This is part of a series of blogs on the application of God’s Armor.
In a previous blog we discussed narrow-mindedness as a deceptive path that could creep up on believers slowly over time; taking small steps at first and then growing into larger diversions.
Now we will look at the opposite of narrow-mindedness; broad-mindedness. For the world we live in, common terms used to describe broad-mindedness are tolerance and open-mindedness. A simple dictionary definition is, “free from prejudice or bigotry; unbiased; liberal; tolerant.” [1]
With this definition, one could believe that if everyone was broad-minded then everyone would be tolerant of everyone no matter what each person believed or what each person did. However, this is not a reasonable interpretation. Even in our world, society has rules that define acceptable intolerance; for example, murderers are not tolerated. So, the real issue is where do we individually need to draw a line defining what we can tolerate versus what we can acceptably not tolerate?
For the world we live in, the line between tolerance and intolerance is drawn based upon non-absolute beliefs in humanistic thinking; in essence what does the majority believe. With this approach the line has moved throughout history, and also between different cultural regions around the world. For example, many ideas are tolerated by people today that were not tolerated several hundred years ago. Another example can be seen by ideas tolerated in westernized countries like the United States of America that are not tolerated in Islamic countries in the middle east.
But for believers, the Bible is used to draw the line between tolerance and intolerance of many ideas based on God’s absolute and unwavering truth. In some cases, there is agreement between the world’s line and the Bible’s line; for example, the intolerance of murder. But there are many other examples where this is not the case. So, where the Bible clearly defines something that believers should not tolerate, obedient believers will often be called intolerant by a world that wants to tolerate it. Examples are discussed frequently and passionately in the pervasive media we all share.
My intention here is not focused on pointing fingers at anyone. I simply wish to prompt the reader to consider how broad-mindedness could creep into their own lordship journey, and what the negative results could be. Knowing the warning signs will help believers stay on the path that God wants for each of us.
In thinking of examples to use which illustrate the ramifications of too much broad-mindedness, I was reminded of a problem I experienced as an engineer. In my engineering career I observed a tendency to under specify product requirements; resulting in vagueness. This often occurred when engineers wanted to jump into the product design and implementation (the fun part of building) before requirements had been fully evaluated and specified. Basic requirements for a product are often intuitive. But when they are not enforced in a product specification, engineers become lax and take liberty in their design; making decisions that are based on individual desires. What engineers think is best, or what they are passionate about will often drive the design.
The resulting product designs often lack functions that customers want once the basic requirements are understood and specified. This leads to excessive product redesign efforts during integration; since parts designed by different groups do not work together. We called this “design creep”; because unintended features creep into the design resulting in cost overruns, schedule delays, and increases in the product’s price.
The analogy for believers is the tendency to become too lax in the application of God’s Word. The basic requirements for our lordship journey are given to us in God’s Word. But if we ignore them, we may be driven more by what we want to believe is acceptable rather than by listening to what God is telling us. Ignoring God’s basic requirements will have painful effects on our personal relationship with the Lord and with the body of Christ. Just like engineers running free during product design leads to painful redesign and cost increases.
James 1:5-8 provides a very good description of the peril of broad-mindedness when we are told, “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.” James instructs us with “Do not waver”. In my analogy for believers this could also be stated “Do not become lax or careless with God’s truth”.
When I read the account of King David and his affair with Bathsheba in 2 Samuel, I was struck with David’s complete lack of regard for God’s truth. David was a man after God’s heart. Bathsheba was a woman married to another man. God’s law was clear to the Israelites; adultery is a sin. How could David allow this to happen?
In 2 Samuel 11 we read how David saw Bathsheba taking a bath. David inquired about her and found out who she was and that she was married. But he sent for her anyway and slept with her. Surely David knew this was adultery in the eyes of the Lord. So, why did he do it? We aren’t told why. But we are told in verse 1 that it was “In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites. They destroyed the Ammonite army and laid siege to the city of Rabbah. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem.”
David stayed behind. That’s all we know. He decided not to go to war with his army. When he saw Bathsheba taking a bath, he desired her. Perhaps he thought, ‘I am the King. I should be able to get what I want. It will make me very happy. Certainly, God wants me to be happy.’ So, he did it. 2 Samuel 11 goes on to say that Bathsheba became pregnant and David tried to cover it up. He first arranged for her husband Uriah to come home from the war to sleep with her so Uriah could be claimed as the father. But as a soldier in David’s army he did not go home. He remined faithful in his service to the King. So, then David had Uriah killed on the battlefield. David’s cover-up showed that he knew it was wrong. But he persisted. His cover-up grew into murder. Then in verse 27 we read, “When the period of mourning was over, David sent for her and brought her to the palace, and she became one of his wives. Then she gave birth to a son. But the Lord was displeased with what David had done.”
In 2 Samuel 12 the Lord sent the prophet Nathan to rebuke David. When confronted, David confesses his guilt and repents of his sin. However, there were still painful consequences from his sin that disrupted his relationship with Bathsheba, and their son. These painful consequences could have been avoided if David had obeyed God’s Word from the very beginning.
This is an extreme example, but it illustrates how being too broad-minded can lead to unpleasant consequences in our lordship journey. I offer a few warning signs to stimulate the readers thinking on broad-mindedness.
As a believer, are you doing something because it feels good to you rather than by judging it right or wrong according to God’s Word? Some have been heard to say, “It feels so right. It must be God’s will.” If you are letting your desires and passions drive your actions, you may be overlooking God’s truth attempting to justify something that is wrong.
As a believer, are you doing something because others are doing it? Do you think it must be right because they are doing it? If you are yielding to the status quo, you may be overlooking God’s truth attempting to justify it.
Believers can avoid the creep of broad-mindedness by using the armor God provides. We must read God’s Word to understand what the real truth is. We must utilize the body of Christ to hold us accountable to use the real truth. If properly used, the belt of truth holds together the body armor of God’s righteousness, and it keeps the Word of God within reach as our sword of defense. This helps us control the creep of broad-mindedness; shaken not stirred.
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[1] Dictionary.com (https://www.dictionary.com/browse/broad-minded)
[2] All Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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