The Folly of an Open Mind

[Nahum]

From Answers.com

Open-minded means...

"Receptive to new and different ideas or the opinions of others."



Again, I don't think that is always such a good thing.

[Nahum]

"receptive to arguments or ideas"

Merriam-Webster.com

What is so great and virtuous about that?

[RevDWW]

Maybe if the Pharisees were more 'open minded' and 'open hearted' they'd have listened and taken to heart the teaching of Jesus.

[Nahum]

Originally Posted by RevDWW

Maybe if the Pharisees were more 'open minded' and 'open hearted' they'd have listened and taken to heart the teaching of Jesus.

Maybe if Demas was more closed-minded he would have stayed with Paul.

[stmatthew]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

To show the person who is holding onto false doctrine their error.


2 Tim 2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

The bible is clear that we are to rightly divide the WORD, not somebodies false doctrine. We are not to give heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils. I know you THINK you are able to take garbage in and not come out stinking, but that is not the case. You do not oppose false doctrine with its faults, you oppose it with the truth found within the Word of God.

[mizpeh]

close-mind·ed (klōs'mīn'dĭd, klōz'-) or closed-mind·ed (klōzd'-)
adj.
Intolerant of the beliefs and opinions of others; stubbornly unreceptive to new ideas.
Not tolerant of the beliefs or opinions of others, for example: bigoted, hidebound, illiberal, intolerant, narrow-minded. See accept/reject.

The adjective close-minded has one meaning:

Meaning #1: not ready to receive to new ideas

http://www.answers.com/topic/close-minded

1. close-minded 9 up, 18 down

1.Someone that does not try to view something in the opposite way. close-minded is when you beleive in something or in someone and your mind will stay closed to that beleive and will not even try to acknoledge it.
2. close-minded on religion or race is when you don't even try to understand. When you think that Allah is stupid or Shiva. And god and Jesus are the only dictators of the universe.

2. close-minded 18 up, 27 down

Adjective used by some democrats to describe anyone who does not agree with liberal points of view.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/defin...m=close-minded (warning foul language)

open-minded



Main Entry: open–mind·ed
Pronunciation: \ˌō-pən-ˈmīn-dəd\
Function: adjective
Date: 1828
: receptive to arguments or ideas

http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionar...va=open-minded

open-minded

adjective

Ready and willing to receive favorably, as new ideas: acceptant, amenable, open, receptive, responsive. See accept/reject.
Not narrow or conservative in thought, expression, or conduct: broad, broad-minded, liberal, progressive, tolerant. See attitude/good attitude/bad attitude/neutral attitude, wide/narrow.

open-minded
adj
Definition: receptive
Antonyms: narrow-minded, opinionated

adj

Definition: unbiased
Antonyms: judgmental, prejudiced

http://www.answers.com/topic/open-minded

A quiz on how open minded you are: http://www.blogthings.com/howopenmindedareyouquiz/

A blog on open mindedness: http://skeptico.blogs.com/skeptico/2...peal_to_b.html

Another blog: http://www.skeptics.org.uk/article.p..._open_mind.php

For CC1: http://www.newscientist.com/article/...penminded.html

Jason Dulle's article on close-mindedness: http://www.apostolic.net/biblicalstu...osedminded.htm

[stmatthew]

I don't see anywhere in scripture Paul telling Timothy to be open to hear a false doctrine so you can refute it. No, he was to "preach the Word". This in and of itself will refute any false doctrine.

[RevDWW]

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

Maybe if Demas was more closed-minded he would have stayed with Paul.

Maybe if Demas had cared more for Jesus than the present cares of the world he would have stayed with Paul and Jesus.


Having an open mind, one that is willing to search out the truth is not a bad thing. We are told to try the spirits, that doesn't seem like something a closed minded individual would do, does it?

[Nahum]

Originally Posted by stmatthew

I don't see anywhere in scripture Paul telling Timothy to be open to hear a false doctrine so you can refute it. No, he was to "preach the Word". This in and of itself will refute any false doctrine.

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by stmatthew

I don't see anywhere in scripture Paul telling Timothy to be open to hear a false doctrine so you can refute it. No, he was to "preach the Word". This in and of itself will refute any false doctrine.

Matt, you're one of my favorite posters here because of your wisdom.

I thought of the same thing after I posted that. If we know the word then we will be able to discern truth from error. I don't need to learn all about the Trinity to refute it.