Faith: the Miracle of the Open-Minded

Christians are often accused of being closed-minded by the world. I suppose this is because we have chosen to believe Jesus is the only way to God. But when you think about it, Christians are probably the most open-minded people in the world. There is a song by MercyMe called “One Trick Pony,” and the second verse is:

If I hear just one more time
That I should try and be more open-minded
I think I just might scream
The world says this is all there is
Yet I believe the One who says there’s life after this
Now tell me how much more open can my mind be?

As a Christian, I consider myself quite open-minded because I am willing to believe things I cannot yet see. I believe in God even though I cannot see Him, and I believe in Heaven even though I haven’t been there yet. An intellectual atheist will tell you that neither exist because you can’t prove by physical evidence that they exist. To me, that is the more closed-minded approach to the potential of the supernatural.

I also consider myself open-minded because I believe in miracles I cannot replicate. For example, I believe Mary was a virgin when Jesus was born. I know that scientifically speaking, a woman who is a virgin cannot become pregnant and give birth, but I believe completely in the miraculous incarnation of our Lord Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. Sadly, even some who claim to be Christians have given up believing in this wonderful miracle.

Another example is the parting of the Red Sea by Moses so that the Israelites could cross over on dry land. I saw a documentary once in which scientists tried to explain how this happened by a change in the tides or some other means of the water level lowering. But I accept and believe that this miracle could have and did happen. I believe that God is that big and powerful. I don’t need to try to explain it by the scientific method.

There are many other miracles in the Bible, which many closed-minded people reject as impossible because they defy the laws of nature. But these miracles are possible if one believes God, who created the laws of nature, has the supernatural power to override those laws when He sees fit to do so. During His earthly ministry, Jesus encountered the doubters, those who couldn’t believe what they didn’t see with their own eyes.

In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! Let this Christ, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Mark 15:31-32a.

The chief priests didn’t believe Jesus was the Son of God, the greatest miracle ever. Many refuse to believe this even today because they can’t see Him. “‘Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders,’ Jesus told him, ‘you will never believe.'” John 4:48. When Thomas doubted that Jesus was raised from the dead, Jesus showed him the nail scars on His hands. “Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'” John 20:29.

Jesus said the open-minded will be blessed for believing what they cannot see. Faith requires an open mind because “faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1. So how open-minded are you? Enough to put your faith in the One who claimed to be the Way, the Truth, and the Life, the only way to God?