The Bible tells us that when we become a follower of Christ; when we choose to believe that his blood saves us and we accept his gift allowing us passage into heaven, that we are “born again”. We are a “new creation”. Have you ever given thought to what that means? Do you feel like a new creation? When Paul speaks to the new believers in Ephesus, he instructs them on the next steps of being a Christian; he instructs them on the path to Christian living, encouraging them not to live like the gentiles do, but to pursue purity and holiness. He instructs them to live the way that they were taught to live in Christ. It says in Ephesians chapter 4, verses 22 through 24:
“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Paul shows us that being "made new” is a process, that it is a learned behavior, and that we have a role in being made new. If you claim to be a believer, then your desire should be to be made new; to put off your old self that is being corrupted by its deceitful desires, as Paul puts it. How? Through the attitude of our minds. I believe, and the Bible attests, that we can train our minds in the process of being made new. That is why we are told to think on heavenly things; to fill our minds with things that are holy, just and right. It is kind of like washing our brains with the things of Christ. So, I guess you could say that being “brainwashed” is a good thing if your brain is washed in holy thinking.
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Paul explains that being made new is the putting off of the old self and the putting on of the new. If you’ve ever been baptized, I’m sure you understand that it reflects the sentiment behind this portion of scripture. But being made new isn’t a one-time event, it is a continual process. The idea is to become more and more like Jesus and less and less like our old self with its deceitful desires. So I encourage you to wash your mind with heavenly things. Every day, allow the Spirit to cleanse your mind and your heart. Begin every day in the mindset of your new self; your new attitude; your new mission. I encourage you to allow yourself to be brainwashed with the attitude and desires of the Holy Spirit.