The Open Mind and The Closed Mind
Experience has proven to me that the most closed mind can be found in those who proudly espouse being open minded. They are so closed minded that they refuse to even consider that God exists. They are so closed minded that they refuse to consider that the Bible is a book written by a supernatural Being, called God. Having never read the Bible they are always quick to condemn it. Having never read the Bible they attempt to tell you what it says. And sadly, many Christians have allowed these closed-minded hypocrites to steal the narrative of what is in reality a closed mind and redefine a closed mind as an open mind. Let us, therefore, examine what defines a closed mind and an open mind.
The Root
How should Christians settle all contemporary issues and social opinions in regard to action and belief? First and foremost, our opinions, and our actions should always be based entirely on the Word of God. And herein lies the crux of the matter, for you see most, and I repeat most Christians know very little about the book that they should be defending, I say this from experience. As I have again and again attempted to emphasize in many articles that God’s Word is the standard by which our convictions and conduct are rooted. All questions of right and wrong, all issues of social actions are settled in God’s Word.
Too many Christians have been silenced because they fear being labeled dogmatic, intolerant, uncaring, etc., etc., etc. The reality and truth of the matter is that Christians do not truly understand their position in the eyes of God. God looks on all humanity from a state of righteousness and purity. This is not an issue of comparing oneself with others — it is comparing all, ALL, (that means you and me) with God’s standard. I come short of God’s mark set for me, and I can never accept or approve any standard that is set lower than that which has been set by God, the Creator.
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)
What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;(Romans 3:9)
But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. (Galatians 3:22)
God set a code of morality that is based on the reality that mankind has a bias for evil, God calls it sin. Man detests this word, and yet, Jehovah looks on mankind as not having any moral soundness.
And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5)
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. (Romans 8:7)
So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:8)
The Open Mind
All who are without Christ, who have not been made new, seek and follow those who enforce, encourage and approve the lowest form of depravity. Unrepentant mankind in his stubbornness, and in his open mind dare to label depravity as morality. This false open mindedness either excuses or accuses one another depending on current opinion. (Romans 2:15) The fallacy that an open mind is a good thing is simply that this mind has no guidelines, and no standards. An open mind accepts all that is acceptable to others regardless of consequences. ‘If it feels good, it is good,’ ‘If it sounds pleasing, then it must be pleasing.’ An open mind refuses to discern what is evil and what is good because this same open mind does not want to refuse the twisted, fallacious reasoning and opinions, and actions of friends, and family. The open mind is a mind saturated with vanity and pride based on an unearned action, namely: building nothing, creating nothing, attempting nothing, believing nothing, and standing for nothing (except whatever social media is currently glorifying, or what is called, ‘the truth of the day’). Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. (Romans 8:7) An open mind is so open that it can be filled with everything and anything. And why not, because all is accepted, all is tolerated and embraced. The hypocrisy of the open mind is evident in that it is always changing its focus, whatever is lauded today will be condemned tomorrow.
The Closed Mind
The closed mind has guidelines: meaning that this mind is led and governed by unfailing, and unchanging standards. The closed mind is focused on a mind beyond this earthly plain. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (Philippians 2:5) The guideline is very simply stated: For what saith the scripture? (Romans 4:3a) The guidebook for all minds and hearts is Scripture, the Bible, the book that opens life to all mankind offers life and light to all. All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16) That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:17) The child of God must surround and protect his mind and heart with the words of God from the book of God. God opens His book to the mind that is willing to close out all worldly influences, and ungodly sounds from his mind, and his heart. We are encouraged to strengthen and enclose our minds with the power of God. Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; (1 Peter 1:13) Our minds must also be protected from the chaos and confusion of a world gone mad by sin and vain imaginations. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7) A sound and stable mind, especially in these last days of man’s irrational acts of hate against God and His creation, can only be enjoyed when your heart and mind is centered on God, and on His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Scripture teaches us that through the power of God and His Christ we have the power of a sound mind, sound words, sound speech, sound doctrine and soundness in faith. All this because we are made secure in Him with hearts and minds that see and hear only God, and His Word, Christ Jesus our Lord. Stay fixed on Him. This is what the world calls being closed minded, I call it being open minded, ready minded to all that God has for His children.
My God and my Savior, Jesus Christ, has allowed me (in my mind and heart) to travel (through His Word) before the beginning of time, to see Him walk in the beauty of Eden with His creation, to journey with Moses into Egypt and to the base of Mount Sinai, to hear David as he sang praises to Jehovah with psalms, to weep with His nation Israel as they were led away captive from Jerusalem in rags, to view the opulence of king Ahasuerus (the power of Persia and Media) in his court of red, blue, white, and black marble, to gaze up at the night sky when the shepherds saw the heralding angels proclaiming the birth of the Savior, to feel the ground quake and rumble beneath the earth at the crucifixion of God’s Son, and to wonder at the greatness of my God at the resurrection of the Son of His love, to be taught in the mysteries of God throughout the ages, to see the panorama of time and eternity spread out before me, to actually become a part (as a particle of dust) in His great redemptive plan for mankind. His Word, the book of my God, the Bible that I hold in my hand has allowed me to travel through time through words, just words, but words written by the Holy Spirit of God. Through His Word, and His words, He opens such depths, and reveals wonders that the mind of man cannot fully take in. And yes, because He has closed my mind to the world, He has opened my eyes, my heart, my soul, my being, and my mind to the things of the divine nature.
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: (2 Peter 1:3)
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.(2 Peter 1:4)
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (1 Corinthians 2:9)
But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. (1 Corinthians 2:10)
For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 2:11)
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. (1 Corinthians 2:12)
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (1 Corinthians 2:13)
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14)
But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. (1 Corinthians 2:15)
For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16)
© Copyright 2017, Mary Haigh
Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.
All Scripture references are from the King James Bible. (KJV)