This past week I walked past a store called “The Open Mind.” I was in a hurry so I didn’t stop and I really didn’t get a good look at the merchandise but the name got me thinking. What kind of a store do you think it was? What would you be trying to say to customers with that name? Let’s speculate. I think it probably carries stuff a little bit out of the mainstream but wants you to be “open minded” about giving it a try. You certainly wouldn’t want to be close minded now would you?

Usually when you start a conversation with; “Now keep an open mind on this” it means you are already afraid they won’t. “Open minded” is good right? Doesn’t it mean you’re flexible, don’t make snap judgments about things, and welcome new ideas? While that can be true, sometimes an open mind is like an open sewer; with no filter it takes in all kinds of garbage. Then you know what happens: “Garbage in, Garbage out” as the saying goes.

Psalm 101:3 says; “I will set before my eyes no vile thing.” Not a very open minded thing to say, is it? But if you don’t protect yourself, who will? There is so much garbage floating around in our present day culture that we need some kind of filter. God’s Word in the Bible is the best filter you can use. It is not close minded to set a door over your heart and to examine what comes knocking before you open the door and let it in. It is, instead, great wisdom.