Taking Every Thought Captive

“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.  The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.  We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. — 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

This is on my very short list of favorite verses in the entire Bible!  What a challenge.  Am I really willing to step out there and do battle with the prevailing philosophies and ideas in our world today?  Am I willing to do my homework and find out answers to the tough questions, understanding that any attempt to “win the war” only on my own strength or intelligence will result in failure?  Even more challenging: am I willing to actually take every thought that enters my mind and make it obedient to Christ? Because that is no small task!

A Christian Worldview

Through my studies at the Focus on the Family Leadership Institute and my personal research, I have discovered many interesting things in regards to the idea of a Christian worldview.Dr. James Dobson put it simply, “Either God is, or God isn’t.” Wow.  Arthur Holmes gives us 5 reasons for a worldview: “We need to unify thought and life experience, define the good life and find hope and meaning, guide current thought, guide actions, and deal with our diverse culture.”  Taking these guidelines and applying them to the Christian mind and worldview, one truly can develop a solid stance and lens to view the world through as a Christian.  I also found some scripture in reference to attributes of the Christian mind and how we can transform it towards a Christian worldview.  The Christian mind is renewed (Romans 12:1).  The Christian mind is pure (Philippians 4:8; 1 Peter 1:22).  The Christian mind is humble (Romans 12:3).  The Christian mind is ready (Acts 17:11).  The Christian mind is convinced (Matthew 22:37; Romans 8:38-39).  I think that through this , I discovered all of these attributes of a Christian worldview and a Christian mind to be true.  Yet,  we are not there.  According to a survey in 2004 taken by the Barna Research Group, “Citing the findings from a just-completed national survey of 2033 adults, only 4% of adults have a biblical worldview as the basis of decision-making.”I believe that our generation is on the brink of shifting its worldview though. I honestly believe that we think and know in our minds that “God is”. Now, we must separate the sacred and the secular and start seeing the world through the eyes of Christ.  My prayer is that this Christian generation continues to believe that “God is” but strives to act upon that belief in order to change our view of the struggling world through the eyes of our Lord.

Make a Defense

Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?  But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God

– 1 Peter 3:13-18a

Testify to the Truth

“Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.
Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

What is truth?” Pilate asked.”

– John 18:36-38