“Should a Christian have an open mind?” When a student raised that question in class, I did not know how to answer at first—I felt caught between two competing convictions.
On one hand, “open-mindedness” seems to run contrary to the Christian doctrine of the narrow road. Shouldn’t Christians be characterized by our unchanging, unshakeable faith? The letters of Paul repeatedly remind us to “stand firm,” holding tightly to truth amid doubt and confusion. Isn’t open-mindedness just another name for weak faith?
On the other hand, the Bible has a lot to say about humility. Our understanding is so small, and the ways of God and his creation are so vast. Should this not demand that we hold our views loosely? Isn’t closed-mindedness just another name for intellectual pride?
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