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).