“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2
THE Christian’s bold proposition is that right thinking can only begin with active, obedient faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is not popular, not politically correct. But it follows the basic, essential positions of the Biblical Christian faith. The Deity of Christ, His place in the Triune Godhead, His sovereign authority, His resurrection and all its implications, the authority of Scripture as Divine revelation – all these and their doctrinal conclusions lead the Christian believer to make them the foundation of right, logical thinking. Faith has its reason.
We arrive at this radical faith through accepting that the Bible is a God-inspired Book. Even against the claims of the post-truth generation, the post-modern rejection of the Bible’s meta-narrative, the Bible for the believer is the source book of truth. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16). The Christian religion claims that the Bible is the objective, certain source of God’s will for His human creation. Given to us through the writings of prophets, apostles and others.
In our still liberal democracies, the choice of religious belief, or non-belief, is guaranteed by the Constitution. Ideally, the Church through its teachers and members presents the Biblical teachings as best as it can, leaving the choice of acceptance to the hearers. So the Church proclaims that, faced with the reality of his sinful situation, man is called to repentance, to a decisive change of thinking, attitude and behavior. He is called especially to change his thought life, which is the source of his life style. Man is a responsible being and will give account to his Creator for his behavior on this earth. God “commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man He has appointed. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” (Acts 17: 30, 31).
The Christian appeal begins from the fact that man is “dead in trespasses and sins.” (Colossians 2:13). He needs salvation, transformation, deliverance from all that causes him to practice wickedness. This transformation can only happen through the life-giving power of God the Holy Spirit. The radical nature of the Christian gospel is emphasized at this point. Jesus said clearly: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3). After this rebirth, “not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:13), the thought life, its desires, goals, sinful activity will be changed, as right thinking begins.
The “living and active” word of God is the means by which this transformation happens, this new life begins. “You have been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever…this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you” (1 Peter 1:23, 25).
The first right thought is faith that God exists, He has not been silent, He has spoken and we have a record of His words to humanity in the Bible Scriptures. To believe this is to act on that conviction. The Bible writers exhort, “…be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22).
For the Christian, right thinking cannot be only a matter of external good works and a kind of self-righteous behaviour. He is called to “do the will of God from the heart.” (Ephesians 6:6). Especially in private. He must be convinced decisively of the facts of his faith. Only then will he live and act according to Biblical precepts. He is called to obedience of God’s good and perfect will. It is through this real, observable, obedient, life-changing faith, a gift of the Holy Spirit, that he is declared righteous by God. The world around can only know of his change of mind, of his rebirth, by his works, the fruit of his faith. “I will show you my faith by my works.” (James 2:18).
The foundation of right thinking and right behavior is the humble acknowledgement that man and woman are the creation of Almighty God. They have been given the ability to choose morally, have failed, but are now in need of rebirth and restoration. The “whole duty of man is to fear God and keep His commandments.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). The first and great commandment is to love our Creator with all our being. Confession and admittance of our great spiritual need, faith in Jesus Christ as God with us, risen from the grave, coming Judge, willing obedience of God’s commands found in the Bible Scriptures, are the marks of a transformed person.
The right thinking that begins here offers a new and realistic perspective of life in this sin-filled, troubled world of violence, corruption and hatred of God. The result of this life-changing faith is a blessing and benefit to self, family and community. It is an insurance and assurance that prepares the soul for sufferings, death, judgement and eternity. It gives a certain promise of a new world where righteousness, peace, joy, love are the ways of life. “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3:13).
The apostles and first believers, soon after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, went everywhere, even in the face of danger to their lives, to proclaim the gospel: “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12). Indeed, to know that Jesus Christ is Lord and Saviour, God with us, and to follow Him, is the beginning and sustenance of right thinking. As to the wisdom of the world that mocks at these things, and its thinking, Paul wrote, “the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.” (1 Corinthians 3:19).