During Lent we have the opportunity to more fully focus on what Christ Jesus has done for us in going to the cross for our sins.
But, what value is there in this thinking if we don't really believe we're that bad to begin with? Or if we believe that Jesus' death is merely an example of living sacrificially and we should also live in the way of Christ if we hope to be ready for eternity. That would be a huge theological mistake.
Don't get me wrong, it is not that we don't think and come up with a world of ideas on how to live our lives. Dallas Willard said it this way:
"It is the ideas that make the world run -- or not run, as the case may be. People are fully at the mercy of their ideas. Every one of us has a map in our mind made up of our ideas about life, how things work, who we are, and so on. And that map tells us how things hold together, what's important, and what leads to what. When tackling all the major objectives of human life, we consult that map. Even when we want to get a better map, the only place we've got to start is with the map we've already got. That should make us very humble. It should make us very ready to reach out to God and say, 'Lord, correct my map. Guide my ideas.' "
The problem is not that we think...we were made in the image of God and most certainly that means we have the ability to reason, think, make decisions based on our ideas. I think most of us believe that our thinking and ideas are right...but what if - in certain areas, not all - they are wrong? What if we have picked up ideas somewhere along our lives and they are false? How will we know they are false and how will we understand the need for changing them?
I like Dallas' statement: "Lord correct my map. Guide my ideas".
It is biblically plausible that we do this. In fact, crucial that we do this. It is crucial that we "think" about what we "think" and exercise a prayerful "Lord, correct my map." Paul wrote to the Romans,
Romans 12:1-2
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
2 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.
and, when Paul wrote to the Corinthians he pointed out why we should exercise this "correct my map" prayer.
2 Corinthians 4:2-4
2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Paul's statements remind us that biblically, theologically, what we think - and more importantly - what we believe to be truth is the most important thing about us. YET, we face a modernist's dilemma - what is truth?
"The best reasoned advice"?
"The most practical helpful solution"?
"A collective hunch"?
"Whatever I think it is"...
In a modern day setting to what truth is, those are various approaches that are embraced by a world Paul describes as "the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not" ....
Blinded minds cannot see.
Scripture reminds us that Jesus came into the world, "full of grace and truth." (John 1:18)
And Paul reminds us,
15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (1 Timothy 3:15)
But, what value is there in this thinking if we don't really believe we're that bad to begin with? Or if we believe that Jesus' death is merely an example of living sacrificially and we should also live in the way of Christ if we hope to be ready for eternity. That would be a huge theological mistake.
Don't get me wrong, it is not that we don't think and come up with a world of ideas on how to live our lives. Dallas Willard said it this way:
"It is the ideas that make the world run -- or not run, as the case may be. People are fully at the mercy of their ideas. Every one of us has a map in our mind made up of our ideas about life, how things work, who we are, and so on. And that map tells us how things hold together, what's important, and what leads to what. When tackling all the major objectives of human life, we consult that map. Even when we want to get a better map, the only place we've got to start is with the map we've already got. That should make us very humble. It should make us very ready to reach out to God and say, 'Lord, correct my map. Guide my ideas.' "
The problem is not that we think...we were made in the image of God and most certainly that means we have the ability to reason, think, make decisions based on our ideas. I think most of us believe that our thinking and ideas are right...but what if - in certain areas, not all - they are wrong? What if we have picked up ideas somewhere along our lives and they are false? How will we know they are false and how will we understand the need for changing them?
I like Dallas' statement: "Lord correct my map. Guide my ideas".
It is biblically plausible that we do this. In fact, crucial that we do this. It is crucial that we "think" about what we "think" and exercise a prayerful "Lord, correct my map." Paul wrote to the Romans,
Romans 12:1-2
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
2 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.
and, when Paul wrote to the Corinthians he pointed out why we should exercise this "correct my map" prayer.
2 Corinthians 4:2-4
2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Paul's statements remind us that biblically, theologically, what we think - and more importantly - what we believe to be truth is the most important thing about us. YET, we face a modernist's dilemma - what is truth?
"The best reasoned advice"?
"The most practical helpful solution"?
"A collective hunch"?
"Whatever I think it is"...
In a modern day setting to what truth is, those are various approaches that are embraced by a world Paul describes as "the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not" ....
Blinded minds cannot see.
Scripture reminds us that Jesus came into the world, "full of grace and truth." (John 1:18)
And Paul reminds us,
15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (1 Timothy 3:15)
When we think about how things form in our mind - our previous learning, our experiences, our past examples, etc... all of these are submissive to the truth in Jesus Christ - that we have an obligation to proclaim in the church of the living God.
Think about this....
Peace
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