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Garbage in = Garbage out (Philippians 4:8-9)
Have you ever been told that a problem in the processing
of your order/query/request is due to a 'computer error'? Computers are,
like the Post Office, the telephone system, and the road system, blamed
for any number of delays, errors, disappointment etc. in the processing
of our lives as we depend more and more on the technology. There is a
saying in the computer world: GIGO - garbage in garbage out. The truth
is that human error is more often to blame than any would care to admit
and computers are only as efficient as the data put into them allows.
If you put garbage in...!
The same applies to the human mind and Paul is here reminding us of that.
"Think" for a moment about the role of the mind as it is portrayed
in the Bible:
"Those who live according to the sinful nature
have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who
live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what
the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death; but the
mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind
is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so.
Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God" Ro.8:5-8
How we think determines the very lives we live and how we live in relation
to God.
"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..." Ro.12:2
We are to be renewed in our thinking in order that we might be able to
"test and approve", that is judge aright what God's will is and live it
out.
"So I tell you this, and insist on it in
the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility
of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding
and separated from the life of God because of their ignorance..."
Eph.4:17-18
Ignorance, darkened understanding (living in a fog), and futile thinking
are disastrous and the true saint is not ignorant but enlightened, and
his or her thinking is not futile but purposeful.
"Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God
with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind"
Matt.22:37
It is wonderful to think on the things of God and to worship him out of
what we know and understand and it is God's will that we do just that.
There are two extremes that every Christian should strive to avoid. The
first is an anti-intellectualism that sees Christians abandon thinking,
study and research and leaves the believer ignorant of the things of God.
The second is arid intellectualism that divorces theology from every-day
practical application and leaves it in the hands of a handful of intellectuals.
Paul gives us enormous encouragement here to think on a wide range of
legitimate things:
"Whatever is true" as opposed to false and
deceitful things
"Whatever is noble" in contrast to things
that are dishonourable and unworthy
"Whatever is right"
in contrast to things that are wrong
"Whatever is pure"
instead of things that are dirty
"Whatever is lovely" as opposed to things
that are morally ugly
"Whatever is admirable"
rather than things that are disreputable
"Whatever is excellent"
in contrast to things that are shoddy
"...or praiseworthy"
as against things that are shameful
It has been said that "a man is not what he thinks he is, but what he
thinks he is"
Finally, Paul makes bold to offer his own life as an example to believers:
"Whatever you have learned or received
or heard from me, or seen in me - put into practice. And the God of peace
will be with you"
Perhaps like most Christians you find yourself thinking that you could
not be so confident about your own life being such a good example. Perhaps
that can be changed, beginning with your thinking. Let's this week look
at how we think, what our minds are set on, and that may be the beginning
of a stronger "life witness" than we ever thought possible.