broad-mindedness and willingness to accept a diversity of people and ideas.
During debates in which they extol their "virtues," liberals often speak of their
love for everyone and their acceptance of people who conduct themselves in ways
contrary to normal standards. However, these same people often criticize others
for their "narrow-mindedness." The sole criteria for their analysis is that their
religious or social counterparts will not accept their philosophies or ideals. It is
the contention of this author that liberalism is actually narrow-minded because
they are unwilling to accept a true standard whether it be a moral code or legal
law in the political realm or the Bible in the religious sphere. Though political
liberalism and religious liberalism run parallel as one influences the other, we
will restrict our remaining remarks to liberalism as it relates to religion.
Liberalism is narrow-minded because it rejects the authority of God
No realistic debate can occur without an agreement to some standard of
authority. Otherwise, discussions will center around what one person thinks
versus what another person thinks. If the debate comes down to mere opinion,
then how can anyone determine what is right or wrong? But alas, that is exactly
the goal of liberalism. Their philosophies flourish on the concept of relativism
and culturalism. The darkest period of Israelite history occurred during the days
of the judges when "...there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which
was right in his own eyes" (Judges 17:6; 21:15). If liberalism has its way, there
will be room for every deviate behavior known to man, including homosexuality,
because according to them, no one has the right to declare anything to be wrong.
How narrow-minded that is! Why? Because they will not consider the Word of
the Lord and righteous behavior as the acceptable conduct of man in the eyes of
the Lord and for the benefit of society.
Liberalism is narrow-minded because it is hypocritical
On one occasion, Jesus stated, "...That except your righteousness shall exceed
the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the
kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5:20). The primary sin of the Pharisees and other
sects of the Jews was hypocrisy. Jesus reviewed their hypocrisy in great detail in
Matthew 23 and warned His disciples, saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit
in Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and
do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy
burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they
themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they
do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the
borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief
seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men,
Rabbi, Rabbi" (verses 2-6). Likewise, liberalism demands certain behavior and
concessions from others toward their position, but turns a deaf ear to the words
and pleas of those who oppose it. While labeling some people as unloving and
unkind while they reject false teaching and promote the Truth, liberals can be
some of the most vicious and unkind people in the world as they practice
intolerance and ridicule men and women seeking the Truth of God. Paul wrote,
"Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that
preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal" (Rom. 2:21)? The
narrow-mindedness of liberalism rears its ugly head through its own hypocrisy.
Liberalism is narrow-minded because it is sothful
Liberalism is a lazy approach to political and religious life. It is easy to be
liberally minded, but it takes hard work and diligence to read, study, meditate and
investigate the Truth. The Bereans were commended for their open mindedness
coupled with their open "Bibles" (Acts 17:11). Liberals feel good about themselves
because they talk a good game and claim to be so compassionate when in reality
they are too lazy to investigate the real Truth of God.
One must remember that liberalism, as used in a religious context, is defined
as "loosing what God has bound."
1. Liberalism promotes the use of mechanical instruments of music in worship
and therefore rejects the commandment of God to sing (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16).
This issue is easy to comprehend if one will exercise his mind, remove his
prejudices and accept what the New Testament teaches.
2. Liberalism promotes the use of women in public worship despite the clear
teaching of the apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 2.
3. Liberalism promotes the hypothesis of theistic evolution although the Bible
clearly teaches that God created the world in six days.
All of these subjects, as well as a host of others, are easily understood through
honest investigation of the teaching of the Bible and common sense. However,
the narrow-mindedness of liberalism will not allow the consideration of such
possibilities because of prejudice, arrogance, ignorance, hypocrisy and
slothfulness. Friends, please remember, Christianity is just as narrow or just as
broad as the Lord and His Word.
