Where Is My Mind?

I really like the secular song, “Where Is My Mind?” from the soundtrack of the movie, “Sucker Punch”. It has a soft sensical melody with lyrics that are unusually intriguing. But the question the artist asks himself throughout the song is “where is my mind?” This is a question that I think believers should pause to consider often. We need to consider what we have our minds set on; is it set on what our sinful nature desires, or is it on what the Spirit desires? The Bible is clear that we are all subject to falling to our sinful nature, but that doesn’t mean that we have our minds set on living according to it. We all can choose to have our minds set on what the Spirit desires; we can choose to allow our minds to be controlled by the Spirit. Paul writes these words in Romans, chapter 8, verses 5 through 9 which says: 

“Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of the sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.” 

How are you living? Where is your mind? Paul says that “those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.” What controls you? I would encourage you to live in accordance with the Spirit; to have your mind set on what the Spirit desires. It is ultimately our choice. Yes, our sinful nature can be enticing, it can draw us away, and it can even cause us to stumble, but that doesn’t mean we are controlled by it. We can choose to set our minds on what the Spirit desires. We can choose to live in accordance with the Spirit. And we can ultimately allow our minds to be controlled by the Spirit. When we do, we will find life and peace. We will be in step with God - not hostile toward him. Our minds are affected and influenced by what we allow into them. So I would challenge you, as I challenge myself, to continue to feed our minds that which helps us in our walk and that which brings us in closer relationship with the Father. It is ultimately a choice, and it begins with determining where we will set our minds.

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Where is your mind today? How are you living? Might I encourage you to live in accordance with the Spirit and to have your mind set on what the Spirit desires? If we are able to do this it would mean that we are submitting to God’s law; that we would agree and obey his word. And to obey his word, implies that we need to know his word. Our minds control so much of who we are. What we fill it with can encourage us toward a deeper relationship with Christ, or it can draw us away from him. It is my prayer for you and me that every morning we consciously, and purposefully, set our minds on what the Spirit desires. Every believer has the Spirit of God leaving inside of us. So we shouldn’t have to look far to find him. Let him guide you, let him speak to your heart, and let him teach you what he desires.

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Price of Hypocrisy

It is no secret that one reason many unbelievers reject “religion” is because of what they perceive as hypocrisy within the church. The natural response from believers is to explain that Christians are just human beings; that we are not perfect, that we make mistakes, and that we are still sinners even though we “follow” Christ. When we respond in that way are we, in effect, making excuses for our hypocrisy? Are we side-stepping their argument by justifying sin? Are we pushing unbelievers further away by agreeing with them that hypocrisy can be found within the church while, at the same time, not condemning that same hypocrisy? If we do, I would argue that unbelievers are, in a way, justified in their resistances to the faith. If we are okay with not practicing what we preach, or condoning or minimizing the sin that we commit, how can unbelievers see that we are any different than the world? Paul warns the Jews about this in Romans, chapter 2, verses 21-24 which says:

“You, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? As it is written: ‘God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.’”

It is true that we all sin. But to justify, or to minimize, sin when addressing any hypocrisy that the world sees in the church, in my opinion, is counter productive. One problem I have with how far the world has gone away from biblical principles, is that, not only is it happening, but sinful behavior is being celebrated and presented as “good”. We, as believers, should at least acknowledge that even though hypocrisy can be found in the church, that it shouldn’t be, that it isn’t good and that God is against it. When we justify hypocrisy, we begin to sound like the world. Without saying it, we may project the idea that it is okay; that it is normal and expected behavior. We may even begin to project that it is accepted behavior. When we do, we may find that “God’s name is blasphemed” among unbelievers because of it.

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I understand the sentiment behind believers saying that the main difference between believers and unbelievers is that we are forgiven. But shouldn’t our differences be more than that? The Bible reminds us that we are to live in the world but we are not of the world. We shouldn’t look like them and we shouldn’t act like them. When we minimize sin, we are saying, whether overtly or in the subtext, that “we are just like you, we only claim to be different”. We are saying that sin and Christianity does, and should, go hand in hand. But that is not what the Bible says. The Bible reminds us that sin separates us from God. It reminds us that we shouldn’t use our security in Christ as a license to sin. It reminds us that we are to be perfect as Christ is perfect. That is the goal. Yes, we fall short, but we should never be okay with that, because when we are it could be said that, “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

Overcome Evil

I am so happy that Jesus modeled the way we are to live, because some of his commands sound impossible in theory. But, because he was able to model it for us, I have hope that we can accomplish it as well. Take for example the command from Romans chapter 12, verse 21. Sure, Paul wrote it, but Jesus definitely modeled it. It says: 

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

It makes sense to want to answer evil with evil. If someone hits you, it is natural to want to hit them back. If someone wrongs you, it is natural to wish judgment upon that person, but that is not the way we, as believers, are supposed to respond. We are called to overcome evil with good. In essence, we are called to go against our nature to accomplish a godly outcome. So, instead of wanting the person who wronged you to get what is coming to them, we are to treat them with love. Hopefully, you and I can be like Jesus when we are wronged so that we are not overcome by evil, but that we overcome evil with good.

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“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good”. It is difficult to do, and it goes against our fleshly nature, but isn’t that how it is with many of God’s commands? To be an effective Christian is to obey God’s word even when it goes against what we want or how we feel. Loving our enemies is difficult. And to take action to show that love with good deeds is even harder. But when we do, I believe the spiritual word is shaken. A darkness can lift off of our enemy, and conviction or even healing can begin to occur. This is certainly one area where God wants us to take the high road. Are you willing?

If God Is For Us

If you have a big brother, did you ever, as a kid, have him fight some of your battles for you? If so, you may agree that during your childhood, and maybe even your adult life, that by simply knowing your big brother is around, you feel a bit of added confidence or security around others. In your mind, you might have been thinking that “if anything happens to me, I can always call on my big brother and he’ll handle things for me.” With that kind of security, what is there to worry about? Well, I feel that kind of security magnified by a million when I think of our God. Romans 8:31 says:

“What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?”

When we have God on our side we should have total confidence in all things, much like you may have had at school when your big brother was around. I encourage you to keep thinking on that verse; “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Paul says this after explaining to the Romans that “all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” With words like these, what is there to ever be worried about? Even if there are real threats that you face, or long-term consequences that are in your midst, what is it to God? Is it too big for him? Certainly not. If God is for us, who can be against us? We have the ultimate protector, and that should give us ultimate peace and confidence if we are in step with him.

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“If God is for us, who can be against us”? There is a song we sing at my church with those lyrics, and it is currently my favorite song. It is a powerful song because this truth is so profound. If you are a believer, then you are on the winning team. How do I know? Because God made the rules, he even made the game, and he has your best interest at heart just like a good father has their children’s best interest at heart. As you think on the scripture, “if God is for us, who can be against us?”, I challenge you to think about any problems, anxieties, or challenges you face in life. God loves you. And the more you are in step with his word, the more of his ear you’ll have. Just tell him what’s up. He has your back. If God is for us, who can be against us? I never get tired of saying that.

Deceive The Minds

In this day in age it is easy to find churches who will compromise the truth of the Holy scripture and conform to whatever it is that people want to be true, whether it is or not. They may even go so far as to form their own set of rules for people to live by and only refer to biblical teachings when it agrees with their way of thinking. Not only does this lead young believers and seekers astray, but it can also put added obstacles in the way of those who desire to live a blameless life and cause division, instead of unity, within the church. The goal of every believer should be to cling to the truth of God’s word and not be deceived by smooth talk or flattery that ultimately alters the purity of the Holy scriptures. Paul warns the Romans of this in Romans chapter 16 verses 17 and 18 which says: 

“I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naïve people.”

The best way to avoid being deceived is to be educated on the truth. And the best way to do that is to learn for yourself what the Bible says. There are several absolutes and hard teachings in the Bible. What we read may not always be what we want to hear, but that doesn’t make it any less true. Compromising God’s word is sin. And God warns us that whether we sin in ignorance or on purpose, it doesn’t matter. Sin is still sin. So, I encourage you not to let your mind be deceived. The best way to avoid deception is to learn the truth. And the best way to do that, is to read the word of God for yourself.

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Do not be deceived by churches and preachers who do not hold to what the Bible says. God’s word has not changed since the days it was written. It is man who tries to change it by “making it relevant to our current culture”. God’s word is truth all by itself. And when altered by man it can, and will, deceive the minds of naïve people. So, learn the Bible for yourself, and test what you hear in church. Your pastor should support what the Bible says, not alter it.