On Having the Mind of Christ

[David IoW]

Having the mind of Christ

1) Truth and Transparency

 

Search me, God, and know my heart. Test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me in the way everlasting. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart which you love O God and will not despise. So that the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart will be acceptable in your sight; O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Author’s prayer. Inspired by Psalms 139:23; 51;17 and 19:14.

 

Wow! The magnitude of what I might be on the verge of undertaking is only just beginning to dawn on me. In all my years spent on this planet I can honestly say that I have never heard this topic being brought to my attention at all, let alone as it aught to be, (IMHO) high up there on the list of subjects to be discussed and taught as an essential aspect of the leading of the normal Christian life. I think I have read most of the works of the esteemed Watchman Nee, I think he wrote over 50, and although he has addressed many, if not all the issues addressed herein, I have never observed any of his works specifically addressed to the topic. So the prospect of trying to fill this void is daunting but I have been here before particularly with regard to the composing of the Dark Night, so I am filled with confidence in my Lord and adequately furnished with the faith to complete the mission.

The first characteristic which comes to mind is ‘truth’ He is the truth "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14;6). N.B. I am inclined to quote a lot of scripture in pursuit of the said truth, for which I make no apologies.) I think that having the mind of Christ might be, primarily being truthful. After all “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."(John 8;32)
A corollary to this statement might be that if you have no love of the truth then you have no love of Christ. This is a challenge because how can we know what is truth?

Truth is based on knowledge so it essential to consider ‘knowledge’; I propose that knowledge is acquired in three ways:-

Firstly by empirical or experiential means. I know that I am sitting here typing because I am here doing it. I know that I went shopping yesterday because I went in my car and came back with a load of groceries. I know that I have had a bereavement recently because I was there with my family sharing grief.

Secondly by definition, 2+2=4, lead is heavier than air, I am closer to Paris at the moment than anyone in the USA. These are all defined truths and nothing can change them; language, perception and interpretation are irrelevant.

Nothing can alter the fact of these examples No amount of abuse, torture or denial can alter the truth of these facts. They are facts and always will be, whatever!

The third concept of knowledge is knowledge by consensus, not long ago everyone ‘knew’ that the earth was the centre of the universe, everyone ‘knew’ that men could not travel through space. Everyone ‘knew’ that matter could not be destroyed.

Get my point? So far as the human condition is concerned absolute truth can only be ascertained by the first method. What we have experienced becomes our testimony; if we have shared an experience with another person who was not present at, or part of the event then it is not part of their testimony. In many judicial systems this is referred to as hearsay and is inadmissible as evidence.

Absolute truth is critical in having the mind of Christ. Part of my testimony is that I endeavour to be transparent, that is not to say that I am inclined to go about waving my dirty laundry in public but where and when it is appropriate I am quite willing to share any of my life, personal or public, with anyone. This becomes very important when counselling folk who are convinced that they are alone in trying to deal with trials and temptations. My willingness to be transparent means that I can share any of my testimony (the absolute truth about myself) and, hopefully help others become overcomers because “They have overcome him by reason of the blood of the Lamb, and by reason of the word of their testimony; and they have not loved their life unto death.” (Rev 12:11). N.B. This how important our testimony is!, doctrine achieves nothing, remember the letter kills but the Spirit gives life. Your testimony can only give life if it is absolutely true.

“He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever-- the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” (John 14;7). Having the mind of Christ involves being aware of how vitally important absolute truth and transparency is. Remember that Jeshua was not only conceived by, but is totally the Holy Spirit; this is part of the mystery of the triune Godhead. Anything other than absolute truth is an anathema to Him so He allowed Himself to be transparent even during His trials and when He was anguishing at the prospect of being separated from His Father. (more on this later)

I became aware of the dilemmas regarding truth at quite an early age, some of my natural attributes are an academic bent, particularly towards mathematics and systems of reasoned argument. (Argument is a mathematical term which means resolving a problem- nothing to do with violence or fisticuffs!)

Logic is one of those systems and relies on absolute truth with which I became particularly fascinated. As I was still unsaved at the time I became engrossed in trying to determine what I could take to be absolutely true and turned to science for the answers. Of course I now know a whole lot better and enjoy the comical aspects of such an ambition. Eventually I married and had a family and developed other interests; I think I might have also realised the futility of such a quest but I learned a lot and had a wonderful time, one of the main benefits being that I learned how to study effectively, such an asset in the pursuit of systematic bible study of which I am a total adherent!

Then He had to accept the truth about Himself, as must we! Yes we hopefully know about original sin, salvation through the blood of the Lamb and grace etc.etc. But this thread is to do with the meat of the Word not milk. “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation” (1 Peter 2;2): “Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.” (Heb 5:13)

I hope that if anyone is following this thread they are hungry and thirsting after righteousness so that you will be filled (Matt 5:6) So we shall reconvene about the matter of truth and being honest- starting with ourselves. I should like to refer you back to my prayer at the end of part1. If you can pray that prayer with integrity you will find yourself having the mind of Christ with regard to your own honesty and transparency.

Imagine having to go through the early years of your life knowing what your destiny was not only to suffer the physical torture but having to face the prospect of being separated from His Father! Physical and emotional agonies which I, for one, would not dare to contemplate. He totally accepted the truth about Himself- Oh how I love Him!!

For those who have gifts and ministries that are not as yet being utilised by God due to awareness on your part of the danger of falling into pride (among other sins) (been there and done that!) or any other hinderences of that sort I should like to refer you back to my prayer at the end of part1 again. It may take some time to get yourself to the place where you are certain that you can pray it with integrity this is serious heavy-duty stuff!

For encouragement part of my testimony is that in my spiritually infantile days when I was slurrping milk for all I was worth I was given a challenge. I was full of ambition and selfish intent; I wanted to go out as a missionary, go to Bible College, become an evangelist- the list goes on. Once when I had calmed down a bit and was listening instead of shooting off my mouth Father said to me “If I asked you to become a toilet attendant would you do it?” I knew which toilet He had in mind, it was underground in Waterloo Station in London. It is a huge station but shall we say that the gentlemen’s toilet facilities was the last place on earth that I would have chosen as a place of work! Beloved, it took me over three days of continuous soul and heart searching before I could go back to God and say honestly that I would be willing to forego all that I desired and take the job. Those few days were days of agony and pain.

Afterwards at some time the Lord said “Don’t worry you don’t have to go down there I just wanted you to know how much you are willing to sacrifice, if I had sent you down there you would have had an amazing prayer life because your duties would have been minimal and you would have all the time you wanted to spend in prayer.”

God wants to use you but you need to have confidence in Him and be sure that you have honestly come to terms with the possibility that He will test you first so that you can be transparent and worthy of being a disciple.

Shalom and agapé