Christianity Requires Thinking

Contrary to the belief Christianity is a crutch or a belief system of “blind faith,” little do our accusers realize, Christianity is a thinking person’s religion. It requires us to use thought and reason for dedicating our time of service to others. It requires we think about our willingness to use gifts God gives each individual Christian according to his or her faith. Our money, our daily walk in life away from our church home during the week. How we treat others requires much thinking in light of teachings in the bible. Christianity requires us to read and think about how Jesus would want us to decide on a matter other than our personal opinion. Ultimately Christianity requires us to think about what apostle Paul called “running the race to win the prize”. That living a life based on humanism and selfishness will not result in winning the prize of heaven on the last day (1 Cor 9:24-27).

When asked by an expert in the Jewish law as to what commandment ranks above all others, Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:1-3, which is the passage that Jews use to distinguish themselves from their pagan neighbors. Yet, Jesus added something to it. While verse 5 in the original reads “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your might,” Jesus added the phrase “and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). Jesus put a huge importance on the use of our minds.

Christianity is fact based in history and eyewitnesses play a huge part in its message. The disciple Luke (the doctor) tells us that when he began writing his account of Jesus life to Theophilus, he sought out “those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses” and that he himself “investigated everything carefully from the beginning” to provide the exact truth" (Luke 1:1-4). This means Luke collected the data, thought about his findings and shared them as a fact of history.

Christianity is a literate faith, relying on the teachings of the apostles in the scriptures. Apostle Paul told Timothy to “do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15-16). This required Timothy to work at discerning the text to avoid “babble and lies” that leads to ungodliness.

Thinking and meditating about “worship as a lifestyle” requires daily thought and life decisions utilizing the tool of the word of God. So how does a Christian “think” about his Christian faith in real life terms? Again, the inspired Apostle Paul teaches that people need to “renew their mind” to prove what is good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Romans 12:3). Renewing the mind just doesn’t happen by osmosis, forced feelings or wishing it so. The mind needs to be fed daily with the word of God given us through His Spirit, and prayer (2 Timothy 3:16). Then taken to heart translating godly guidance into practical daily decision making in a way that is right and godly. Here are some examples:

The wife is working late tonight. Without asking will I take the initiative and cook dinner?

If we have ailing relatives unable to care for themselves, will I offer my home and resources to help them?

(Matt 25:45)

My neighbor’s car is broken down with a burnt-out motor starter and no money. Am I willing to make myself available and ready to spend $75 or whatever to get him a new part to fix the car so he can go to work?

A young man needs some funding help to finish his last semester of class in order to graduate. Will I step in and think of his future over mine and help him graduate?

If I have the gift of consoling a person who has just lost their loved one, am I willing to put myself out there and give up my time and emotion to a stranger who is in dire straits over his or her loss? Including the possibility of becoming a part of her life to help her get through the difficult time? Phone calls, visits, meals etc. (1 Pet 4:12-13)

If I have the gift to teach, am I willing to make myself available to whomever needs instruction on the gospel of Jesus Christ when they ask me? Am I willing to defend the gospel to my adversaries when called?

Part of the problem even in some church congregations is, they want to show a big splash, a big bright shiny billboard of good works in the name of God - in a worldly way. What I mean by this, are the splashes done in a way that appears like a TV commercial rather than heart to heart with compassion and understanding? Is it effective, loving and caring or is it circus like and cold? Have they really “thought” out how the style they have chosen may miss the mark? Service to others in our walk with God requires thinking and action in our individual Christian faith from the heart into the mind. And God gives each one of us the tools to do so in a way that helps Him increase His church in this world one soul at a time. Remember, the 12 were discipled one at a time by Jesus, then they set in motion the Lords church beginning at Jerusalem, then into the world.

Jesus and the world are watching.  Are we by faith thinking?
Philippians 2:1-5