“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Romans 12:2
Most of us have had frustrating encounters with non-believers in which our beliefs and opinions on things, which seem very low-level and commonsensical to us, are misunderstood, rejected, and even ridiculed. These encounters are not only frustrating, they can be downright perplexing. When we bring these people positive, rational arguments in defense of things we believe, they often appear not only resistant to the truth, but actually incapable of discerning it. This occurs not only in our discussions on religious matters, but on moral and social-political affairs as well. More frequently than ever, politicians and their mouthpieces, the media, big-tech and social media platforms claim things that appear absurd to us, things that obviously do not correspond to reality. We are shocked when we look around at the non-Christian world and see it uncritically receiving these claims as certain, unassailable truth. We must appreciate that in the unregenerate, sin touches literally every aspect of their being. Their darkened intellect prevents them from reasoning properly; professing themselves to wise, they actually function like fools (Romans 1:21-22). Praise the Lord, when we received Jesus for salvation, He redeemed our minds as well as our souls. At long last, with renewed minds, enlightened intellects and believing hearts, we can discern truth from error. As we seek to reach those still groping in darkness, let us take seriously Paul’s instructions to soul-winners in every generation. “But foolish and unlearned questions avoid,” wrote the great apostle, “knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will” (2 Timothy 2:23-26). Let us make maximum use of our renewed minds, and in so doing, may we find ourselves continually being transformed into the image of God’s dear Son. As His image-bearers and custodians of the truth, may our witness to the unbelieving world be used of God to liberate and redeem the minds of the unregenerate, for God’s glory, and for the good of those He loves.
God bless,
Pastor John
English