Radical Christianity pt. 4

Returning to our topic of Radical Christianity, I want to focus this post on my third point: True Christianity involves a radical mind transformed by the Word of God. I believe that this concept is where the greatest challenge for many are, namely that the Lord Jesus Christ does not simply demand submission of the flesh, but a submission of the mind and will. True Christianity involves a drastic change of one's world-view and conformity to the mind of Christ as revealed in the Word (cf. 1 Corinthians 2:16). I guess it is correct to say that you are not a Christian until you think like a Christian. So the saying goes, "How you think is who you are." What is amazing is not the necessity that our minds need to change, but the extent to the which our minds must change. Here are some reasons why I come to this conclusion.

The Christian needs a new mind to please God - The bible clearly delineates that men have a totally depraved mind (Ephesians 2:1-4). The character of our mind affects our eternal state: "For the mind set on the flesh is death" (Romans 8:6). Such a mind cannot please God (Romans 8:8). Therefore, it is absolutely necessary that we seek out the mind of the Spirit, a mind that is totally against our fleshly thinking if we want to have "life and peace" as well as cry out God as "Abba! Father!" (Romans 8:6,15).

The Christian is commanded to be transformed in mind - Romans 12:1-2 "Therefore I urge you brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed in the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Also confer Ephesians 4:20-24. Continually, the Apostles taught their fellow brothers to guard their minds, set their minds, and engage their minds for the glory of God (1 Peter 1:13, Colossians 3:2, Philippians 4:7. etc). The goal of Christian life can in some way be defined as the pursuit of transforming our minds to the mind of Christ.

The Christian finds joy by engaging his mind - Joy is based on the mind. Mindless joy is an unconceivable concept in Scripture. Jesus spoke and taught so that His apostles might have His joy in them ( John 17:3). I found John Piper's sermon on this issue at the 2006 National Desiring God conference to be thought-provoking and encouraging. You can find his sermon here. Therefore, the pursuit to glorify God through being satisfied in Him (as John Piper would say) can only be done through the active engagement of one's mind to true thoughts of God.

Though it is absolutely clear that a radically transformed mind is true Christianity, the modern trend these days is to absolutely deny the need for a transformed mind. I find that the reason why it is such a challenging concept is because the Scripture reveals how wretched our minds really are, continually seeking evil. We will be challenged by Scripture on almost everything including our views on homosexuality, submission, gender roles, spiritual gifts, heaven and hell, sovereignty of God, etc. We have radically counter-Scriptural minds, and it is so easy not to change and stay in our nice, comfortable, counter-Scriptural mentality. But if we stay in this sort of flesh-pleasing mindless Christianity, our path is the way of death. Christianity really calls for a radical transformation of the mind.

Christ calls for the radical submission of our minds to a transformation by the power of His Word to conformity with His Word and Will that we can, at the end of the day, say with Paul, "We have the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16). Are you ready to be challenged in your thinking and transformed in your mind? The flesh wages war against the Spirit; it will not be easy because it will require absolute submission to the Word. Blessed are those whose minds are renewed by the mercies of God! Stay strong and God bless!