“Tribalism” is a word that gets thrown around quite a bit these days. Often it refers to the attitude that one’s own social group or tribe is superior to all others, and thus loyalty to tribe prohibits the consideration that any other tribe may have something valuable to say. Tribalism in politics is obvious. But the first time I heard “tribalism” applied to Christian thought was by a reviewer who used it to describe the nature of the history books published by a certain publisher. “Their view of history is very tribalistic.” What he meant by that is the views were presented uncritically, in a biased way, that did not necessarily consider weaknesses or failures, let alone criticisms. The tribal perspective amounted to “hagiography,” not accurate history.
Tribalism exists within the theological world. Tribalism can narrow what we read and who we read. Tribalism can have an air of fundamentalism to it, promoting secondary separation, “I cannot read that guy because that guy quotes from that guy.” Tribalism precludes reading from an author in one area because of disagreement in another area. Tribalism creates suspicion so that if a brother quotes an author, the brother comes under suspicion of holding to everything the author holds to. Tribalism limits knowledge. Tribalism promotes bigotry and judgmentalism. I would like to encourage us to read, not just from our own tribe, but to read widely and wisely.
The benefits of reading widely are manifold. First, people outside our own tribe can and do often bring insight into Scripture or theology that our perspective may miss. The insights I have gained into biblical theology have come from wider sources than just Geerhardus Vos. Some, who I would not read in certain areas, have brought biblical-theological insight that was refreshing and helpful.[1] The tragedy in writing a piece like this is that people want to know who, other than Vos, has helped you? And it may not be because they want to read them too! This is dangerous territory, but anyone who reads widely can testify that the insights gained from those outside the tribe can be valuable.
The second benefit of reading widely is that it helps us avoid straw-man arguments with other perspectives. One of the liabilities of tribalism is that we often only read what our tribe says about this author, or that author. I will venture a case in point. I have been benefitted by John Piper’s writings and sermons since 1991. That means that I have listened to hundreds of hours of sermons, conference lectures, and read many of his books. And yet, to hear many criticisms of Piper, I have to ask, “Have you ever read him? Or have you just read about him? Have you simply read what someone else said about what Piper believes?” I know this to be true because on many occasions I have read criticisms which are simply not true, and I know they are not true because I’ve read Piper for a long time. Often our criticisms come second-hand. Reading widely gives us understanding of what others are saying. We may still disagree, but at least we have a better chance of disagreeing with what the person really believes instead of what the “discernment” blogger says he believes.
Another benefit of reading widely is that it provides a larger context of understanding which may aid us in reading synthetically. To read synthetically is to compare different perspectives in a way that we may see how they fit together. They don’t always fit together, to be sure! But sometimes the antithesis we believe is insurmountable is not. But we will never know unless we read widely.
Reading widely obviously covers a spectrum of perspectives. We may read people who are close to us, we may read others who are farther away. We may even read those who are in error. This is where reading wisely comes in. To read widely is not to read uncritically. It is to read for understanding, it is to look for additional insight, but it is not to set aside our own convictions and beliefs. Reading widely demands reading critically. Now of course by “critically” I don’t mean judgmentally. To read “critically” is to read analytically, paying close and judicious attention to the truth. It is to read, not with a fault-finding eye, or with severity, but rather, with skill, precision, and discernment. This is reading wisely.
Here are a few thoughts about reading wisely. Measure and watch the amount of literature you read that is outside your tribe. Years ago, I knew a pastor who started to get into biblical-theology and he began reading a certain brand of biblical theology that was Barthian (anti-systematics and neo-orthodox). He started reading these authors voraciously and it was a matter of time before his own theology started being influenced by them. When we read widely, we should do so in a measured way, watching how much we are taking in.
Reading wisely means that when we are reading blatantly erroneous views, that we make sure that we are counterbalancing with truth and piety. Recently we did a series on social justice and critical race theory, etc. etc. And so I found myself reading books and authors that I would never have picked up voluntarily, but the desire to accurately understand and present them demanded it. I did a similar thing a few years ago when I did a series on the prosperity gospel. Such exposure to blatant error requires wisdom. James Alexander makes this point about staying anchored to the truth when being exposed to error:
If we might have our choice, it is better to converse with truth than with error; with the rudest, homeliest truth, than with the most ingenious, decorated error; with the humblest truth, than with the most soaring, original and striking error Again, while error leads to error, truth leads to truth. Each truth is germinal and pregnant, containing other truths. Only upon this principle can we vindicate the productiveness of solitary meditation. Link follows link in the chain, which we draw from unknown mysterious recesses. A few elementary truths are the bases of the universal system.
Reading widely and wisely helps us in many ways. Reading widely inoculates us from a tribalism that can make us judgmental, suspicious, bigoted, and narrow. Reading wisely helps us avoid the infection of error. Reading widely deepens our perspective. Reading wisely deepens our convictions.
About the Author
Brian Borgman is the founding pastor of Grace Community Church. He earned a B.A. in Biblical Studies from Biola University (La Mirada, CA), a Master of Divinity from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary (Portland, OR) and a Doctor of Ministry from Westminster Seminary (Escondido, CA) and a ThM from Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary in Historical Theology. Brian and his wife Ariel have been married since 1987. They have three wonderful children, Ashley, Zach and Alex and three grandsons.
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[1] One example would be Mary L. Coloe, God Dwells with Us: Temple Symbolism in the Fourth Gospel (The Liturgical Press: Collegeville, MN, 2001). Coloe is Catholic and is certainly not a theological conservative, but her insights into John’s Gospel are often remarkable.
