The Mature Mind (3)

Let all things be done for edification. 1 Corinthians 14.26

What was He thinking?
Consider the ways most people we meet throughout the week use their tongues: to inform, impress, instruct, advise, entertain, direct, deceive, criticize, or perhaps correct the people with whom they live, work, and consort.

Or maybe they use their tongues to justify or explain themselves, or to work out something with someone else. And why do they do the things they do the ways they do – work their jobs, conduct their relationships, manage their activities?

All forms of speech and ways of being-in-the-world require calculated thought; we establish and maintain a particular frame of reference, a peculiar mindset, and this determines how we use our tongues and bodies. The problem Paul was addressing in Corinth was that the believers there were operating with childish thinking. He scolded them for their self-centered, factious, and frivolous ways, and called them to “grow up” into the mind of Christ, so that they would think more like Jesus and less like their old selves.

What was the Son of God thinking when He took upon Himself the form of a servant and came among us in the person of Jesus of Nazareth? In His mind, the whole redemption project was in view, including the salvation of His people, their being built together into the Church, His preparing an eternal dwelling for them, their being secure with Him forever in the New Heavens and New Earth, and God being glorified in everything.

Everything Jesus did on earth, all His works and words, were focused on gathering, assembling, saving, and edifying His people. If we want to have the mind of Christ, having emptied ourselves of self-interest for the sake of caring for others, we’ll need to learn what is necessary for edifying others.

Three things…
This involves three things.

First, we need to know what edifying others means. What does someone look like who is being edified in the ways Paul has in mind? Is a person edified simply by letting him do or say or have whatever he wants? Is he edified by being lied to about how others view him? Is a person edified by always getting his way? Or by getting away with trampling on others?

Mere human standards of maturity and edification won’t help us here. We need to understand God’s view of what this work involves. In God’s view being edified means becoming more like Jesus (2 Cor. 3.12-18; 1 Cor. 11.1; 1 Jn. 2.1-6). Jesus Himself said, “Follow Me.” God’s plan for people is to become more like Jesus, so we need to make sure we know Jesus well enough to understand what that means. We are called to make disciples (Matt. 28.18-20), and disciples are those who look like the one they’re following. Christian disciples will look like Jesus. Non-Christians can act more like Jesus, even if they don’t believe in Him, and they and everyone else will be better off for it (cf. Ps. 81.15). Jesus intends to fill the world with Himself, and He will do this through the mature thinking and acting of those who know, love, and serve Him with His mind (Eph. 4.8-10).

Here there is no substitute for regular reading and re-reading of the gospels, meditating deeply on the Man Jesus as we encounter Him there, and contemplating those descriptions of Him, exalted in glory, which we find in the psalms, prophets, and book of Revelation. The more clearly we see Jesus, the more the Spirit within us will transform us into His image. Then we will understand what’s involved in edifying others.

Second, we’ll need to talk with others about that ideal, about being a person like Jesus, and encourage them to desire this for themselves. This shouldn’t be a huge obstacle. After all, there is much to admire in the life of Jesus of Nazareth. If we are faithfully reading about and meditating on Jesus, seeing and desiring Him for Who He is, we will be naturally more inclined to talk with others about Him. Just as people love to brag about the exploits of their favorite sports hero, or extol the virtues of some respected person they know, we who are growing closer to Jesus and becoming more intimate with Him will want to encourage others to see His beauty and glory as well. Boasting about Jesus will flow like rivers of living water from our knowing Him more personally and more continuously (2 Cor. 10.13-18; Jn. 7.37-39).

Finally, edifying others into Jesus means we will need to challenge people in areas of their lives where they are falling short. Building others up isn’t just a matter of passing out “attaboys” to everyone and his brother. It’s hard work to help someone begin to know Jesus, desire to be like Him, and, finally, to know how to teach, coach, correct, and shape another person so that his old self passes away as the new self of Jesus Christ begins to gain traction in his soul.

Mature thinking seeks maturity
Jesus Christ is bent on making others like Him. His mind is devoted to making disciples, and to making Himself the supreme example of beauty, goodness, and truth, even for those who do not believe in Him. The mature mind of Christ seeks maturity in others, that they might think and live like Him. We’ll be thinking with a mature mind when this is our objective as well.

For reflection
1.  Do you agree that Jesus is the standard of goodness and love toward which all people should aspire? Why or why not? Does this mean that everyone will want to become more like Jesus? Explain.

2.  To mature into Jesus, we must see Him more clearly: “Here there is no substitute for regular reading and re-reading of the gospels, meditating deeply on the Man Jesus as we encounter Him there, and contemplating those descriptions of Him, exalted in glory, which we find in the psalms, prophets, and book of Revelation. The more clearly we see Jesus, the more the Spirit within us will transform us into His image. Then we will understand what’s involved in edifying others.” How would you describe the state of such contemplations in your life?

3.  Why do think Christians are so hesitant about talking about Jesus to the people in their Personal Mission Fields?

Next steps – Transformation: What can you do to invest more time and thinking into contemplating Jesus?

T. M. Moore

This is part 2 of a multi-part series on the Christian mind. To download this week’s study as a free PDF, click here.

How’s your Christian worldview? Are you stretching your mind to think about life and the world as Jesus does? Our free online course, One in Twelve: Introduction to Christian Worldview, can provide the categories, terms, and framework for you to begin nurturing a more expansive Christian mind. For more information and to register, click here.

The mind of Christ is set for the Kingdom of God. Is yours? Our book, The Kingdom Turn, provides a concise and practical overview of what it means to live for Christ from within the framework of His Kingdom. Order your copy by clicking here.

The Lord uses your prayers and gifts to help us in this ministry. Add us to your regular prayer list, and seek the Lord concerning whether He would have you share with us. You can contribute to The Fellowship of Ailbe by using the contribute button at the website, or send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Drive, Essex Junction, VT 05452.

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