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ReVision

Deceived?

It can happen to any of us.

Opened Minds (1)

And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.
Luke 24.45

More than enthusiasm
In the 19th century, well-known preacher Charles Spurgeon attracted great crowds to the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London. People were enthusiastic about his powerful and eloquent preaching, and his renown as a herald of God’s truth spread far and wide.

Spurgeon was one of several preachers in his day who drew many to their services of worship. But Spurgeon was skeptical. He put no stock in numbers. He understood just how easy it can be for people to be deceived into thinking they know the truth, when in fact, their minds have never been opened to the Word of God. A person in whom the mind of Christ is operating in a mature manner doesn’t just get excited about hearing the Word; the mature believer is moved to act in obedience on what he hears (cf. Phil. 3.7-15).

As Spurgeon explained to his students, “Thousands are congratulating themselves, and even blessing God that they are devout worshippers, when at the same time they are living in an unregenerate Christless state, having the form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.”

Spurgeon knew that mere enthusiasm for the things of Christ – worship, church, eternal life, the Bible, and all the rest – does not necessarily indicate a mind that is growing to maturity. Only Jesus Christ can open a person’s mind to the truth, and only when He does will that person hear the Scriptures and the saving message of the Kingdom of God, so that the mind of Christ is quickened in him, and growth toward maturity begins.

A strong soul requires a well-kept heart and a mature mind which is continuously open and obedient to the things of Christ.

A new world
When Jesus opened the minds of His disciples to understand the teaching of Scripture, theirs became a new and vastly more interesting world. They became new people, with new priorities and power, and a new commitment to pursue eternal horizons stretching out in every direction in their lives.

For three years, the disciples followed Jesus, watching His works and listening to His words; but, in the end, they all abandoned Him. Even after the resurrection they didn’t understand the significance of what had happened, and they seemed ready to return to the lives they’d known before following Jesus. We find many of them, in John 21, heading back to their old lives as fishermen, filled with wonder and confusion over the resurrection of Jesus, but clueless as to the real implications of that world-changing event for their lives.

Their minds were full of information, experiences, and fond memories of Jesus; but their minds had not yet been opened to the reality of the Kingdom of God.

Hindrances to obedience

What hinders people from hearing the Word of God so that they are moved not just to enthusiasm but to obedience? Why do so many remain closed-minded to the Gospel of the Kingdom? And why do so many who claim to be followers of Jesus manifest so little Kingdom evidence (cf. Heb. 11.1)? If we have the mind of Christ and are maturing into His way of thinking, we should expect our minds to be daily renewed and enlarged in the truth, beauty, and goodness of the Lord, so that we eagerly pursue realizing such virtues in our daily lives. Yet we see so little of this kind of thinking among Christians today. Why do we persist in thinking like children and closing our minds to the greater horizons of God’s truth?

There are at least three reasons. First, we are trapped in our experience. We have a lifetime of experience, developed into firm convictions, about the way the world is and how things are supposed to work. We may confess faith in Jesus, and be very active in our churches, but for the most part, our lives reflect the getting-and-spending lifestyles of our unsaved neighbors. We have become comfortable with this worldview, and are reluctant to rock any boats by following the commands of Christ and stepping out on uncertain waves of obedience. While our “Christian materialist” worldview may not answer all the questions that linger in our minds, still, it’s good enough. Such a worldview can be difficult to set aside. It represents a major obstacle to greater open-mindedness in the things of Christ.

Second, for moral or personal reasons, we may refuse to hear the call of the Gospel and submit to Jesus Christ as Lord and King. Even those who profess faith in Jesus may hold back from full obedience because they are reluctant to let go of something they cling to rather than Him. After all, He might require us to change our behavior, and we may not be prepared for that. Besides, the Gospel demands repentance, which is a tacit admission of wrongdoing and a confession of deep spiritual need. In our secular, narcissistic, and relativistic age, such admissions are hardly the norm.

Finally, some people – perhaps most – remain closed to the Gospel or to growing toward maturity in Christ for the simple reason that they’ve never heard the Good News, not clearly and with passion and conviction, or not at anything deeper than a superficial level of belief. This is why it is so important that we seek the Lord for maturity in the mind of Christ. For it pleases God to use those who know the truth to persuade others to set aside, if only for a moment, their settled way of thinking about life, and to consider the claims and promises of our Lord Jesus Christ. As Jesus came into the world to make known the Good News of the Kingdom of God, so He has sent us, in His Name and by His authority and power, to do the same today.

All who ignore or resist the Word of God are deceived and living in the darkness of unbelief – even many who profess faith in Jesus Christ, as Spurgeon insisted. But when Jesus Christ opens the mind of people, nothing can keep them from seeing the light of truth, so that their hearts burn within them, and they want to know more of this life-changing Good News, and share it eagerly with others. All who have the mind of Christ, and who are pressing on toward maturity in that mind, are called to proclaim to our unbelieving age – and our complacent fellow believers – the full meaning of Christ’s resurrection and the truth of His Kingdom. Let us pray that Jesus will open our minds to the larger, more glorious and more powerful understanding of what it means to believe in and follow Him.

For reflection
1.  Do you think it’s possible for someone to profess faith in Jesus and not know Him? Explain.

2.  Why are many believers so easily contented with their progress in faith? What keeps people from seeking to grow to maturity in the mind of Christ?

3.  Can being enthusiastic about Jesus, church, Bible study, and so forth obscure the fact that we’re not growing in the mind of Christ? Explain.

Next steps – Preparation: Would you say that you are as fully open in your thinking as you should be about the things of Christ and His Kingdom? Spend some time in prayer meditating on this question.

T. M. Moore

For more insight to the broad scope of how Christians can think with the mind of Christ, order a free copy of our book, Vantage Point, by clicking here. This brief study will help you understand time and how we as Christians can redeem and make the most of it.

All the installments in this “Strong Souls” series are available in PDF by clicking here. Check out our newest feature, Readings from the Celtic Revival (click here).

Thanks for your prayers and support
If you find ReVision helpful in your walk with the Lord, please seek the Lord, asking Him whether you should contribute to the support of this ministry with your financial gifts. As the Lord leads, you can use the Contribute button at the website to give with a credit card, or you can send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 360 Zephyr Road, Williston, VT 05495.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
Books by T. M. Moore

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