Beginning to Think
This morning, Steve's sermon pointed us to the "staggering command to live worthy of gospel" (Philippians 1). My wife and I have recently discussed, with concern, just how short we feel we have come in aiding the development of faith in our children, and a more meaningful commitment to the gospel. Today's message was a reminder of the "staggering" importance of these things.
We arrived home from church today later than usual. Immediately upon entering our home, I found that my 7 year old had turned on the TV, and in the next room, one of our teens was turning on the computer. With less evenness in my tone than usual, I "instructed" them to immediately turn them off. I consider it a failure on my part that such distractions are so readily available in our home.
If our children are to "live worthy of the gospel," surely they must first develop an interest in the gospel. And to develop an interest in the gospel, they must first begin to think about the gospel. YouTube, Facebook, the Phillies, and March Madness (and even Rubik's Cube lately), though there may be a place for such, surely have done more to distract, even numb their minds from better things. We consider ourselves to be "godly parents." Why have I allowed this?
Paul's hope for the Philippians was that they would engage in the same conflict that he himself was involved in. Paul lived worthy of the gospel! He did not allow his mind to be distracted from the gospel, or from the conflict it inevitably brings.
Bishop J.C. Ryle once said, "The cause of true religion has gained a great step in a parish, or congregation, or family, when people begin to think. Thoughtlessness about spiritual things is one great feature of the unconverted. It cannot be said, in many cases, that they like the Gospel or dislike it; for they do not give it a place in heir thoughts."
I used to think the title Ravi Zacharias gave to his radio broadcast was a little peculiar: "Let My People Think." It's making more sense to me now. Jesus himself said that we are to love the Lord our God with all... our mind.
Pastor Steve challenged us to address one thing at a time. Our family is going to take this seriously. Too much time has been lost. I think we may begin by honoring the Sabbath principle better than we have.
We arrived home from church today later than usual. Immediately upon entering our home, I found that my 7 year old had turned on the TV, and in the next room, one of our teens was turning on the computer. With less evenness in my tone than usual, I "instructed" them to immediately turn them off. I consider it a failure on my part that such distractions are so readily available in our home.
If our children are to "live worthy of the gospel," surely they must first develop an interest in the gospel. And to develop an interest in the gospel, they must first begin to think about the gospel. YouTube, Facebook, the Phillies, and March Madness (and even Rubik's Cube lately), though there may be a place for such, surely have done more to distract, even numb their minds from better things. We consider ourselves to be "godly parents." Why have I allowed this?
Paul's hope for the Philippians was that they would engage in the same conflict that he himself was involved in. Paul lived worthy of the gospel! He did not allow his mind to be distracted from the gospel, or from the conflict it inevitably brings.
Bishop J.C. Ryle once said, "The cause of true religion has gained a great step in a parish, or congregation, or family, when people begin to think. Thoughtlessness about spiritual things is one great feature of the unconverted. It cannot be said, in many cases, that they like the Gospel or dislike it; for they do not give it a place in heir thoughts."
I used to think the title Ravi Zacharias gave to his radio broadcast was a little peculiar: "Let My People Think." It's making more sense to me now. Jesus himself said that we are to love the Lord our God with all... our mind.
Pastor Steve challenged us to address one thing at a time. Our family is going to take this seriously. Too much time has been lost. I think we may begin by honoring the Sabbath principle better than we have.
Labels: Change and Growth, Godward Living, Guest Post
posted by Petros at
6:03 PM
6 Comments:
Petros, I really appreciated your response to the truth of God as it was opened up and pressed upon our minds and hearts. One of the problems that sadly exists within so much of the nominal evangelicalism of our day is that the Scriptures often rest so inconsequentially upon us. You are exemplifying the right hearing of the Word of God, and you are to be commended. Would that we all follow your example in the totality of our lives.
On the subject of the place of thinking and the mind in the Christian life, I have long viewed this as a major area of neglect in the sanctification process within the church today, and also appreciate very much your comments.
When Scripture says "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matt.22:37), and ".....be transformed by the renewal of your mind" (Rom. 12:2), these are obviously commands not recommendations. While this is not a call for us to be intellectuals (though God does call some to serve Him and bring Him glory in this way), it is a call for all of us to think and to understand to the best of our ability what God has revealed to us concerning Himself-----to apply our minds seriously to loving God and knowing Him. And as God's truth shapes and changes our thinking, our lives are changed as our minds are made new.
This essential aspect of spiritual growth, that unfortunately our sensate culture has influenced us to neglect, you have helpfully reminded us of.
Thanks.
Thanks Bruce. That post was the cumulative effect upon me of the last several Sunday messages on giving the Word its proper place, meditating on it, and otherwise working hard at "hearing."
As for God not calling us all to be "intellectuals." I like this from C.S. Lewis:
"God has room for people with very little sense. But he expects them to use all the sense they have."
I'm trying hard to use the measure of sense I have been alloted! And enjoying these interactions in the process. I do wish more of our brothers and sisters would discover the joys of these exchanges.
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That's a great C.S. Lewis quote by the way!
And I too wish that the church family would avail themselves of these blog ministries more widely. They serve as one more means of fulfilling the command to "exhort one another every day, as long as it is called 'today', that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin"(Heb. 3:13). And we need all the help we can get-----at least I do.
Well folks; I'm back. And I see that in my absence the ball has been well handled by Bruce and Peter. Thanks guys.
I love the comments exchanged.
Request: all who read this, would you please pray for me as I give myself to study and prayer/preparation over these next two days.
I long to serve all who attend the Good Friday service and Easter celebration with messages that proclaim the glory of Christ and speak truly and deeply to the heart.
Thanks.
Tim
OK Tim, welcome back. May the Lord pour out his favor on you and stir your heart as you prepare for Good Friday service.
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