Renewing Our Mind
Protection From Deception
Scriptures
Romans 12:1-2; 2 Timothy 2:22-26; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Theme
Faith and Personality
Sermon Summary
As an essential component of our personality, the renewing of our mind is a primary process of
holiness. Not only will we then be able to discern the will of God, but we will also be prepared
for the attacks of deceptive human philosophies.
Introduction
1.1 A definition
of "personality": "the complex of characteristics that [uniquely] distinguishes an
individual".
1.1.1 This "complex" includes physical, emotional, mental, social and spiritual aspects.
1.2 Our mental processes consist of our ability to think clearly and critically, and thus
constitute an important spiritual battleground.
1.2.1 Examples of this battleground:
1.2.1.1 There are those who would and will deceive us:
For three years, David Chakhvashvili gave hundreds of lectures throughout his
native Georgian Soviet republic.
He spoke on 'the technological revolution', 'the atom', 'modern medicine' and
'love in the advanced society'.
Then it was found he was a janitor with no scientific training whatsoever.
Chakhvashvili evidently got inspiration from the place where he worked, the
Georgian Academy of Sciences. He printed cards identifying himself as a
professor –'Doctor of Technical Sciences'.
The newspaper Izvestia said he soon had a busy lecture circuit with $20 an
hour in pay. Izvestia said he earned $820 on his first 'lecture tour'. (United
Press International)
1.2.1.2 Sex-ploitation in advertising (i.e. the small poster in a local shop with a picture of a
swim suit-clad beautiful woman and the text, "Soft drink, $1").
1.2.1.3 The unfair positive weighting of marks in Science and Maths courses for university
entrance applications over Arts and Technical courses.
1.2.1.4 The idolisation of Hollywood and sports celebrities promotes the lifestyles and values of
those who, by nature of their profession, are self-indulgent.
1.2.1.5 Pilate questioned Jesus with, "What is truth?" (Jn 18:38).
1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies
as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God —this is your spiritual act of
worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and
approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2)
1.3 It is no mistake that the exhortation to have our mind renewed follows an exhortation
to worship God, with our whole self
1.3.1 Having a renewed mind enables one to discover and to discern God's will, which
involves having God's perspective on our self and our society.
1.4 Let us prepare ourselves to confront the hollow and deceptive philosophies of our time
as a necessary component of our mission to reconcile the world to God!
Ask Discerning Questions
"If the world were a logical place, men would ride side saddle." (Rita Mae Brown)
"Logic: The art of thinking and reasoning in strict accordance with the
limitations and incapacities of the human misunderstanding." (Ambrose Bierce)
"A little philosophy inclines men’s minds to atheism, but depth in philosophy
brings men’s minds about to religion." (Francis Bacon)
2.1 It is not possible, nor advisable, to debate a person into submission and salvation.
2.2 When confronted with a challenge to, or question about, your Christian worldview,
faith or lifestyle, you can earn credibility, trust and vulnerability by asking discerning
questions about your interrogator's position:
2.2.1 "What do you mean by ...?"
2.2.2 "How have you come to that conclusion?"
2.2.3 "Have you considered ...?"
2.2.3.1 Offer a critique
2.2.3.2 Offer an alternative
2.2.4 This method certainly qualifies for the "with gentleness and respect" of 1 Peter 3:15!
Examples of Deceptive Beliefs
3.1 "All religions lead to the same god."
3.1.1 This is a common misconception and misrepresentation of the history and basis of the
world's great religions
3.1.2 The founders of the world's great religions came from very different starting points:
Confucius was a moralist; Buddha was an agnostic; Mohammed is considered to have
been a prophet; and, Jesus is considered to be God (he declared so himself in Jn 10:30-33; the empty tomb of Jn 20:1-18 is the key).
3.1.2.1 It is interesting to note that only in Christianity is a direct communication from God
claimed, one that is not delivered by a mediator.
3.1.3 The world's great religions conceptualise the relationship between God and humankind
very differently:
3.1.3.1 For the Hindu, there are many gods and many paths to the god of one's choosing.
3.1.3.2 For the Muslim, there is only one god and only one path to that god.
3.1.3.3 For New Age believers, the divine and human nature are intertwined.
3.1.3.4 For the Buddhist, there is no god, and, once one comprehends this point, we can be free
from suffering.
3.1.3.5 For the Christian, God's grace makes salvation possible and our faith effects it.
3.2 "That's true for you, but not for me."
3.2.1 This is another way of saying, "Truth is relative", or, "There is no absolute truth".
3.2.1.1 One can immediately disarm these declarations by asking, "Is your statement true?"
3.2.2 All versions of these statements are absurd because truth is and must be evaluated on
objective validity (i.e. the law of Non-Contradiction in the study of Logic).
3.2.2.1 To be "true", something must be consistent in all places and time.
3.2.2.2 To dismiss the criteria of "truth" and "falsehood" or "right" and "wrong" is to
undermine the foundations of human knowledge and scientific enquiry.
3.2.3 These statements represent a confusion of truth with preference.
3.2.3.1 It is always true that 1 + 2 = 3, but I prefer the colour black to green.
3.3 "You shouldn't force your morality of others."
3.3.1 This is another way of saying, "You should be tolerant".
3.3.2 "Tolerance" has two conflicting aspects to its definition: 1) "Sympathy or indulgence for
beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one’s own, the act of allowing
something"; and, 2) "The allowable deviation from a standard".
3.3.2.1 To "indulge" beliefs or practices different from one's own does not necessitate
acknowledging them as acceptable deviations from the standard.
3.3.3 Many would argue that there are no standards for beliefs or lifestyle –in other words,
for morality.
3.3.4 What happens when we deviate from standards of morality on an issue such as sexual
indulgence?
3.3.4.1 STDs would not exist, particularly at the level of prevalence that we enjoy today, if it
were not for sexual promiscuity.
3.3.5 Do moral standards exist?
3.3.5.1 Is racism always wrong? Is rape always wrong? Is a cause always followed by an
effect?
Conclusion
4.1 God created us as rational, reasonable beings –that is to say that we have an essential
mental component to our personality.
4.2 We need to be sensitive to deception and discerning of truth (1 Th 5:21; Acts 17:11).
sermon delivered by Ian Forest-Jones
at Hurstville Church of Christ
on Sunday, 19 February 2006
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