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| Beliefs - Bible Studies Revival of the Mind |
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Mindsets
We all know that a mindset is a dangerous thing. Known to some as “tunnel
vision”, it prevents one from seeing clearly the obvious things around him. A pre-
established mindset conditions all incoming information so that the truth
becomes hidden in the midst of preconceived ideas. To say that a certain
religious denomination is liberal discounts factions within the group that may well
be conservative. We know that a United Methodist is vastly different in action
from a Congregational, Southern or Independent Methodist. So whatever
mindset you have about Methodist would have to be conditioned in accordance
to a smaller group’s belief and practice. The same is true about individuals
within the group. So a mindset can be a hindrance to understanding truth.
A mindset can also hinder one in growth, whether this is in business, church or
personal spiritual growth. Mindsets prevent us from taking in things that are
helpful just because it isn’t what we are use to. We do this often without
investigation to determine whether or not the idea has validity.
Yeah, mindsets are sure dangerous they can keep us from a lot of help, but…
you know… they can keep from a lot of hurt too. Like blinders on a mule, they
keep him going in the right direction, making a straight row in a wide-open field
or pulling a load to the right destination. Mindsets can give focus and set
boundaries, they can establish a parameter of values and rules to keep us on
track with the Word of God.
So, what does one do with mindsets? It’s plain we need to draw a line, but where
and for what reason?
Transformation
Romans chapter 12 provides the answer; in verse 2 Paul tells us that we are to
be “transformed by the renewing of your mind”. In the Greek the word translated
transformed is metamorphoo, this is where we get our word metamorphosis. This
is a complete transformation, a change from the life of a caterpillar to that of a
butterfly. This transformation Paul says is by the “renewing of your mind”. How
can one be so utterly transformed through such a process? The answer is in
verse 3, notice what Paul says, “not to think more highly than he ought to think,
but to think soberly”. The word translated mind is the word phroneo in the
Greek, the word means mindset. Paul is telling us to be careful with our mindset,
that we should not have a high mindset of ourselves. The truth is the more
highly we think of ourselves, the less highly we think of God. That’s the problem
the world has to start with, the promotion in the Eighties told us to get high on
ourselves instead of drugs. The focus of the world is self, self-gratification, self-
fulfillment, and self-development.
The Greek work translated “soberly” is the word sophroneo; you may notice that
it is the same word as before with a prefix. This word means to have a sound
mindset. So Paul tells us that our mindset should be a sound one, not that we
shouldn’t have one but that it should be proper or sound. That brings up
another question, how do we get a sound mindset? Okay, we renew our minds,
but how?
Think On These Things
In Philippians 2:5, Paul tells us to “Let this” mindset “be in you, that was also in
Christ Jesus”. You guessed it, phroneo is the word used here, so we see that
Christ also had a mindset, of course it was one that was based on who He
Himself is. That is the basis we should have for our mindset. This also tells us
that the knowledge of Christ should change our viewpoint… no not our viewpoint
our lifestyle.
To take on the mind of Christ requires a transformation, the transformation
requires a new mindset, and the new mindset requires that we change what we
receive into our eyes and ears. Yes, Bible reading and study is part and so is
prayer, but more is required. In I Corinthians 10:23 we find that though
something may be lawful it is not always expedient or edifying. Hebrews 12:1
speaks of weights that with sin beset us. To truly be revived in the mind, heart,
or soul one must consider more than just putting in good and putting aside evil,
one must lay aside that which is not needed. Our minds can’t be cluttered with
useless thoughts, images, sounds, and information. We know in the last day that
“men shall be lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.” There are men in the
Church too. That is why Paul told us in Philippians 4:8 to “think on these things”.
“Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things
are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever
things are of a good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise”
Jon Baker
We all know that a mindset is a dangerous thing. Known to some as “tunnel
vision”, it prevents one from seeing clearly the obvious things around him. A pre-
established mindset conditions all incoming information so that the truth
becomes hidden in the midst of preconceived ideas. To say that a certain
religious denomination is liberal discounts factions within the group that may well
be conservative. We know that a United Methodist is vastly different in action
from a Congregational, Southern or Independent Methodist. So whatever
mindset you have about Methodist would have to be conditioned in accordance
to a smaller group’s belief and practice. The same is true about individuals
within the group. So a mindset can be a hindrance to understanding truth.
A mindset can also hinder one in growth, whether this is in business, church or
personal spiritual growth. Mindsets prevent us from taking in things that are
helpful just because it isn’t what we are use to. We do this often without
investigation to determine whether or not the idea has validity.
Yeah, mindsets are sure dangerous they can keep us from a lot of help, but…
you know… they can keep from a lot of hurt too. Like blinders on a mule, they
keep him going in the right direction, making a straight row in a wide-open field
or pulling a load to the right destination. Mindsets can give focus and set
boundaries, they can establish a parameter of values and rules to keep us on
track with the Word of God.
So, what does one do with mindsets? It’s plain we need to draw a line, but where
and for what reason?
Transformation
Romans chapter 12 provides the answer; in verse 2 Paul tells us that we are to
be “transformed by the renewing of your mind”. In the Greek the word translated
transformed is metamorphoo, this is where we get our word metamorphosis. This
is a complete transformation, a change from the life of a caterpillar to that of a
butterfly. This transformation Paul says is by the “renewing of your mind”. How
can one be so utterly transformed through such a process? The answer is in
verse 3, notice what Paul says, “not to think more highly than he ought to think,
but to think soberly”. The word translated mind is the word phroneo in the
Greek, the word means mindset. Paul is telling us to be careful with our mindset,
that we should not have a high mindset of ourselves. The truth is the more
highly we think of ourselves, the less highly we think of God. That’s the problem
the world has to start with, the promotion in the Eighties told us to get high on
ourselves instead of drugs. The focus of the world is self, self-gratification, self-
fulfillment, and self-development.
The Greek work translated “soberly” is the word sophroneo; you may notice that
it is the same word as before with a prefix. This word means to have a sound
mindset. So Paul tells us that our mindset should be a sound one, not that we
shouldn’t have one but that it should be proper or sound. That brings up
another question, how do we get a sound mindset? Okay, we renew our minds,
but how?
Think On These Things
In Philippians 2:5, Paul tells us to “Let this” mindset “be in you, that was also in
Christ Jesus”. You guessed it, phroneo is the word used here, so we see that
Christ also had a mindset, of course it was one that was based on who He
Himself is. That is the basis we should have for our mindset. This also tells us
that the knowledge of Christ should change our viewpoint… no not our viewpoint
our lifestyle.
To take on the mind of Christ requires a transformation, the transformation
requires a new mindset, and the new mindset requires that we change what we
receive into our eyes and ears. Yes, Bible reading and study is part and so is
prayer, but more is required. In I Corinthians 10:23 we find that though
something may be lawful it is not always expedient or edifying. Hebrews 12:1
speaks of weights that with sin beset us. To truly be revived in the mind, heart,
or soul one must consider more than just putting in good and putting aside evil,
one must lay aside that which is not needed. Our minds can’t be cluttered with
useless thoughts, images, sounds, and information. We know in the last day that
“men shall be lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.” There are men in the
Church too. That is why Paul told us in Philippians 4:8 to “think on these things”.
“Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things
are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever
things are of a good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise”
Jon Baker