By Bruce Green
The Tipping Point was Malcolm Gladwell’s debut book in 2000 and the first of five bestsellers. It probed the forces behind societal change and proposed to explain how “little things can make a big difference” (the book’s sub-title).
For example, Gladwell popularized the broken-window theory. This theory says that when a window in a building is broken, if it is not repaired in a timely manner, soon there will be more broken windows because the message left by the unrepaired window is that no one is paying attention or cares. However, if the window is repaired, the opposite message is conveyed. Thus, a small thing like a broken window can be a tipping point.
Gladwell went on to apply this to other things like graffiti, toll-jumping on the subway and other misdemeanors. It wasn’t all theoretical either, New York City implemented this principle in the 1990’s through a law enforcement strategy known as CompStat. The increased attention to misdemeanors and promotion of order was accompanied by a decrease in crime across the board.
Like everything, the broken window theory has its share of critics and even
Gladwell has backed off of it to a degree. That’s all as it should be because good, healthy debate surrounding the identity of any potential tipping point underscores just how important the concept of a tipping point is to begin with. In Gladwell’s words it is “the moment of critical mass, the threshold, the boiling point.” It is what is responsible for changing something from good to bad or bad to good.
It’s not difficult to see this at the spiritual level. After Cain’s sacrifice was rejected by God, the Lord appeared to him and said, “Why are you angry?
Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it” (Genesis 4:6-7). God was telling Cain that how he dealt with his sacrifice being rejected would be a tipping point in his life. Cain didn’t heed God’s words and tipped in the direction of evil and the rest is sad history.
An important tipping point that helps us across the board is when we grow in our vision of God to the degree that His glory begins to transcend our desires. Isaiah shares his vision of God in Isaiah 6 and if you read the entire chapter you will see how it steels him for the difficult work he was given to do. In much the same way, John shares a vision of God with the seven churches of Asia (Revelation 4-5) and it enables them to triumph “by the blood of the lamb, by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death” (12:11).
As we begin to see and experience the glory of God, it becomes difficult not to love what He loves. As we see Him more clearly, experience the cross more deeply, things that were formerly “got to” become “get to.” This is the work of God taking place in our lives—transforming us into His image (2 Corinthians 3:18; Philippians 2:12-13).
Let’s allow God to grow a greater vision in our lives.
You can find more of Bruce’s writings at his website: atasteofgracewithbrucegreen.com.