Matthew 22:37 “’Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?’ He [Jesus] said to him, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important commandment.’”
Are Christians equipping themselves to love God with all of their mind? Presently, I see resurgence in an interest in apologetics. Yet I fear an intellectual resurgence may be relatively short-lived in a materialistic, technology-saturated world. Instead, I’d like to see a turning away from the media-infested thought lives we live and see a transition, rather than resurgence, to a Christian faith that encompasses reverence and awe for the mind God has given us. Our mind must be fed more than easy “milk” in order to grow properly.
Don’t get me wrong here…I’m not against the use of technology or media at all. I am against over dosage on “mind-trash” available through these mediums that can master the thought-life of the believer’s mind. Remember what you daily feed on affects how you perceive yourself, others, and God – just like what you eat affects you daily as well. If all you eat is trash, what will happen to you? If all you drink is milk, how will you grow? There is a great reminder by Paul concerning “mind-trash” when he says to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ in 2 Corinthians 10:5. Peter also tells us to seek out knowledge of the Lord in 1 Peter 2:5, “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge” and further states in verse 8 – 9: “For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The person who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted, and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins.”
Plus, there is strict admonition against ignorance concerning the knowledge of the Lord in the Old Testament: Hosea 4:1, 6 “Hear the word of the Lord, people of Israel, for the Lord has a case against the inhabitants of the land: There is no truth, no faithful love, and no knowledge of God in the land!” “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge.”
Believers must study to gain knowledge of God. No way around it. The previous verses are not merely addressed to ministers, professors, or seminary students. Rather, these verses were addressed to the Church (Old Testament to the children of Israel). These believers were people with kids, jobs, family commitments, stress, relationship problems, extenuating circumstances, emergencies, horrible pasts, current atrocities, illnesses, diseases, etc. No matter what our circumstances, the verses remain: we must study to gain knowledge of the God we profess.
It feels somewhat simplistic and obvious to suggest that the first place to start is to read the Word of God. But take a moment to assess how you view the Word of God. Are you utilizing the Word like it is the best information on the most important matters in your life? I get caught up with reading a lot of material about the Bible and/or Christianity, but that is no substitute for the actual Word of God. It is also extremely helpful to have a good Bible commentary ready to read with the Word. Different commentaries serve different purposes, but generally they give the context, timeframe, historical background, cultural setting, and meaning of the Greek/Hebrew words for the verses. I highly suggest that all Christian homes have a least one set of commentaries (either book or electronic copies).
God desires us to love him with the mental faculties he created. In fact, Matthew 22:37 implies that our love of God is incomplete without utilizing our mind’s abilities to reason and comprehend. This will not happen if all we expose our minds to is “easy-believism” or the mountains of “mind-trash” available for our entertainment.
MJ
Commentary Suggestions:
The New International Commentary on the New Testament, editor Gordon D. Fee
The New International Commentary on the Old Testament, editor Robert L. Hubbard
Tyndale New Testament Commentary Series
Some commentary authors I enjoy: R.T. France, F.F. Bruce, Douglas Moo, Wayne Grudem
Commentaries can be purchased by individual books (ie. Romans, Galatians) or in entire sets (which are pricey!)
More Scripture:
Luke 10:27 He [Jesus] answered: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.’
Colossians 1:9-10 “We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God.
Colossians 3:16 “Let the message about the Messiah dwell richly among you, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, and singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God.”
James 1:25 “But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer who acts—this person will be blessed in what he does.
Hosea 6:6 “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”
Isaiah 5:13 “Therefore My people go into exile because they lack knowledge.”
© Mary Jo Sharp 2008
Hi MJ,
I’ve got to be honest and say that I had a few resevations when I read this post. There were a couple of different thoughts that ran through my head. Remember where I’m coming from as a recovering Pharisee :-). When Jesus said, “You dilligently search the Scriptures thinking that in them you have life….” He was talking to me too!
First, you know that within our denomination we ‘study’ our tails off. But my question is, when do we get to put this ‘knowledge’ into practice? It would be so awesome if one Sunday morning the pastor said ‘Today were are going on a field trip to go feed the homeless’. Please understand, I’m not saying to throw the baby out with the bath water, only wondering doing some of this as a church body would help change the mindset that Sermons and Sundy School is enough.
Second, I’m wondering what kind of knowledge/knowing do you have in mind?
Third, as an observation I think it’s part of the genius of Jesus (of course he’s God) that he says to love God with all your mind. Here, you don’t have to compare your knowledge with another person as some kind of measuring stick. You learn what your mind is capable of learning and you don’t have to have any angst about if you measure up to some guy who has photographic memory and has the enitre bible memorized.
Rick,
// First, you know that within our denomination we ‘study’ our tails off.//
I don’t think we do study enough. Perhaps at the church we spend time studying, but it is not a lifestyle. Of course, I’m generalizing because I know people like you do study alot.
//But my question is, when do we get to put this ‘knowledge’ into practice?//
Yes, you are correct. But I think study and practice are side by side. We should never stop studying or think we know enough about the Creator of all things. Plus, as we grow in the knowledge of the mercy and grace of God towards us, that knowledge should bring forth fruit towards others.
//’Today were are going on a field trip to go feed the homeless.//
I think this would be totally awesome! And I know what you are getting at, which is a faith that demonstrates love. Total agreement here.
But just like knowledge can puff up, works can also become the focus. I’ve had experience with both problems: people who thought their knowledge of God made them better than others, and people who thought their works made them better than others (or you could insert “more righteous” in place of “better”). Both are mistaken.
//Second, I’m wondering what kind of knowledge/knowing do you have in mind?//
Good question, Rick. And one that I am looking to answer. In the past, the Church has outlined certain doctrines and church history that every Christian should know in catechisms and creeds. However, in an attempt to avoid legalism, perhaps we have gone too far away from comprehending our own beliefs and leaned on a faith that is not seeking understanding?
Here are some areas I view as indispensable to the faith:
Church history, doctrine (doctrines of Christ and the Holy Spirit, the doctrine of the application of redemption, doctrine of God – how do we know God exists), attributes of God, history of the Bible, the need for salvation, the Gospel story.
If faith is not grounded in Love, it can be cold, hard and self-centered. If faith is not seeking understanding, it can be easily swayed. And if Christians spend more time with non-eternal things than they do with the eternal things of God, what is swaying them? How do they even view themselves (let alone other matters of importance)? Are they viewing themselves in the light of the eternal truths of God? Or in the light of the popular culture in which they are inundated?
//Here, you don’t have to compare your knowledge with another person as some kind of measuring stick. You learn what your mind is capable of learning and you don’t have to have any angst about if you measure up to some guy who has photographic memory and has the entire bible memorized.//
Great reminder! Great reminder! 🙂 I, too, need to hear this! However, let’s please not excuse ourselves from reading and attempting to understand because the final episode of “American Idol” or “Lost” is on – or for me, “House Hunters.” Yes, this is another generalization, because we all need some down time from life. But I’m talking ratios, here. Okay, I’m going to rant for a moment….are you ready?
God’s beautiful creation doesn’t know who they are in Christ because they don’t know what God has said about them. It is all found in the Scriptures. I’ll list a few things. God’s people are: God’s children, Christ’s friend, justified, united with the Lord, a member of Christ’s body, a saint, redeemed and forgiven of all sins, complete in Christ, free from condemnation, not able to be separated from the love of God, and given a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. Wow!
I desire for God’s children to study so that in knowing who He is they will know who they are….no longer attempting to live up to man’s standards, which is as changing as the shifting sands.
So I guess a follow-up blog would need to include something about getting away from the outside influences and being alone with God. Being exactly who God made you to be, alone, in His presence only.
I appreciate your comments, brother!
MJ
>So I guess a follow-up blog would need to include something about getting away from the outside influences and being alone with God. Being exactly who God made you to be, alone, in His presence only.< I’d like to recommend this book: http://www.amazon.com/Celebration-Discipline-Path-Spiritual-Growth/dp/0060628391/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1214883203&sr=8-1
CELEBRATION OF DISCIPLINE – Foster
AWESOME!!!! Thanks for the clarification. I totally agree, even with the rant. I also honestly believe that the 2 critical questions every believer needs to have settled in their heart are:
1. Who is God
2. Who am I in relation to God
“no one is truly persuaded that he belongs to God unless he has first recognized God’s grace” — John Calvin
asharpfamily – thanks for the book recommendation! I think I had heard of this book before, perhaps from your seminary days?
Rick – I like the simplicity and importance of those two questions.
Thanks,
MJ
>Believers must study to gain knowledge of God. No way around it. The previous verses are not merely addressed to ministers, professors, or seminary students.< Agreed…….are you alluding to commentaries as well as the Bible or are you also meaning ‘study’ as in all realms: history, philosophy, sciences, mathematics, etc.?
I think we should verse ourselves in as many academic areas as possible. Good point. But my focus in this post was for the Christian to be committed to learning about the text of the faith they profess.
MJ 🙂