The Folly of an Open Mind

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

I don't know....remember John was in prison and could not see who this person was. John knew he would die and was to point his followers to the Messiah. He sent disciples to ask if this person was he that was to come. John was not doubting He was the Messiah....he really did not know.

This person was his cousin, Mary and Joseph's son. This person was the one whom the dove lighted upon after being baptized by John. John pointed to Jesus and said, Behold the Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world.

For some reason John the Baptist was doubting and Dan is right again.

[Nahum]

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

You miss my point Prax. My question is "how far does your open-mindedness stretch?" Is there a limit to it? Are there some thoughts, ideas, and viewpoints you refuse to entertain, or are you totally open-minded?

bump for Prax

[SDG]

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

Doubt lost, Faith won.

It really is that simple.

No the man is admitting to both faith and doubt... but if we have the faith as small as a mustard seed ....

[Nahum]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

This person was his cousin, Mary and Joseph's son. This person was the one whom the dove lighted upon after being baptized by John. John pointed to Jesus and said, Behold the Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world.

For some reason John the Baptist was doubting and Dan is right again.

I have some info on this that proves differently.

Give me a minute.

[Nahum]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

No the man is admitting to both faith and doubt... but if we have the faith as small as a mustard seed ....

Perhaps, but faith won out.

It is important to recognize he mentally chose faith over doubt, so was the doubt really his?

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

You miss my point Prax. My question is "how far does your open-mindedness stretch?" Is there a limit to it? Are there some thoughts, ideas, and viewpoints you refuse to entertain, or are you totally open-minded?

No I did not miss it. You are distorting what an open mind means. Open mindedness does not mean "Hey, I'll become a pedophile and see how that goes"....

An open mind is willing to examine the truth of a claim and if true accept it as being true. I can accept as being true that smoking crack will ruin your life but having an open mind does not mean I will try smoking crack to see how it feels.

An open MIND is about the MIND...it's about TRUTHES. An open mind will look at the facts of evolution and if the facts pan out accept evolution is true. If it is true, then it is true. Truth is Truth. God created ALL things including truth.

An open mind considers the merits of someone elses viewpoint and weighs if they are true or not. If you LOVE the truth then you will objectively examine such things. Open Mindedness means objectivity. Close mindedness means subjectivity.

I would dare to say as an example that many Muslims are Muslims because they are NOT open minded and are subjective in how they view their own religion and ours.

I would also say as an example that if the early Trinitarians were NOT willing to be open minded, or objective, but were subjective, they NEVER would have become oneness because they would never have been willing to examine the Trinity.

Close Mindedness is akin to handing your brain over to someone else and not thinking for yourself

[SDG]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

He didn't know ??? His life's mission was to prepare the way of the Messiah ...

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, 21 who takes away the sin of the world. 30 22 He is the one of whom I said, 'A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.' 31 I did not know him, 23 but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel." 32 John testified further, saying, "I saw the Spirit come down like a dove 24 from the sky and remain upon him. 33 I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the holy Spirit.' 34 25 Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God." 35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples, 36 and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, "Behold, the Lamb of God." 26 37 The two disciples 27 heard what he said and followed Jesus.

Originally Posted by mizpeh

This person was his cousin, Mary and Joseph's son. This person was the one whom the dove lighted upon after being baptized by John. John pointed to Jesus and said, Behold the Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world.

For some reason John the Baptist was doubting and Dan is right again.

Being in prison ... can bring doubt to us all.

Jesus ... didn't castigate him .... either .... he simply responded w/ just tell him what you've seen ....

Matthew 11

4Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:
5The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

6And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.


and then .... praised JB ... by calling him the greatest man he knows ....

11Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

[SDG]

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

Perhaps, but faith won out.

It is important to recognize he mentally chose faith over doubt, so was the doubt really his?

The dude doubted ... especially because, prior, Jesus' disciples had tried and tried to liberate his son ... Doubt means we're still open to the possibility of a miracle ... unbelief means we've closed up shop.

[Nahum]

I can't find the file I had on JTB but the general point was that he was asking Jesus to declare Himself to his disciples. JTB was, in effect, asking "Is my work done here?'

It was not that he doubted the "Lamb of God", it was that he wanted to know the plan. That is why Jesus responded the way He did.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

bump for Prax

I responded to you. Truth is truth. Truth is not truth because my pastor told me so or because I was raised that way. I do this all the time brother. I examine what people say. I have to in order to determine the validity of it or the truthfulness of it. How else can you convince a Muslim that his religion is not true or the yours is true unless you are able to objectively look at fact and test them?

In fact we are to ask God to try us.

And God says
Isa 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

God wants to reason with you. Being open minded does not mean being willing to read Harry Potter...good grief. Being open minded, as opposed to close minded, means willing to look at the facts and examine them. It does not mean accepting all views. It means If a view is proven to be true then to be willing to accept that it is true.