The Importance of the Rational Mind

The Importance of the Rational Mind [Excerpts]

...[The devil] was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him.... (John:8:44Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
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Many Christians are hearing that they must shut down their rational mind in order to be “more spiritual.” But, this isn’t what Scripture says. Scripture says that man’s sinful nature rules his carnal mind, nullifying any mental effort to obey God’s law or attain true spiritual knowledge of God. “So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin” (Rom:7:14-25 [14] For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. [15] For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. [16] If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. [17] Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. [18] For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. [19] For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. [20] Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. [21] I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. [22] For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: [23] But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. [24] O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? [25] I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
See All...). Also, “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” (Rom:8:6For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
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Further hindrances arise from Scripture’s statement that Satan uses the mind to keep men in their fallen condition: “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” (2 Cor:4:4In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
See All...).…By not honoring the true God in his spirit, man’s thinking becomes futile, leading him to worship the creature as God (the Lie of the Garden of Eden). Scripture says these men who do “not think it worthwhile to retain the true knowledge of God” are given over by God “to a rebrobate [depraved] mind” (read Rom:1:18-32 [18] For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; [19] Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. [20] For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: [21] Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. [22] Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, [23] And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. [24] Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: [25] Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. [26] For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: [27] And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. [28] And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; [29] Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, [30] Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, [31] Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: [32] Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
See All...). Paul in 2 Thessalonians:2:9-12 [9] Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, [10] And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. [11] And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: [12] That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
See All... also warns of a “strong delusion, that they should believe a lie” that will deceive with “all power and signs and lying wonders.” Paul said that this is accomplished with “all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.... That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 

This depravity often leads the spiritually oriented person to fellowship with spirits not of God, and then into a fountain of false teachings and spiritism. One who fellowships with “heavenly” beings other than the one true God has an unspiritual mind which puffs him up with idle and idolatrous notions. Colossians:2:18Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
See All... warns of this very thing: “Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind.” Philippians:3:18-19 [18] (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: [19] Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
See All... reminds us that those who “mind earthly things” are “enemies of the cross of Christ.” And 1 Timothy:6:3-5 [3] If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; [4] He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, [5] Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
See All... warns about teachers of false doctrine not in accord with “the sound doctrine of the Lord Jesus” and states that they “know nothing.” 

How, then, can one’s mind be useful to man in spiritual matters? Only when one has been united with God by His Holy Spirit through belief in the finished work of Christ.... Man’s mind is…renewed by the Holy Spirit’s Scripture-based teaching, centered on the truth of the Gospel of Christ, resulting in man having the mind of Christ. Romans:12:2And 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.
See All... exhorts, “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.” In John:14:26But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
See All... Jesus promised his disciples, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

Paul, in 1 Corinthians:2:13-14 [13] Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. [14] But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
See All..., 16, described the truth-filled wisdom that comes from God: “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned…. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” 

The Christian can then test, judge, understand, and refute, based on spiritual truth as it pertains to God’s Gospel of Jesus Christ found in the Bible, the Word of God. One’s renewed mind now cooperates with God. Romans:8:5For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
See All...: “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.” 

The occultist or spiritist must bypass the mind by shutting down his thinking processes in order to reach a passive state, at which point contact with a spirit is made. One way of doing this is with a mantra; that is, repeating the same word, word segment, or phrase over and over again. There is no such practice found in Scripture.

(Tarkowski, "The Importance of the Rational Mind," originally an e-mail devotional, later adapted and published in The Christian Conscience, January 1995, p. 29).