More on "Open Mind"

I would like to describe my thoughts in more detail on what it means to be an )open( church.  See The Open Church for an introduction to the core values and beliefs.  For each of the core values, I will discuss:

1. Motivation (Why do we care about this?)
2. Open vs. Closed (What's the difference?)
3. Next Steps (How do we change?)

Open Mind

1. Motivation (Why do we care about this?)

• We love the truth!  We love the Bible and want to follow it's guidance.  Therefore, we care about the correct interpretation.  This may not be the "easy" interpretation coming from simply transposing truth from the writer/speaker into today's time.
• We care about people, their ideas, and nurturing their spiritual growth process.  Open discussions of ideas, grappling with questions, and considering choices is healthy and should be encouraged.
• We care about God's ideas!  To follow God, we have to keep an open mind about what he might do, what he might say, how we might lead us to new challenges.  God is also not "easy" or predictable.  He doesn't fit into simple paradigms.  We can't tell him what he's allowed to think.

Open discussions of ideas, grappling with questions, and considering choices is healthy and should be encouraged.

2. Open vs. Closed (What's the difference?)

Open	Closed
Discusses "How" to interpret, how to understand context, intent, history, and to place passages relative to those things.  Clear truth is not assumed, because of unknown aspects of intent and history.	Prescribes "How" to interpret, as part of church tradition of what the Bible means.  Truth is clear from the passages and is to be understood, then defended.
Teaches people how to think.  Values good ideas, new concepts, connections between the Bible and other truths, and appreciates the process of learning through grappling with truth.	Teaches people not to think.  Teaches people that faith means adoption of ideals of the group as being absolute truth.
Believes that the Bible is a story of God's interaction with people.  After the last word was written, that interaction continued, and continues today!  God's word also continues and can speak new things, explain old things, and offer new interpretations.  In particular, God only increases the revelation of himself, never decreases.  So in time, we know God better.	God speaks to confirm and explain his absolute canon of truth expressed in the Bible.  Nothing new can be added.  God is restricted to his earlier words, and cannot reveal himself further.
Enjoys hearing ideas we don't agree with, or need to think about and consider which parts we agree with.	Refutes those that disagree with the ideals of the group.  Does not enjoy discussion of opposing views.

3. Next Steps (How do we change?)

• Change teaching and worship times from front-stage events to interactive discussions.  Encourage questions and disagreement.  (Provide facilitators that know how to moderate a good discussion, and try different formats to see what works).  For example, present a point of view, then discuss the points brought up by the author.  Invite special speakers, authors, and community leaders that may have a different perspective than many people in the church.
• Use music and the arts as expressions of a concept, emotion, need, etc., then discuss what they mean in group discussions.  Worship is not singing songs that recite facts to each other and to God.  It should be an expression, and an opportunity for sharing and growth.
• Discuss issues and needs for our families, communities and the world, and how God may be working and want us to work to care about others.
• Use group prayer to respond to God's calling, seek his wisdom, and ask him for help in understanding.  Use heart-felt prayers of requests for God to meet people's needs (individually, in the community, and in the world), and to help us (the church) find solutions along with God.