How the Bible Tells Us the Mind Matters

A few years back, I was watching a "60 Minutes" CBS news program about Ruth Simmons, the President of Brown University, who was emphasizing the importance of the renewal of the mind in her life. Born to sharecroppers, she was the first African-American woman to hold such a high and prestigious position in the academic community. It got me to thinking about how so many religious believers de-emphasize the importance of the mind and so I did a Biblical study on what the Bible has to say about the importance of intelligence and use of the mind and reason.

First, the Bible tells us that we should be "transformed by the renewing of the mind that we may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2) This helps to make our election sure (2 Peter 1:10) and to know we have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16). Those who have accepted the life-changing power of the Almighty God understand what it means to have a mind-altering experience. Suddenly out of love for God, the mind no longer craves those things which are bad for the body or hurtful towards oneself and others. "The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge." (Proverbs 18:15).

Billy Graham, the famous evangelist, once preached that King Solomon of the Old Testament was told to have a "willing mind" (1 Chron. 28:9) "for the Lord understands every intent of the thoughts." We are also to "think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith." Oftentimes, Christians rely on spiritual faith and leave the importance of the intellect behind. However, the very acknowledgement and enlightenment of one's faith are through that knowledge of the mind as well as in the spirit. We are to have a "mind set on the spirit" which is "life and peace" (Romans 8:6); "I will put my laws into their minds" God tells us(Hebrews 8:10). Paul knew the importance of a clear consciousness: "How much more will the blood of Christ ... cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Heb. 9:14).

Let us not forget that "faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen". How does one arrive at assurance and conviction without seeing these things to be true? Even though no one has SEEN God, we can KNOW God by experience. "He who comes to God must believe that He is." (Hebrews 11:6). Others "having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them" (Eph 4:18). The Old Testament tells us to "incline thine ear to wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up they voice for understanding...then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God." (Proverbs 2:1-5).

I believe many Christians forsake the importance of the mind in favor of the spirit because intellectual pursuit is hard work and does not have the immediate gratification of those dandy and wonderful emotions and feelings. It is great to feel love and peace and joy and forgiveness - but how much greater are these spiritual rewards from God when we understand how and why and in what manner we can seek them and pass them on to others!

I believe that many faithful people shy away from the use of the mind in spiritual endeavor for two main reasons. Like the early monks who chastised St. Thomas Aquinas, they may believe that exercising one's mind is an act of the will and thus lessens the greatness of God's divine grace. Doesn't the Bible tell us, "O the depth of the riches both of wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!" (Romans 11:33). Also, we are told to search out God. "But the annointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and you need not that any man teach you: but as the same annointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him." (I John 2:27). Like mathematics and logic and science, the truth and reliability of belief can rest on more than the teacher's word, but can be self-evident within the mind. This passage shows that God is truth and wisdom and knowledge itself. To "know" God, or to desire to "know" God is not something we should fear, since the very fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.

Another reason why believers may be skeptical of intellectual spirituality may be the dangers of conceit. But if one has received extraordinary knowledge by God's divine grace, as the Apostle Paul did among others, then there is no reason why one should not say so, respect that gift and share it with others. "Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits." (Romans 12:16). Those to whom much is given, much is required. True believers understand that enlightenment brings with it a responsibility to guard the knowledge faithfully and pass to others those things which God has taught you for THEIR edification and to GLORIFY GOD.

When we talk about "metaphysics" it should be legitimately considered as a serious branch of philosophy that examines the nature of reality, contrary to the smoke and mirrors pseudoscience of new-age materials that are so prolific today. William Grassie in an article in the July/August 2001 issue of Research News at page 53 states, "While the meta-narratives of metaphysics are currently out of fashion in academics, these are nevertheless the foundations upon which we construct our world views and our world-doings. One exciting aspect of the science and religion dialogue is to see how science seems to point beyond itself to something more, something transcendent ..." (Grassie, 53).

God has lovingly taught me that such intellectual gifts are an awesome responsibility. Since God is creator of the mind and intelligence too, we need to understand that we are expected to use our brains for the glory of God as well as our voices and hands (which are controlled by the mind after all) as servants for God in all that we do in our intellectual pursuits.

Let us not be "wise in our own conceit," but prudent and humble, knowing that such things as the gifts of teaching and ministry as well as artistic, financial and scientific talent are given to us out of God's goodness and mercy. "Love God with all your Mind" (Matthew 22:37, Deut. 6:5) as well as the heart and soul. In order to love with all your mind, one must exercise the use of the brain, intellect and reason.

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