Diversify: Bad Idea for Christian Faith

A Christian pilgrim's contemplation on a single word — diversify — and asks whether Christians are applying investment logic to their walk with Jesus. A meditation on what it really means to go all in.

CAUTIONS

Trace Pirtle

2 min read

It’s a beautiful morning as I sit here at the Pilgrim’s Desk looking at the various shades of green leaves on Texas Hill Country trees.

The image of an old friend from long ago and far away appeared in my mind’s eye. Whatever happened to that Christian brother who was always a bit of an outlier, like me?

Of course, I did a quick Google search and discovered some troubling facts about him that I didn’t want to accept. Facts about a Christian whose faith had changed radically.

Those facts sent me down the winding road, pondering a simple word:

Diversify.

I think it’s a good idea to diversify the roads we take in life. It adds to the adventure and can also keep us out of traffic jams. When one road hits a dead end, there’s always a detour or way around to the destination.

Nearly all investors–Christians and non-Christians alike–will agree that it’s a good idea to diversify your investments. “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket,” we are told. “Only a fool goes all in on a single option.” The risks are too high, the consequences too great for such a gamble.

But it’s a bad idea to diversify Christian faith. My old friend did just that. Many Christians are doing it today, and some are sitting in the pews every Sunday morning listening to sermons that approve of diversifying the faith.

Some Christian brothers and sisters are writing about magic, Native American spirituality, theology, philosophy, art, Eastern mysticism, and New Age thought, all wrapped in a “Christian” garment while sitting crossed-legged under an umbrella that says “Jesus.”

Are believers who diversify Christianity applying the same reasoning to their faith as they do to the roads they take and the investments they make? It seems so.

But what bets are they trying to hedge? Do they secretly fear that if this “Jesus thing” isn’t true, that maybe one of the other roads is? Is it too much of a risk to put all of one’s faith in a single basket with Jesus’ name on it?

This is a bad idea. We can sit under the Jesus umbrella all day, but He knows who is all-in and who is lukewarm. Perhaps a reread of Jesus' words to the church in Laodicea is in order (Revelation 3:14-16).

Also, when Thomas asked Jesus where He was going and the way to get there, Jesus was clear. Read John 14:6. It seems that Jesus is not in favor of diversifying your Christ-following pathway or Christian portfolio.

And if Jesus says there is only One Way to heaven, I will stay on the single narrow path and go "all in" with my time, talent, and treasure in Him. He alone is worthy of the investment.

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