In Defense of the Box

It’s popular to say that new ideas are, “Thinking outside the box.” This can be attractive because new things can be both challenging and refreshing. And it can test our flexibility and open-mindedness.

The Bible is a book for thinkers: “consider the lilies…” (Mt 6:28); “…meditate on these things” (1 Ti 4:15); “…think on these things” (Ph 4:8). We cannot think our way to heaven, but we can understand God’s communication about how to receive His grace (Ep 3:4). Whether we need to think “outside the box” to be saved depends on what the box is.

If the box is the religion and teaching of men, then we are going to have to break free of it in our thinking and actions. It is usually difficult and painful to see when something we believe or a religion we are part of is not dependent wholly on God’s Word. Our thinking stays inside the box of false religion when we argue based on things like sincerity, good works accomplished, and the number of those who are involved. Jesus, Himself, said there will be many like these to whom He will say, “I never knew you; depart from Me” (Mt 7:22-23).

Is it possible for the outrageous thought to flash across our minds, “What if we’re wrong?” Can we seriously ask whether what we believe is of God or man – and then go to God’s word to find out? Usually these are the thoughts that are buried or denied rather than resolved. Thinking outside the philosophies and theologies of man is healthy and necessary in order to think inside the right box.

The concept of “thinking outside the box” is probably asking us to do more than simply be open-minded or shake off error. I suspect that we are being taught not to ever box our thinking. Put another way, it is advocated that truth is not absolute and therefore we should not be bound by any concept or standard.

This is precisely why some have become so “open-minded” that it seems that their brains have fallen out. They accept no standards, no one is wrong, everyone is right, there are no rules or restrictions, etc. It doesn’t matter if you point out that they accept contradicting positions, they seem unwilling to shut out any idea for any reason.

Like it or not, God’s revealed truth is a box. It contains specific comprehensible information and it is our job to understand the original meaning as intended by God. This information is our standard (2 Ti 3:16-17) – a “box,” within which we must live to be pleasing to our God. Thinking outside the box, outside God’s box, usurps God’s position. There is nothing outside of God’s box but speculation, uncertainty, presumption, and error.

Lust for something new can turn hearts away from God’s ancient word. We need to channel this desire into a search of “the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God” (Ro 11:33). Inside God’s box is all we need for Spirit filled life now and in eternity.   dd