A
few days ago in
Canada the following saying appeared on a church sign: “Blessed are the
flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.” It is difficult to know
always how far people intend for such sayings to be taken. If the saying was
meant to convey the idea of flexibility in personal relationships, the
saying is well taken. On the other hand, if it included the current idea of
being open to new truth, then the religious humanism demonstrated in the
saying must be rejected. According to Bible teaching, there is a time
when
tolerance is no virtue.
Fairness demands that we admit that we do not know which of these ideas was
intended; however, the two possibilities open the door for profitable study
of the Scriptures.
Some Flexibility Commendable
It is a poor attitude
that inflexibly refuses to look not only upon one’s own things, but also on
the things of others. Such is the mind of Christ described in
Phil.
2:3-11. Prejudice
is that enemy of the soul which decides before hearing the situation or the
facts and apart from a weighing of the matter on the scales of God’s Word.
The Bereans were commended by the Lord for their willingness to hear what
was taught them and to search the Scriptures to ascertain its acceptability
(Acts
17:11). James
said that the wisdom coming down from the Lord is marked by a willingness to
yield
(Jas.
3:17), but the
Gentiles were said to be guilty of being implacable (unmerciful, unwilling
to be agreeable) in
Romans 1:31. The
reason for such unconcern for others and the associated refusal to consider
them is self-centeredness. Jesus said we are to love neighbor as self
(Matt. 22:33).
Surely we can see that we must remain flexible in relation to others and in
relation to God’s will for us, so that we might practice what He desires.
Some Flexibility Not Good
The attitude that
recognizes no certainties, no absolute truth, no finality in what the Lord
has revealed is one of unbelief, for the Lord has assured us of these
matters. One who wishes to remain aloof from the idea of absolute truth,
maintaining a tentative approach to all things, does so because of the shaky
ground that he occupies. On the other hand, the firmness desired by God is
the result of the firm foundation erected by God in His sure Word. For one
to be flexible in relation to the Bible is to manifest uncertainty about
God’s credibility. Three reasons explain why this kind of flexibility is not
desirable.
1. God’s Word is not subject to change.
Because God has
indicated the finality of Scriptures in passages like
2
Tim. 3:16-17; Jude 3: Matt. 28:19-20,
we have no basis for expecting any additional word from the Lord. No
latter-day revelations, dreams, vision, or gentle nudges are in store for
anyone.
2. Truth is narrow and unyielding.
Its nature demands this
be said. Truth in any field--mathematical, geographical, or religious—does
not change because of whim, official decree, or changing conditions. What
Peter declared regarding the exalted position of Jesus the Son of God is yet
true. Paul’s affirmation of the one body (church) is still true. Nor
has it stopped
being true that obedience is the path to God’s favor
(Matt. 7:21-23).
Regardless of
man’s changed view of these matters, God-given truth does not change.
3. The pure gospel of Christ suffers no other gospel
(Gal.1:6-8).
Efforts to please
men are responsible for all changes imposed by men. Not only is God not
pleased by such attempts, but He declares His anathema (consignment to
destruction) upon those doing so.
4. The Divine pattern is irreplaceable.
Under whatever
arrangement God has instituted in His dealing with human beings, He has
always made it clear that His way is the only way. It is the role of God to
show man the way, and it is the role of man to walk in that way. Passages
earlier noted suffice for this point.
Flexibility is good in
yielding to put others ahead of self and to practice God’s will, but it is
evil when it leads us to abandon the certainty of Biblical teaching and to
look for something else. Are we flexible in those ways that we should be? Do
we remain steadfast in belief and practice of the truth of the Lord? May we
remember that the highly honored “god” of tolerance must also bow before the
great God of the universe.
Other Articles
The Fragrance of
Christ
The False Dilemma
What to
Give the Spiritually Hungry
