what constitutes the things that are good for us as opposed to those which bring us joy and pleasure. Therefore, the only realistic remedy is to make certain that we give proper place to all truth and doctrine. For example, it is true that God wants to bless us and prosper us, while at the same time Paul preached, *“…they strengthened the believers. They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.”* Acts 14:22 (NLT) There are seemingly many paradoxes that we face in our Christian walk, but it is vital to maintain the proper balance in order to be thoroughly equipped to fulfill the mission to which we have been called. Many times a lack of balance is not intentional, but is the result of several factors. A significant one is simply that some things are more palatable when accompanied by a “spoonful of sugar." It is a human characteristic to desire affirmation, so when we preach about “pleasant things,” we are more likely to be appreciated than when we are delivering strong medicine. A second factor can result from our own bad experiences. When Biblical truth is abused or misapplied, a common reaction is to avoid those areas for fear that people will associate us with those who are in error. It is not uncommon for the reaction to error to be an overreaction in the opposite direction, thereby resulting in more error. In order for us to keep our balance, biblically and doctrinally, we must be intentional about it. In order to deliver *“the whole counsel of the Lord,"* we must use a systematic approach in our teaching and preaching. First, determine what are your core essential doctrines and teachings along with your local mission and vision goals. Second, use a long-range calendar to ensure that these the essential teachings are covered periodically, preferably every 18 months to two years. Certainly, some things should be covered more frequently. This will allow newcomers the opportunity to be exposed to a complete diet of truth and vision and for the faithful to *“to have their pure minds stirred up by way of remembrance.”* A proper balance in all things is essential to good spiritual health and well-being.