Bulletin Articles: Full Article for Record Number 1042
On Being Open-Minded
by Larry Ray Hafley
Our society prides itself in being open-minded. However, the current definition of open-mindedness knows no definite truth. It condemns no act as being right or wrong, nor any philosophy or ideal as being true or false. The only idea that modern open-mindedness is closed to is that which says there are absolutes, that not everything is relative, morally neutral, and spiritually acceptable (See Judges 21:25; Rom. 10:3).
Their open-mindedness is open to abortion, though they would not have one; their mind welcomes and promotes the homosexual agenda, though it would not engage in it; their worship is that of a God in a sanctuary, though they can join hands and chant with witches around a totem pole and feel "a sublime presence." Their open-mindedness is barred and shuttered against the mind which rejects abortion and homosexuality as being wrong, morally repugnant, and spiritually condemned.
As Christians, we see the folly and foolishness of this open-minded lifestyle. Are we, though, being subtly influenced by it? We reject totem pole chants, but we rejoice in humming and hand-clapping. We refuse to have a full-fledged "Family Life Center," (a YMCA without beds and apartments), but we enjoy the kitchen and dining facilities and the "all purpose" room which we justify as a "fellowship hall" designed "to get to know one another better." We are against immorality and all lewdity and nudity, but our children dance and undress like the world as their parents defend social drinking. Through it all, the pulpit remains silent against such behavior and the elders are mute and want you to be, too. Some clamor for a more "open" and "less restrictive" worship and utter snide comments about the "old three songs and a prayer routine." They reject rock bands in worship (for now, anyway), but services designed to promote "a better understanding of the Easter and Christmas traditions" has been going on for some years.
It is called being "open-minded." It is open for plays, parades and pageants, but is closed to book, chapter, and verse. It is open for discussions about how to be more inclusive of "other church families," but is closed to, "There is one body," the church (Eph. 4:4). It is open to receive into "our church fellowship" one who was sprinkled in the Methodist church and who is living with his third wife, but it is closed to "there is...one baptism" and Matthew 19:9.
May our minds, Bibles, pulpits, and pews always be open to truth and righteousness. May they be closed against error and evil in thought, word, and deed. May our minds be open to the plight of the lost and may we search and seek them out, but may they be closed against the allurements and enticements of the god of this world (Col. 2:8).
