The Importance of the Mind in the Life of a Christian

Several months ago, I listened to Jen Wilkin’s teaching at the Revive ’15 women’s conference and was compelled by her explanation of why we must engage our minds in our walk with Christ and not just our hearts. In making her case, she referred to Mark 12:30, which speaks of loving God with our minds, and to Romans 12:2, which identifies the mind as the place where transformation begins.

I won’t recount all of what she said now (you can watch her message here), but a few statements that stuck out to me were these:

“The path to the renewal of our feelings is through our thinking. Right thinking should inform right feeling. We can’t simply feel to feel differently; we must think to feel differently.”

“The heart cannot love what the mind does not know.”

Since hearing Jen speak, I have been alert to other instances in Scripture that refer to the mind. One such passage is in 1 Corinthians 14. The context is spiritual gifts, particularly prophecy and tongues, but it is telling that in speaking to this topic Paul emphasizes the importance of the mind:

“Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.” (vv.13-15, ESV)

He then explains that “if you give thanks with your spirit” (and presumably not with your mind), then others cannot be “built up” (vv. 16-17, ESV). Thus, not only is engaging our intellect crucial to our own spiritual growth, but it is important for the edification of our fellow believers.

Paul continues, once again drawing attention to the mind: “Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.” (v. 20, ESV)

Clearly, our minds are important. Yet how often do we neglect them in our daily life? How often do we let laziness take over, preferring to be entertained or spoon-fed rather than seeking to engage with Scripture personally and to wrestle with tough questions ourselves?

Feelings in and of themselves will inevitably waver. This is why it is critical that we base our feelings in a strong foundation of truth, or what Jen Wilkin calls “right thinking.” One of the ways we can build this foundation is to thoughtfully interact with the Bible, both by reading it and by studying it.

So instead of being content to be children in our thinking or to live out our relationship with Christ solely in the realm of the heart, let’s remember that God has given us a mind and that He’s given it to us for a reason. Let’s ask questions, cultivate our curiosity, exercise our minds, and watch how a growing knowledge of God through His Word will transform our lives.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind […].” 

~ Romans 12:2a, ESV

To read the Arabic translation of this post, click here.

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