THE ONLINE SEMINAR
How to Have the Living Water of Peace, Hope,
and Purpose that Jesus Promised Us
Session Three: Our Mind
Part 1
Previously, in Session One, we discussed how my parents talked about “The Secret of Success” when I was a youth; and about how one of my uncles wanted me to learn the “secret” so that I could go to work for him.
That so-called “secret” said that our “subconscious minds” have miraculous “creative powers” and that they can act as “magnets” to attract money, status, and possessions to us. But, as we said in Session One, I eventually discovered that the secret doesn’t work. It doesn’t work because it’s not based on Spiritual growth. It leaves God out of the equation. As we saw, all the world’s troubles are caused by a lack of Spirituality – and thus the real “secret of success” is to start growing Spiritually.
Then, in Session Two, we discussed the incredible fact that all people have an inner spirit (also known as our “soul”). This inner spirit is the invisible, supernatural part of us that came from God, that gives us life, and that returns to God when we die. But, as we pointed out in Session Two, our inner spirit is Spiritually “dead” in its original condition and doesn’t have the supernatural power to motivate us for Spiritual experiences, gifts, and emotions.
Now – to add the next piece to the puzzle – here in Session Three, we’re going to talk about the role that our mind plays in Spiritual growth. The question we need to answer is this: If our mind doesn’t have the mysterious abilities that the false “Secret of Success” claimed for it (and it doesn’t), then what abilities does our mind have?
To start answering that question, let’s pick up where we left off in Session Two. Here’s how The Three Circles diagram looked at the end of Session Two:
Let’s focus now on Circle Two at the top center of the diagram, and talk about the abilities of the human mind.
It’s time to talk about our personal computer. No, not the one on our desk. The one in our head. Because, although the early Christians didn’t know the word “computer,” they taught that our mind acts like one.
The First Century Christians wrote at length about our mind and, as we know, they wrote about it in the ancient Greek language of their day (that language is now extinct). The First Century Greek word for “mind” is nous (pronounced like a hangman’s “noose'”) and comes from the Greek root “to know.” Because of that, nous has three possible meanings, depending on how it’s used in a sentence:
1. First, nous can refer to our mind’s ability to understand things.
2. Second, nous can refer to our mind’s ability to make decisions.
3. Third, nous can refer to our mind’s ability to exert will power.
Beyond these three abilities, the early Christians gave our mind no other abilities. For example, they didn’t give it the ability to act as a “magnet” to attract money, status, and possessions to us in some mysterious way.
Now, before continuing with the role that our mind plays in Spiritual growth, let’s pause to see some evidence showing how the early Christians used the word nous when writing about the abilities of our mind.
Here are three quick references showing how the early Christians used the word nous. We’ll use parentheses to indicate where the word nous appears in each quote. The first quote shows that our mind has the ability to understand things. Here it is.
1. At one point in time, Jesus Christ, the most incredible teacher who ever lived, was trying to teach His disciples a Spiritual lesson. But the disciples were frightened and confused and couldn’t grasp His point. So here’s what Jesus did:
“Then He opened their minds (nous) so that they could understand the Scriptures.
He told them, ‘This is what is written’…”[1. Adapted from Luke, chapter 24, verses 45-47. The First Century Greek word for “mind” is nous, pronounced like a hangman’s “noose’.”]
Notice the word “understand” in this quote. It shows that the first ability the early Christians gave the human mind is the ability to understand things. Next, here’s the second quote. It shows that our mind has the ability to make decisions.
2. In the city of Rome in 58 AD, some Christians were having trouble deciding whether the first day of the week was more holy than any other day of the week. So the apostle Paul wrote them a letter to settle the issue. Here’s what Paul said:
“One man or woman considers one day more sacred than another. Another
man or woman considers every day alike. Each person has to be fully convinced
in his or her own mind (nous).”[2. Adapted from Romans, chapter 14, verse 5.]
Notice the word “convinced” in this quote. It shows that the second ability the early Christians gave the human mind is the ability to make decisions. Finally, let’s see the third quote. It shows that our mind has the ability to exert will power.
3. In Greece in 51 AD, some false teachers were spreading the rumor among the Christian groups that the end of the world had already taken place. So the apostle Paul wrote a letter to the Christians in Greece to clear up the confusion. Here’s what Paul said to them:
“Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our assembling to meet
Him, we beg you, brothers, not to be easily shaken in mind (nous) or upset …
by some letter or message supposed to have come from us saying that the Day
of the Lord has already come. Don’t let anybody deceive you that way …”[3. Adapted from Second Thessalonians, chapter 2, verses 1-3.]
Notice the two italicized words “shaken” and “let” in Paul’s message. They show that the third ability the early Christians gave the human mind is its ability to exert will power and to stick to a lesson previously learned or a decision previously made.
To summarize, these three quotes are important because they show that the early Christians only gave our mind three abilities. They gave it the ability to understand. They gave it the ability to make decisions. And they gave it the ability to exert will power. Beyond those three, they gave our mind no other abilities – and they certainly didn’t give it the “magnetic” ability to make us rich and famous.
But it’s also important to know that there’s one more ability the early Christians didn’t give the human mind – although many people assume (or at least hope) that our mind has that ability. In part 2, we’re going to talk about that incorrectly assumed ability. Let’s continue on to Part 2 now.
All Domestic and International Rights Reserved.