Develop Your Mind for God

Author: Whitney Hopler
Source: Crosswalk.com


The following is a report on the practical applications of James
Emery White's new book, A Mind for God, (IVP Books, 2006).



In today's world, a myriad of views clamor for your attention, while
popular culture distracts you with mindless entertainment. It's a
challenge to develop your intellect and use it to think biblically
about the world – but it's vital to do so. If you don't, you'll be
taken captive by competing worldviews and fail to make the truth
heard above the chaos.





So make it a priority to develop your mind for God. Here's how:



* Recognize that ideas have consequences. Know that ideas have great
power to influence people. Come to understand ideas that are
prevalent in the world and challenge biblical truth, such as: moral
relativism (which claims that moral values are a matter of personal
opinion or private judgment instead of something grounded in
objective truth), autonomous individualism (which claims that moral
authority rests with individuals alone, with no higher moral
authority to guide or determine choices), narcissistic hedonism
(which claims that personal pleasure and fulfillment are what
matters most), and reductive naturalism (which claims that anything
that can't be examined in a physically tangible, scientific manner
is unknowable and meaningless). Ask God to show you how these
worldviews commonplace in secular culture have affected your own
thinking. Then use your understanding of these perspectives to
engage the world for Christ, seeking to help meet people's unmet
needs. Consider how you might begin to live in ways that could
intersect with their deepest longings and questions.



* Read with a purpose. Don't read simply to entertain yourself;
instead, seek to expand your mind through your reading. Schedule
time regularly to read and seriously study the Bible. Select a wide
variety of books to read that represent thoughtful literature and
help prepare you to understand and engage the world's ideas. Be sure
to read Christian books, but don't limit yourself to those alone.
Recognize that God's truth can be found in some secular books, as
well, and that those that contain opposing worldviews can help you
understand the need for dialogue and redemption. Include some old,
classic books on your reading list, because doing so is like
engaging in a conversation with some of the noblest people of
history and benefiting from their ideas and experiences. Don't be
intimidated by writing styles that demand more effort to understand
than others; know that exercising your mind is worth it.



* Go beyond information to wisdom. As you encounter the vast amounts
of information available to you through the media, don't just soak
it in without thinking about it. Instead, ask God to help you
analyze and interpret the information well and grow wiser from what
you learn. Ask yourself questions such as, "What's right?", "What's
wrong?", "What's reputable?", "What is without merit?", "What does
this mean?", "How does this relate to God's purposes?" and "What
should my response be?".



* View learning as a lifelong process. Recognize that learning is
something you should constantly be doing throughout your life. No
matter how old you are or how long ago you graduated from formal
schooling, see yourself as a student and devote yourself to learning
as much as you can. Build biblical literacy (understanding God's
Word well), historical literacy (understanding the significance of
historical events, especially as they show God at work in ages
past), and theological literacy (understanding biblical answers to
life's great questions, and why they matter to you today). Pursue
continuing education opportunities through community colleges,
churches' educational ministries, seminaries, the Internet,
universities' distance learning programs, libraries, mentoring
programs, book discussion groups, etc.



* Learn how to think well. Carve out time regularly for reflection
in silence and solitude, prayer, and Scripture reading so you can
learn how to think wisely. As you ponder your thoughts, ask the Holy
Spirit to renew your mind and help you separate fact from fiction
and what is true from what is merely clever. Take time to consider
our culture's messages, and how they're aiming to make you feel.
Engage those messages by asking yourself tough questions about them
and how you should respond. Don't compartmentalize your life;
instead, integrate your worldview into every aspect of your life so
you think about every subject in light of your faith.



* Develop disciplines. Know that, to cultivate your mind well, you
must do it intentionally and often counter-culturally. Don't let
life's urgent activities crowd out what's most important in your
life. Decide that you will make it a priority to develop your
intellect, no matter what your current circumstances. Schedule time
to read four days a week, for about 30 minutes a day, in a place
that's as free of chaos and interruptions as possible – and guard
your reading time. Sign up for a class that meets regularly, or
schedule regular time to study something that interests you. Use
your downtime (time spent waiting in line, in traffic, etc.) to
learn by reading, writing, or listening. Every day, enjoy some quiet
time reading the Bible, praying, and perhaps journaling as well.
Periodically, get away for a retreat (either on a trip, or simply a
walk in your yard or local park) to reflect and pray.



* Be able to answer, "So what?" Understand that the deepest question
the world has about Christianity is, "So what?" Decide that you will
use your intellect to help answer that question for people who are
seeking the truth. Don't simply explore ideas and arguments for your
own sake; instead, prepare yourself to defend the faith, present
reasons to believe, and motivate people to consider why the Bible's
message is important and should matter to them. Ask God to give you
courage to use your mind to reach other minds for Christ.


..............
Adapted from A Mind for God, copyright 2006 by James Emery White.
Published by IVP Books, an imprint of InterVarsity Press, Downers
Grove, Ill., www.ivpress.com.


James Emery White is the president of Gordon-Conwell Theological
Seminary, with campuses in South Hamilton (Massachusetts), Boston,
Charlotte and Jacksonville. He holds M.Div. and Ph.D. degrees in
theology, history and biblical studies. He is the author of 12
books, including Embracing the Mysterious God, Serious Times and
The Prayer God Longs For.