This blog post explores the importance of engaging the mind in loving God, outlining negative pitfalls to avoid and emphasizing the necessity of using our intellect to deepen our relationship with God through treasuring Him above all else.
In this conference, we aim to address both the negative and positive aspects of how our minds can engage with our faith. The focus will be on preventing certain pitfalls while promoting a deeper love for God through our thinking.
It is crucial to recognize the depravity of the human mind. Scripture warns us about the hardness and darkness that can cloud our understanding (2 Corinthians 3:14, Ephesians 4:18). We must not be naive about the challenges we face in our thinking and the necessity of being born again and renewed by the Holy Spirit.
We must guard against allowing our minds to become complicit in spiritual adultery. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for their inability to interpret the signs of the times (Matthew 16:1-4). We should strive to recognize the truth of God’s presence and not seek signs that align with our expectations.
Being slippery or evasive in our thinking is detrimental. Jesus confronted the chief priests for their cunning responses (Matthew 21:23-27). We should aim for honesty and clarity in our thoughts and discussions about faith.
There is a misconception that ignorance can enhance our sense of wonder about God. However, knowing God more deeply through study and understanding does not diminish His mystery; rather, it grounds our worship (Psalm 63:3). We should not romanticize ignorance but seek to know God fully.
We are encouraged to mature in our thinking (1 Corinthians 14:20). While we should maintain a childlike faith, we must also grow in our understanding and avoid childish reasoning.
The Bible presents a paradox where we are instructed to be both mature in our thinking and childlike in our faith (Luke 10:21). This duality requires discernment and wisdom in our approach to understanding God.
Thinking is necessary for knowing God, but it is not the sole determinant of our understanding. We must balance our efforts in thinking with the recognition that divine illumination is ultimately what grants us understanding (2 Timothy 2:7).
Finally, we must avoid a mindset that is proud and devoid of love. Knowledge without love is empty (1 Corinthians 8:1-3). Our understanding should lead us to love God and others genuinely.
Having addressed the negatives, we now turn to the positive aspect of our conference: the call to love God with all our minds. This command, found in Matthew 22:37, emphasizes the importance of engaging our intellect in our relationship with God.
Loving God with our minds means using our intellect to treasure Him above all else. This involves:
It is essential to distinguish between loving God and the means of loving Him, which is our thinking. Love for God is about treasuring Him, while thinking serves as a tool to deepen that love. This distinction is vital to avoid legalism and to ensure that our actions flow from a heart that delights in God.
In summary, we hope this conference will help you avoid the pitfalls of naivety, complicity, evasiveness, ignorance, childishness, and pride in your thinking. Instead, we encourage you to engage your mind fully in loving God, treasuring Him above all else, and allowing your thoughts to fuel your affections for Him. The Cross of Christ stands as the ultimate revelation of God, and focusing our minds on it will lead to a deeper love and understanding of our Creator. Let us pray for the Holy Spirit to guide us in this endeavor, that we may know and treasure God as we ought.
