Breadth of Mind and the Bible – Spiritually

cling to comfortable personal opinions – and make God be the way the sluggard wants Him to be. None of this can possibly lead a Christian into a spiritual breadth of mind.

Retardant 4: False Prophets / False Teachers

“The prophets are prophesying falsehood in My Name. I have neither sent them, nor commanded them, nor spoken to them; they are prophesying to you a false vision, divination, futility, and the deception of their own minds” (Jer 14:14). In this passage, four springs are listed from which these false messages arise. But, for our purpose here, the sources are irrelevant – the reality is all that matters. Their message is error. In the New Testament, we are warned, “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you …” (2Pet 2:1). This is a promise. Again, names, titles, “letters of commendation” (2Cor 3:1), style – all of these things are barnacles that must be scraped off – and the content of the message weighed. The content is all that matters. The Bereans could have cared less who Paul said he was, or who others said he was, or the style (or lack thereof) by which the information was delivered. And Paul, if in the Spirit, was pleased by this mind set of the Bereans. And I do not think we have any teachers/preachers today … superior to Paul. Do you?

Retardant 5: Satan and Teachings of Demons

There are very systematic presentations about God – from fallen angels – to man. The goal is singular: to keep one away from an accurate understanding of who the real Jesus is – what He did – and what the proper response to Him should be. “But the Spirit explicitly says that in latter times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits, even teachings of demons … for even Satan disguises himself as angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness” (1Ti 4:1 and 2Cor 11:14,15). The phrase translated, “fall away from” is from a compound Koine Greek word, “aphistemi.” The components are, “apo,” (motion away from, having never been in), and “histemi,” (to stand). So, the Timothy passage is describing people who are standing and moving away from the Christian faith – having never been in it. But, to maintain a Christian cannot be theologically deceived by demons (for a season) is, in my estimation, an underestimation of these demons. Satan even came after Jesus with Scripture (Mt 4:6) … so, who do we think we are? I am of the conviction that many demons are silver-tongued, seasoned pros with cumulative knowledge and able to launch very tight and targeted attacks. Many times they will work through vessels that outwardly appear righteous. This is the whole, “wolves in sheep’s clothing” dynamic (Mt 7:15 and Ac 20:29).

Of course, the way to avoid falling prey to some false message in this rainbow of deception is simple. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God … handling accurately the word of truth … examine all things carefully, holding fast to the good” (2Tim 2:15 and 1Thes 5:21). But most of all, earnest petition to God for accuracy in understanding His word … is an unsurpassed prudence. “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously without reproach, and it will be given to him” (Ja 1:5). When thinking sanely, such prostration is step one.

God wants the saint to be able to destroy “speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God” (2Cor 10:5). That includes all false religion and all “philosophy and empty deception” of man’s traditions (Col 2:8). All error, whether from man or demon, the Christian is to be able to field and refute. Opposing materials are to be accurately heard, dismantled, and dispatched. The word, “Christian” and the phrase, “breadth of mind” are to be synonyms.

Conclusion

In Him, a “Conclusion” often does not mean, “The End.” Each point above could be expanded exponentially. And this Article’s conclusion never will have an end. Here it is. Jesus once told the disciples the Spirit would take of His things “and disclose it to you” (Jn 16:14). Then, after rising from the dead, He “opened their minds to understand the Scriptures” (Lk 24:45). The Author of the Bible is the One who enables one to accurately understand, and integrate, His knowledge into one’s own thinking. This is activity initiated by God – owed to no one. But once initiated, there is no end to the breadth of mind a Christian can attain. Go get it.

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