Have the Mind of Christ 1 Corinthians 2

The barber shop was empty. This afforded my barber and me an opportunity to have one of our chats about what is taking place in our world. The hot topic for the day was the Charlotte, North Carolina marches and protest because another Black man had been shot down by a police officer. We discussed the difference between peaceful demonstrations and protest with the use of violence. During our conversation my barber, Dean, suggested that many African Americans think and act as they do because they have been conditioned by the experience of slavery. He suggested that some people still have the mind of a slave. Later, I was thinking about what I intended to write for this week’s article. However, our conversation was pressing upon my mind, and I was moved to write about not only what we think and how we think, but how we as Christians should think. I thought about three scriptures. First, “we have the mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:16). The second scripture says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom. 12:2, KJV).The third scripture says “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:5, KJV). As I thought about these scriptures the Holy Spirit impressed upon my mind that it is impossible to have the mind of a chattel American slave and the mind of Christ at the same time. So, I called my friend Reverend Lawrence Reed and we discussed this idea. This article seeks to raise the consciousness of all people and especially African Americans that justify violent protest, and the failure to move forward in their lives because of past slavery experiences. Now, I do not want to minimize the effects of the slave experience in America. It raises its ugly heads on all Americans. If it is true that many African Americans still have the mind of a slave, it is also true that many white Americans still have the mind of a slave master. So, it seems to me that we all need a new mindset. The question is what is this new mindset and how does it make a difference in my life? The answer for Christians is that we are to have the mind of Christ. What does this mean? The word “mind” is translated from at least five Greek words in the New Testament with emphasis on different nuances of the word. Combined together the word “mind” means intellect, opinion, thoughts, mindset or attitudes, feelings, understanding, disposition, inclination or purpose, heart, reason, conscience. In 1 Corinthians 2:16 the Greek word “nous” means intellect- divine or human in thoughts, feelings or will. It is the seat of emotions and affections. It is our mode or way of thinking, our disposition, moral inclinations and implies the heart, reason, and conscience. The phrase divine or human indicates that there is a difference between the human mind and the divine mind. This idea is confirmed by the words of God expressed through the prophet. ‘“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,”’ declares the LORD (Isa. 55:8, NASB). In Romans 7 Paul writes that there is a war between the mind of the natural person and the mind of the Spirit. Paul says that there can be no harmony and agreement of the spiritual mind and the carnal mind. He writes: “For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so” (Rom. 8:6-7, NASB). If we continue to be governed by the mind of the flesh, which is contrary to the mind of God, we will continue to live by the mind of the flesh and that too is contrary to the will of God. We will continue to think, feel, and act in ways that are contrary to what Jesus has taught us. If we think the same old ways it is likely that we will live the same old ways. This is the essence of what Dean was saying when he said that many African Americans still have a slave mentality. They think like a slave, feel like a slave, and act like a slave. Jesus died for the forgiveness of our sins. Jesus also taught us that by faith we can raise our expectations of ourselves. We do not have to be controlled by what others say and what they do. We can be free because Jesus came to set us free from the penalty and power of sin. When we commit ourselves to Jesus we experience His forgiveness and we are no longer controlled by our old way of thinking. We have become new persons in every aspect of our being including bondage to the mindset of the world. A person with the mind of Christ thinks of his self and herself in the same way that Christ does. He and she know that they have worth because Jesus shed His blood for all people regardless of human standards (Gal. 26-28). Christians are to be different, think differently, and behave differently. Christians are persons that have been called to be holy, think holy, and live holy. Christians live under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The scriptures explain the reason. “But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:14-16, NASB). Throughout chapter two Paul has been explaining that the wisdom of the world does not agree with the wisdom of God. Therefore, Christians are to reject the wisdom of the world and seek the wisdom of God. Armed with the mind of Christ we understand in new ways, and we live a new life. What must we do to make these ideals a reality in our lives? Again, Paul gives us advice: “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service in worship. And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom. 12:1-2, NASB). Christians are not to be held captives like slaves in their minds and behavior. This is not a natural thing to do. Did you notice the word sacrifice? A sacrifice is giving up something that is very precious to you. We are to sacrifice our bodies. That is we are to give up or kill the desires of the flesh of the natural person. In addition the body and the mind must work together in harmony. While we deny the desires of the body we must at the same time take on a new mindset. With a new mindset Christians are to be examples to the world. We have the knowledge of God, and we are to make this knowledge known in the world. How can Christians become examples to the world? We start by having the right attitudes toward our brothers and sisters who are in Christ. One of the things that I have learned in life is that our attitudes and behaviors are largely shaped by those we have close relations with. For example, I respect women because I learned early to respect my mother and sisters. In the same way I respect men because I learned early to respect my father, and brothers. So Christians learn how to treat people as Christ treats people when we learn from Christ. This is the advice Paul gives to the church at Philippi. In the church there are competing factions in the church that are causing problems. Paul instructs the church to have the same attitude toward each other that Christ demonstrates in His relationship with God. He writes, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:5, NASB). In our churches Christians must learn to love one another as Christ loves us. The world will see how we treat one another and many will see us and want to be a part of our family. No one wants to be a slave. Everyone has a deep desire to be free, but because they cannot free themselves they are in need of a deliverer, a savior. Jesus offers us freedom from the mindset of this world. It is the responsibility of Christians to free the mind of these mental slaves by making them aware of the mind of Christ. We have the mind of Christ.