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But we have the mind
of Christ
1Cor2:16b Many people know scripture, yet many of those people have not the mind of Christ. Why is that? St. Paul has just told us that “the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned.” (v14) So he is telling us quite clearly if a person is not spiritual, he cannot have the mind of Christ. He may know scripture, he may be intellectual, he may be all sorts of things, but unless he has the Spirit of God and is spiritual, and knows scripture, he does not have the mind of Christ. The Spirit of God indicates a change in nature. St. Paul before his conversion was steeped in tradition and the Law and he hated the gentile. Over time, having received the Spirit of God, his nature changed regarding the Law, Abraham and Moses, and his attitude toward the gentile, not to mention Jesus and his sacrificial evangelization. So unless there is a change of nature, it does not matter what you know. For those of us who have spent years studying the word of God, only if looking back we see a clear change of human nature, can we make the claim that we have the mind of Christ. It is even more than having the Spirit. Jesus has told us that there are those who can prophesy, can heal, and do many marvelous things and he will say to them, “I don't know you.” Why? Knowledge alone is not enough. Having gifts is not enough. Only if you have the nature of Christ will the knowledge and the Spirit manifest the mind of Christ. If you have spent time in the word, if you have been baptized in the Spirit, can you look back over your life and see a change in your nature? Has Christ made a difference in your life? Do you love where once you hated? Do you show interest in those you used to ignore? Is Christ more important than the idols you once valued? Are you free from evil spirits? Are you comfortable in your faith? Do you have insight into human nature? These are the questions which determine whether or not you have the mind of Christ, not simply, do you know the word, do you speak in tongues, do you prophesy? If knowledge of the word has out-distanced your experience of the word, if you are more intellectual than compassionate, if other people's opinion of you is more important than doing the right thing and speaking the truth, it may be time to take a closer look and a deeper introspection. It may be time to be a doer of the word and not a hearer only. It may be time to repent and ask God how to make things right. St. Paul has said, “but we have the mind of Christ.” do you? Amen. |