Yes, I Am Narrow-Minded

In the age of tolerance, the worst thing you can be is intolerant. Open-mindedness and acceptance are the buzzwords of our time, and the one thing you do not want to be is unaccepting of others. In American life in 2013, you don’t want to be considered narrow-minded.

But here’s what is interesting: everyone is narrow minded.

Yes, everyone.

How do I know that? Because if you call the actions of any person wrong, sinful, or questionable, you are immediately labeled as narrow minded and are shunned.

Interesting. How could open-minded people shun anyone?

Isn’t that narrow-minded?

In the broader Christian world, this mindset has taken hold and is now bearing its fruit. “Can’t we all just get along” and “We’re all going to the same place anyway” are statements that are repeated to the point of sounding cliche. Of course, it goes back to the days of “Worship at the church of your choice” and “We’re just taking different paths, but we love Jesus.”

When NBA player Jason Collins recently made the public announcement that he was gay, he said something very interesting. He stated in his interview with Sports Illustrated:

I take the teachings of Jesus seriously, particularly the ones that touch on tolerance and understanding.

At first, when I read those words I was angry. As I have reflected on them, however, I have to admit that I was at least somewhat thankful. I wasn’t thankful that Collins tried to use the Bible to justify the sinful lifestyle he is in. Instead, I am grateful that Collins admitted that he was emphasizing certain teachings, to the exclusion of others. At least there was a level of honesty there that others will not admit to.

This same Jesus–who did preach forgiveness and acceptance–also said:

“I am the way…and no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6). Not too open-minded there.

“Except you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins” (John 8:24). Didn’t Jesus know that “sin” is an unacceptable and intolerant word?

“Everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery. And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery” (Matthew 5:32). But that’s our personal life. Jesus can’t possibly dare to talk about what I do in my own home, right?

We could go on, but these are enough to remind us that Jesus really did set a standard to be followed. The same Jesus who did preach forgiveness also taught that we need forgiveness because we sin often.

So, yes, I am narrow minded. I believe that I must follow the directives of Jesus on every matter–from worship to sexuality to marriage to attitude–or I will be lost.

Oh, and I know that Jesus was narrow minded, because He also said, “The gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few” (Matthew 7:14).

Let’s follow His standard. Let’s be willing to forgive (because we need forgiveness). Let’s be helpful to those who sin, while never accepting sinful behavior as okay with our Lord.

Let’s be narrow-minded.

QUESTION: Why is being narrow-minded the ultimate negative in our society?

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Photo credit: Elliot Brown on Creative Commons

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