Themelios Project

Until recently, I had never realized the crucial importance of the intellectual aspect of the Christian faith.  Isn’t it interesting how the truth about something can be right in front of you, but it takes a wake-up call from God before you finally see it?  Well, the Lord gave me one of those experiences regarding how I view the Christian faith.  He even went so far as to back it up with Scripture!  (Imagine that.)

 Romans 12:2 is a key verse that He opened my eyes to:

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

I had read this verse before and understood its meaning on a surface level, but I hadn’t really grasped the deeper meaning.  Same story with verses like 2 Corinthians 10:5 and 1 Peter 3:15.  Eventually, I caught on to the message.  All Christians, regardless of their maturity in the faith, are called to think.  And I don’t mean whimsical daydreaming.  I’m talking about thinking deeply and critically about their faith and how it applies to the world around them.

 You might be thinking, “Man, that sounds kind of hard. Do Christians really need to think about their faith?”  Yes, it is hard, and yes, Christians do need to think about their faith.  But we need to realize that we can’t quit on something just because it’s difficult.  When you really hone in on the thinking aspect of Christianity, all kinds of amazing insight into the faith and reality is stunningly revealed!  Christians aren’t just called to a spiritual focus in their faith, but to an intellectual one as well.  Please understand that when I say intellectual, I don’t mean that everyone has to go out and earn a Ph.D. from some prestigious seminary.  On the contrary, a thinking Christian is not measured by how much he knows, but rather by how much he thinks (with a Biblical perspective) about his faith and the world around him.  Knowledge naturally results from analytical thought and research.

 So here’s the bottom line: Christians are called to think critically about their faith and the issues that the world constantly throws in their faces.  There is no easy way in when becoming a thinking Christian.  It is hard and it won’t always be fun.  But you’ll be stronger and better equipped by becoming one.  We can’t just ignore the issues and circumstances around us and hide in a safe spiritual bubble.  We need to be willing to roll our sleeves up, get a little dirty, and ring the truth out of all the agendas that challenge our faith.  I think the best way to sum this up is with a quote by Saint Augustine:

“Involuntary ignorance is not charged against you as a fault; but your fault is this – you neglect to inquire into the things you are ignorant of.”

Let’s not be ignorant Christians.  Let’s become thinking ones.