Christianity and the Mind

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. (Romans 8:5-6 ESV)

According to Harry Blamires, “The Christian mind is the prerequisite of Christian thinking, and Christian thinking is the prerequisite for Christian action.” (The Christian Mind: How Should a Christian Think?) It does not require awe-inspiring intelligence to become a Christian. Nevertheless, we are called to use our minds to the glory of God in His service. “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him for ever.” (Westminster Shorter Catechism)

Most Christians have stopped thinking in a Christian way outside the church. We think one way in the church and another as we navigate daily through the problems of life. However, it was not planned to be this way. Paul declared to the Roman Christians, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2) C. S. Lewis said, “If you are thinking of becoming a Christian, I warn you, you are embarking on something which is going to take the whole of you, brains and all.” Renewing the mind requires the grace of God, reading, careful study, and listening to God’s Word. Through the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit teaches us to think in a Christian manner. God is glorified through us when we use our minds to make sound Christian decisions. Therefore, we should develop an informed Christ-centered worldview.

We live today in a world whose pattern of thinking is anchored in Post-modern philosophy. Relativism, “personal truth”, and the subversion of moral norms holds sway over our media addicted culture. Ignoring that such a philosophy is self-destructive, most Christians are intellectually unwilling to oppose this secular worldview in the public forum. Perhaps, this is because too many Christians accept the secular premise of a vast divide existing between faith and reason.

Ordinary Christian faith actually sharpens the intelligence; such faith does not make the mind a dull instrument. Christianity enhances reasoning skills. Augustine wrote, “A Christian is a person who thinks in believing and believes in thinking.” True Christianity requires the Christian to think systematically about the revelation of Jesus Christ and its application to us in our world, culture, and time. Jesus told his disciples, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37) It is important to love God with your entire mind. As Christians, we must not confine our faith to the inside of a church. We are to use our minds to glorify God in every area of reason and life.