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Mindset and Approach
September 16, 2011
Copyright © 1994, Ronald W. Leigh
A. Your mindset B. The Bible and evaluation C. The example of the Bereans D. My approach E. Pitfalls in the field of religion F. Final statement ——————————————————— |
Are you reading a book or article? Watching a video? Listening to a lecture or sermon? Talking with a friend? Your mindset makes all the difference.
A. Your Mindset
Whenever you are on the receiving end (a listener, reader, etc.) and a new idea is presented, you need to be conscious of your mindset. Some mindsets are counterproductive. Consider the three mindsets shown below.
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Only the center mindset, "evaluation," is worthwhile. Evaluation, of course, should eventually lead to either acceptance or rejection of the new idea, but it is dangerous to accept or reject quickly, without going through a careful process of evaluation. Suppose, for example, you have a mindset of quick acceptance. Over time you will waffle back and forth from one belief to the next and be a gullible target for every con artist that comes along. On the other hand, if you have a mindset of quick rejection, you will stunt all possibility of learning and growth and become a bigot. But if you adopt a mindset of evaluation, you are able to learn and grow without the dangers of gullibility or bigotry.
Similarly, from a scientific point of view, only the center mindset makes sense. The scientific method involves a continuous cycle of observation, hypothesis, and evaluation (testing for possible verification). It is ridiculous even to imagine a scientist accepting every hypothesis, or rejecting every hypothesis, without a careful evaluation process. Without evaluation there could be no such thing as science.
It seems obvious that in both daily living and in science we need to adopt a mindset of evaluation. But what about religion? There are some people who, operating with a quick acceptance mindset, keep shifting from one set of beliefs to another. They do this because they have no tested basis for religious authority. In other words, they have no foundation against which to evaluate new ideas. On the other hand there are some people who, operating with a quick rejection mindset, will stick with what they have believed for generations, no matter what. But the dangers of gullibility and bigotry are just as real in religion as anywhere else. Especially in religious matters, because of their great importance, evaluation is a must.
But even the evaluation mindset has a pitfall. Some people glorify the search and become perpetual seekers. They forget that the purpose of evaluation is to find the truth. Instead, they take great pride in reserving judgment. They look down on anyone who takes a definite position on an issue and consider him simple minded. They prefer to think of themselves as sophisticated, so they keep "evaluating" forever. This is the elitist disease of equivocation. Actually, what they are doing is simply avoiding the issue, perhaps out of fear of the consequences of committing to one view or another. When the evidence leads to a definite conclusion, continued evaluation becomes just as counterproductive as quick acceptance or quick rejection. In this case, failing to come to a conclusion indicates, not high intelligence, but timidity.
B. The Bible and Evaluation
What happens when you evaluate the Bible? All the evidence leads to the conclusion that the Bible lives up to its claim to be God's revelation to mankind and is completely trustworthy in everything that it affirms.
The above conclusion is based on a sound two-step strategy involving observation and implication.
- Observation: Check out the Bible in those areas where direct observation is possible, such as history, prophecy, and archeology. Here the Bible has proven itself time and time again.
- Implication: Therefore you can trust the Bible in those spiritual areas that cannot be directly observed.
When Jesus healed the paralytic in Capernaum, recorded in Mark 2:1-12, he illustrated this same strategy. Jesus told the paralytic that his sins were forgiven. Then the Jewish teachers of the law claimed that Jesus could not forgive sins, for only God can forgive sins. Of course, they had no way to look and see if the paralytic's sins were actually forgiven. So Jesus showed them a miracle, something they could check out. He healed the paralytic in front of everyone. And he told the teachers of the law what his purpose was:
that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins (Mark 2:10).
The field of apologetics follows a similar approach to the Bible, evaluating areas that can be observed in order to draw implications about the trustworthiness of the Bible in all spiritual areas. See such papers as
After going through the process of checking out the Bible and finding it trustworthy, it then becomes a major part of our foundation for evaluating everything else, including new religious idea that comes along.
Many people assume that the Bible encourages automatic acceptance of its teachings. But this is not the case. The Bible, unlike certain religious leaders, actually encourages evaluation. Many religious leaders, when they want you to convert to their beliefs, will encourage immediate acceptance. But when they want you to stay in their fold, they encourage immediate rejection of any new ideas. In contrast, the Bible encourages an evaluation mindset as shown by the example of the Bereans.
C. The Example of the Bereans
Luke records the reactions of both the Thessalonians and the Bereans to a new idea. Notice the events cited below in which Luke commends the mindset of the Bereans, stating that they were of more noble character than the Thessalonians because they received Paul's message but then carefully evaluated it.
… they came to Thessalonica … Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. … Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women.
But the Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city … . As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea.
On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. Many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men. (Acts 17:1-12)
Later, when Paul wrote to those Thessalonians, he encouraged them to evaluate everything they hear.
Do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21)
What Paul advises here is the essence of the evaluation mindset – test everything; then reject what's false and hold on to what's true.
D. My Approach
Since the task of the receiver is to evaluate the new idea, the task of the sender (author, teacher, etc.) is merely to explain the new idea as clearly as possible, avoiding anything that would hinder a clear understanding such as elevated emotions, psychological pressure, and the various types of speaker's tricks mentioned below. My approach is simply to present ideas and let you evaluate them. You should raise questions and seek to clarify any issues. Do your own research in order to verify or disprove the ideas I present. It does you little good merely to know what someone else's conclusions are. Come to your own conclusions.
In the following quotation Louis Cassels explains his approach as an author, which also sums up my approach to writing and teaching.
Some people are content to base their religious decisions on information, attitudes, and viewpoints spoonfed to them in sermons and Sunday school lessons. If they find the diet palatable, they keep coming back for more. If they can't swallow what's set before them in the church they happen to attend, they reject the whole religious enterprise, never bothering to inquire whether it was real Christianity of a pathetic caricature which put them off.
If you are satisfied with such a passive-reactive approach to the ultimate questions of human existence, you may as well return this book right now and get your money back. For my sole purpose will be to encourage, challenge, stimulate, or irritate you into doing your own thinking … .
I have been wrestling with these questions for a great many years and have arrived at certain convictions which I intend to share with you as honestly and forthrightly as possible … . But I neither want nor expect you to accept these views unless, after thoughtful consideration, you find they make sense to you too ….
A wise editor once told me that a writer should strive not to make up but to shake up the minds of readers. This seems to me particularly necessary in dealing with religious questions, for no one can be said really to believe something until he has doubted it enough to subject it to serious questioning.
So, I repeat, if you want your brain washed, you'll have to go elsewhere. All we're peddling at this stand is provocation. (Louis Cassels, Haircuts & Holiness, Abingdon, 1972, p. 9-10)
E. Pitfalls in the Field of Religion
In the field of religion there are some unique dangers to avoid.
Miracles
Don't put too much stock in miracles, especially now that the biblical writings are complete.
Miracles did have a legitimate place while the biblical writings were being authenticated. For example, miracles did provide supporting evidence for the authority of Jesus and the apostles (Matthew 11:2-5; Mark 2:1-12; Hebrews 2:3b-4).
But now that we have the completed New Testament, our response should be primarily to its teachings, not to any miracles (real or otherwise). This is precisely parallel to what Abraham told the rich man regarding his brothers' response to either the miraculous resurrection of Lazarus or the Old Testament scriptures (called "Moses and the Prophets").
If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead (Luke 16:31, context verses 19-31)
Proof-texts out of context
Watch out for proof-texts (Bible verses cited in support of a particular view). Obviously, if you claim that your ideas are biblical, you should have actual Bible passages that support your ideas. The problem is that in many situations, verses that are cited to prove a point are ripped out of their context and my not even be relevant to the subject at hand. Every proof-text must be studied in context to make sure it is saying what is claimed.
Speaker's tricks
A speaker may use various dramatic speaking styles in an attempt to enhance his authority, including raising his voice, pounding his fist, exaggerated emotions, or extreme dogmatism. While these may emphasize a point, don't confuse emphasis with authority. Any idiot can emphasize his points.
A speaker may speak in "tongues," have a foreign accent or a rasping voice or a speech impediment, or may even mispronounce "God" ("Gawd"). These techniques fool some people, but don't let them fool you.
A speaker might use a lot of Hebrew and Greek words, since these are the original languages of the biblical manuscripts. Granted, there is definite value in studying the Bible in its original languages. But do not automatically accept an idea just because a speaker refers to the Hebrew or the Greek. Remember that the speaker can easily misinterpret the Bible in Hebrew or Greek just as he can in English.
Finally, some speakers are fond of citing their credentials, whether legitimate or not, as a way of impressing you. While credentials can be interesting and even helpful, credentials alone never prove a point.
F. Final Statement
I will try to stick to my stated approach – presenting ideas related to the Bible and letting you evaluate those ideas. But such a goal is easier to state than to accomplish, and we all need each other to help us see our own errors and overcome our weaknesses. More than anything, we need the Lord's help since our task is to
test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1)