“Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors”
From 12/13/2003
This phrase, a motto used by the United Methodist Church since 2001, had grated somewhat on my nerves when it was rolled out as the denomination’s motto. It had appeared to me that it reflected a little too much laissez fair with regard to the doctrinal positions of the United Methodist Church and the standards for membership. I think that most people’s interpretation of it allows just that kind of wishy-washy doctrinal belief and is being increasingly reflected in our denomination’s public declarations and in the voices in our congregations.
This morning I was in prayer for a weekend retreat and as a part of my prayer time, I re-read the story of the walk to Emmaus. When I got to the end I read “He opened their minds to understanding the scriptures” (Luke 24:45) and suddenly I thought an open mind is not a bad thing if it is opened by Christ for a specific purpose- to understand the Scriptures.
Then I began to look for references to “open hearts” and “open doors”. What I found was this:
Open Hearts:
Acts 16:14- In the story of Lydia. Upon hearing Paul preach to the women by the riverside the Lord “opened her heart to give heed” to what she heard. It speaks of the sovereignty of God in turning our hearts to Himself as the first step toward salvation. He chooses us through this mysterious process of opening our hearts to himself so that we will receive Him and “give heed”. Obedience to the Word is evidence of an open heart.
2 Cor 6:11- 13- “Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. In return- I speak as to children- widen your hearts also.” Just as God opens our hearts to himself, we are to further open our hearts to one another. We often fail to open our hearts to others because of our own hearts’ preferences for our own desires instead of the desires of Christ.
Open Doors:
Rev. 3:7b-8 “The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one shall shut, who shuts and no one opens. I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut; I know that you have but little power and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.”
Rev. 3:20- “Behold I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”
Our culture tells us that we are to be “open minded”, tolerant of every belief; that we are to have an “open door” policy, welcoming every philosophy or theology as equally worthy. We are to have “open hearts”, embracing everyone equally, regardless of whether the moral standards they hold are the same as ours or the same as those we understand to be God’s. In light of the scripture, it seems to me that we are indeed to have “open hearts, open minds, open doors”. However, the process of opening them begins with Jesus Christ. He holds the key. It is His perogative to open our hearts and minds to those things which He has declared in His Word. We do not hold the key nor do we have the power to open them ourselves nor can we open the hearts and minds of others. It is Christ and Christ alone with the power to accomplish the task called for by the United Methodist Church in its slogan. “Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors” should reflect the work of Christ in the lives of His people, not an “anything goes” acquiescence to cultural whims. “An open mind, in questions that are not ultimate, is useful. But an open mind about the ultimate foundations either of Theoretical or of Practical Reason is idiocy. If a man’s mind is open on these things, let his mouth at least be shut.” (C.S. Lewis , The Abolition of Man
Written 12/13/03 Cathy Byrd