Where is the happy medium?

So I must confess, this post is really not me providing knowledge, but me seeking to address my ignorance as well as my questions...please do not be offended by what I write!

Earlier today I noticed on Facebook a number of friends who had posted statuses proclaiming that they wished to be baptized in anguish. With these status changes was a youtube video of a pastor by the name of David Wilkerson. The video was the words of the pastor with his voice in the background actually speaking those words. Wilkerson preached about how Christians today are being passive, marrying the "world," and ultimately losing sight of the central tenets of being a Christian by, as Wilkerson put it, "I see the world coming and impacting the church rather than the church impacting the world."

To be honest, I was a bit upset after watching such a charged and emotional video, and hearing the passion behind this preacher. I was also upset to hear such aggression in his voice, and ultimately I turned off from it. I am not the most aggressive human being. I don't like arguments, and frequently dodged "persecution" for some of my beliefs. For example, I am a fervent Democrat, and while it is a personal choice equal to the choices of other adult Americans who are able to vote, I feel more and more shunned and turned off by my Republican friends because I refuse to tell them why I believe what I believe. The same can be said for non-Christians in my life. I do not like it when preachers, politicians, and others "preach" about being aggressive in todays society.

But here is where my problem exists. As Christians we should be assertive in loving others and proclaiming God's love for others. One of my favorite quotes is, "Preach the Gospel, and if necessary, use words." I hold firm to that knowledge to this day. And while that may seem like the passive stance, I refuse to accept that true aggression is the way to the Gospel. So where is the happy medium between the two? Is it assertion? Is it passive aggression?

I admit that I have a naive world-view, political-view, and Christian-view. I am not well versed in scripture. I am not well versed in the ongoings of the world. And I am not well versed in my defense of what I believe.

The sermon brought to mind the song "Onward Christian Soldiers." Should we be soldiers armed to fight with swords and shields, or should we be soldiers armed with the Word and Love of God? Is there a solution between the two?

I understand that the Christian faith is "under attack." It has been that way since the days of Adam and Eve. Satan is a crafty being who is out to ruin God's children. But my problem lies within identifying whether it is really Satan attacking us, or us attacking us by way of Satan's evil seeds. How do we know who is hurting who? Are Christians today hurting the world by being exclusive, conservative, closed-minded, or elitist? Are non-Christians hurting the world by their openess, humaness, and humilty? Should we wear our sins on our sleeves as Christians, or should we hide them behind the "four walls of our exclusive churches?"

I very well have made up my own assumptions based on these answers. I have lived by my views for the past 21 years. What are yours? I am not out to get conservatives, nor am I attacking either side of the Christian spectrum. This is not politics, but rather God.

Are we allowed to ask each other these questions, whether we are Christians or not? Are we allowed to even discuss such matters, or have we become so perfectionist that we refuse to be criticized and corrected?

Is this, or are these valid questions for a Christian to ask?

All I ask is for a little compassion and respect in your response...we are all broken, therefore we are all not perfect or right....God is the only One who is right...but talk amongst yourselves!