September 2013 Newsletter
“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5
This important verse has to do with taking our thoughts “captive to obey Christ”. Our battle against sin is won or lost in our hearts, our inner self, our thinking. The problem is that so much of our thinking is not God-centered but self-centered and this is where we get ourselves into trouble. Every thought that is not from God, the apostle Paul writes, raises itself up “against the knowledge of God”. These “arguments” or “lofty opinions” challenge who God is and His purpose for our lives. One example might be a person who continually lives in fear of what “might” happen. This person is not trusting God. The sinful thoughts of impending doom are “speculations” that raise themselves up against the knowledge that God is good, that God is sovereign, that God would not allow anything to happen they could not handle (1 Cor.10:13). These thoughts challenge God’s divine purposes for His glory and our good. These thoughts are sinful because they are fear-driven and not faith-driven. Another example might be a person who wants something so bad that they are consumed with thoughts of having (or not having) what they think they need. They find themselves lying awake at night thinking about this situation. Once again, their thoughts are not faith-driven but “lofty opinions rise up against the knowledge of God” They are not thinking of God’s faithfulness or His mercy or grace that He has continually lavished upon them in the past. Instead of trusting God, they worry, they fret, they’re consumed with “speculations” that are not God-centered, but self-centered. These thoughts are literally “arguments” against God, saying in essence that they know better than God what they need for their life, and when they need it! So what are believers to do with this kind of thinking? Paul instructs the Corinthians to “destroy” these “lofty opinions” by taking the sinful thoughts“captive to obey Christ.” Paul addresses this in Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things”. This is where the Christian cooperates with the Holy Spirit to “mortify” this sinful way of thinking, by not dwelling on lofty speculations but upon something else, something good in its place. What you and I think is very important to God and is something He is committed to helping us change. It’s hard work that will involve putting off our old way of thinking & putting on a God glorifying way that is “pure, lovely, & commendable” (Ephesians 4:17-24, Philippians 4:8). If we commit ourselves to this process of change in our thinking, we will be set free, more at peace within ourselves and most importantly, more at peace with God.
For His Glory,
Pastor Dave