I used to apply practical open-mindedness and I considered it a useful virtue for most of my life. Yet, I will explain how this can lead to a spiritual derailment.
Practical Openmindedness
On the face of it, it seems like a great virtue, having a practical open-mindedness, connecting ideas from a growing base of experience and knowledge, endeavoring often to understand and if possible, validate another person’s point of view.
It often served my non-confrontational attitude in several melting pot environments from elementary school to serving in the military, even as part of the submarine community. In the professional engineering culture where now were employees of large companies are being indoctrinated to do something similar, to develop a practical open-mindedness the a diverse workplace.
I was more comfortable with practical open-mindedness when people are on a self-discovery path, taking people one at a time in the life situation that I have to encounter them. Trying to see somebody’s characteristics, habits, personality differences, political views, or religious views was an intellectual challenge, in order to find some kind of common ground in which to establish an amiable relationship.
To some degree, a practical openminded person has to become all things to all people. Like being the master host, showing personal courtesy amongst a variety of attitudes and perspectives. At least the part of myself that I have to engage others with, I did in order to maintain a sane and survivable environment or working relationship.
To use a marketing or personal development angle, you learn how to build rapport with people you meet. It’s good especially if you want to be a salesman, also good if you need to survive in a complex community.
I used to pride myself in this ability to connect and validate different points of view. It was and is not all bad, meaning, some attitudes, beliefs and behaviors are not at all bad, however, there remains an underlying issue of a clear moral compass that is not prominently considered.
It’s like being the consummate ecumenical minister. There is no objective truth. Everyone is truth. That way of thinking, I believe, can leave one like a boat tossed on an ocean without a rudder or an anchor.
What I consider a virtue, without a Christ centered-orientation, can become something that can become firmly grounded in idolatry.
Evidence of idolatry from a Biblical perspective
One way I would describe it is, idolatry is worshipping any other than the true One and eternal God and giving glory to others, including oneself, instead of to God. I often write about idolatry because there are many ways it stands as an obstacle in the path of a follower of Christ.
As long a God remains this nebulous entity that is shapable to whatever you want Him to be, you can continue on wide path of practical open-mindedness. Instead of the objective truth of God, being open to all ideas leads one to a form of moral relativism that is self-centered or human-centered.
Instead of striving to understand how God has revealed Himself through centuries of history, one opts for the convenience of defining his own sense of right and wrong, defining what is good and evil… sound familiar? There is a story of a tree in the Garden of Eden that deals in part with this topic.
It is for this reason, many Christian leaders do not adhere to the Scripture as an authority. These churches drift into becoming a law unto themselves using selected parts of the Bible to support their worldly ideologies no matter what the Bible repeatedly communicates as God’s character, nature and moral laws.
It is for this reason, people often think the New Testament is about love and the Old Testament is about Law and punishment, that Jesus was merely a good teacher, a wise man.
It is for this reason that the clarity on subjects provided by Scripture are considered unsophisticated and impossibly simple. Others think discovering Biblical truth must be cryptic, complicated, and, in effect, out of reach to mere congregants. As a result, there is little disciplined reading of the Bible.
It is for this reason that most who proclaim themselves to be Christian do not believe that there is anything in this life they need to give up or they do not feel obligated to sacrifice anything since coming to faith in Christ. Because many were taught that Jesus is only a Savior in the Christian life, He is mistakenly treated as nothing more than a cosmic bell boy or a divine get out of jail free card.
It is for this reason that people believe that if they go to church that makes them a Christian, not that they go to church BECAUSE they are a Christian.
Seek the Truth in all things and prepare to be corrected
The teachings of Jesus are even more exhortative and substantial, directed to those believing they are a Christian when their understanding is based on half-truths or no truth at all:
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ – Matthew 7:21-23
It is for this reason that the words of Jesus are directed to those seeking the Way:
13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. – Matthew 7:13-14
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. – John 14:6
It is for this reason that the words of Jesus are directed to those seeking to understand who God is and how Jesus came to bring clarification:
17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. – Matthew 5:17-18
Is the Spirit of God calling you to faith and belief in Him? He reaches out to you, I’m just a messenger.
Another explanation of the Good News
Jesus, the Son of God, who is both fully God and fully man, came to fulfill God’s plan for salvation for those in this fallen world. The best of man’s wisdom is tainted by the sin that permeates it. Our best efforts are like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6) compared to the holiness and righteousness of God. Yet as certain as we are undeserving sinners who cannot save ourselves, we rely on the grace of the Almighty who reaches out to us, even through the humiliating suffering and pain that led to His self-sacrificing death on a cross to pay our sin debt.
Jesus taught many heavenly kingdom concepts in parables. One of the underlying themes is the unpayable debt which highlights the critical flaw of sin that exists within all humans (expect for Christ). As a result of our inherent self-centeredness, we have gross propensities for self-righteousness and pride in beliefs that we are able to come clean on our own efforts when, as the Scripture reveals, we need to completely rely on God’s mercy and gracious love by accepting His Son’s sacrifice on our behalf.
2 For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? – Hebrews 2:2-3
Christ reveals the Power and Wisdom of God through the writings the Apostle Paul:
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”
20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For Jews [the religious] request a sign, and Greeks [the Gentiles] seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. – 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
Our gracious God, our Creator, allows for each of us to come completely clean, regardless our sins, to be instilled with hope for the future and beyond death itself, all through His mighty work of redemption and love. Is it today that you will come to repentance and receive this amazing gift made possible by His Son, Jesus Christ?
For a detailed explanation of who Jesus Christ is from the Bible’s perspective go to the video in this website , “Who is Jesus Christ?”
For a one minute explanation of the Gospel, watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCP9UcC7BzE
For a review of the Ten Commandments: https://www.challenyee.com/the-ten-commandments/
CKY
P.S. Typos and all, I do not use AI.
Sunset photo in Hawaii (Maui) is from my personal stock.
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