Seeking the Mind of Christ

Editorial
May/June, 1992
Volume 27, Number 3

“Forward…Seeking the Mind of Christ” is the theme of the 1992 Annual Conference of the Church of the Brethren. The Alexander Mack seal will be the logo. The moderator wants us to look forward while at the same time we hold in regard the founding principles of the Brethren.

Seeking the mind of Christ is a worthy goal in the life of the Christian. Desiring to do those things which He desires, thinking His thoughts, and having His attitude in all of life’s joys and problems, are what all Christians should work toward as we grow in grace.

Some might say that knowing Christ’s mind is a difficult thing. God’s will is a mysterious thing, they say, and one should seek a mystical revelation in order to truly know the direction in life that we are to follow. Some portray God as One who hides His will from us, and who makes it hard for us to know what He wants us to do. Yet the Scriptures tell us that they were written “that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31).

The Bible reveals all that God wants us to know about salvation and the new life in Christ. We read the Bible, and study it, and seek to understand those things which are expressed in it. Some parts are more difficult than others, but much is so very clear and forthright–that if we simply follow those things we do understand, we will not have time to worry about the things we do not comprehend.

Perhaps our difficulty lies not in knowing the mind of Christ, but in submitting ourselves to it. Many in the church are proud in their “modern” knowledge of history and philosophy and theology, so much so that the simple practice of submission to God’s revealed will is beneath them. Kneeling to wash another’s feet, making restitution for stolen goods, telling others about Christ, adhering to Biblical moral values–these are old-fashioned, they say. “We need to keep up with the times,” is their watchword. These points of view indicate an inclination to disobey the Word of God.

Yet such attitudes are foreign to “the mind of Christ.” As the Son of God himself demonstrated when He became a man, our attitude is to be a submissive one. Jesus Christ could rightfully exercise all of God’s prerogatives, but He gave them up, so as to earn/ out the Father’s plan of salvation. He gave up His rights for the benefit of others. This is the mind or attitude of Christ that we need to imitate and seek.

In the following article, Harold Martin reminds us of some basics, not only of seeking the mind of Christ, but also of putting it into practice, and doing what we already know of His mind. Let us be encouraged not only to seek Christ’s mind, but also to submit to it and to do it.

–Craig Alan Myers

Seeking the Mind of Christ

By Harold S. Martin

The theme for the 1992 Annual Conference scheduled to be held at Richmond, Virginia focuses on the rich motto, “Seeking the Mind of Christ.” The goal of those who planned the theme is to inspire us to move forward, seeking more and more to be like Jesus.

The phrase, “the mind of Christ,” is found in the writings of the Apostle Paul. In Philippians 2: 5-8 Paul was inspired to appeal to Christians by saying, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (verse 5), and then he described
the humility Jesus exhibited when He “emptied himself” (verse 7). That is, Jesus laid aside the glory of the position He had with God the Father, and came from heaven to earth. He did not lay aside His deity, but He took on the limitations of a physical body.

Having “the mind of Christ” involves thinking His thoughts, loving what He loves, hating what He hates, and having the same desires and goals that He expressed. Those seeking the mind of Christ will eagerly try to follow in His footsteps.

If Jesus Christ is the most important person in history, then what He taught is the most important body of truth given to the human family. What was it that seemed important to Jesus) What principles did He cherish? On what basis were His choices made?

It is our aim to examine in the study today some of the teachings of Jesus which are expressions of the mind of Christ. These include obedience to God’s Word, the authority of Scripture, the way of salvation, separation from the world, the necessity of forgiveness, and the nature of the hereafter.

1. OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S WORD

We should follow Jesus first of all in obedience to God. John 8:29 records the words of Jesus when He said, “For I always do what is pleasing to him” (NRSV). Jesus made it clear that He always obeys the Father, and we are to follow Him!

Obedience is subjection to the will of another, performing the pleasure of another, and compliance with the instructions of another. Jesus obeyed the heavenly Father in word and deed, so that there was not even the slightest deviation from the Father’s will. And Jesus is to be our example. Jesus repeatedly asked people to follow Him–a prospective disciple (Matthew 8:22), fishermen of Galilee (Mark 1:17), and a tax collector named Levi (Matthew 9:9). Later, during His Galilean ministry, Jesus said, “And whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:38).

Concerning obedience to God, Jesus always did what pleased the heavenly Father. As a follower of Jesus, I must ask some serious questions: How do I feel about the laws of God) What is my attitude toward the Bible (which is a revelation of the will of God)! Is doing God’s will a delight–or, are His commandments grievous! Jesus said on one occasion that those who hear the Word of God and obey it are blessed (Luke 11:28). Our lives from day to day should be characterized by one strenuous effort to obey God in every detail. To do so is evidence of embracing “the mind of Christ.”

One unknown writer compiled the following statements: “Ye call me Master and obey me not; ye call me wise and follow me not; ye call me rich and ask me not; ye call me eternal and seek me not; ye call me noble and serve me not; ye call me mighty and honor me not; ye call me just and fear me not; if I condemn thee–blame me not!” Jesus says, “Why call me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46). Those who pursue “the mind of Christ” will eagerly seek to obey the teachings of the New Testament, and will pay special attention to the words of Jesus.

2. THE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE

We learn more about “the mind of Christ” when we examine His views of Holy Scripture. One of the most convincing aspects of the Bible’s trustworthiness is found in the testimony of Jesus. The Sadducees (Matthew 22:24-32) tried to trap Jesus and referred to Deuteronomy 25:5 when questioning Him. They did not believe in the resurrection, and they made up a hypothetical
story about a widow who had seven husbands. All seven of the men died, and so they said, “Which one of these seven will be her husband in the resurrection)” Jesus answered by quoting Exodus 3:6, where Scripture says, “I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Jesus flatly told the Sadducees that what Moses had written was “spoken to you by God” (Matthew 22:31).

Furthermore, Jesus spoke of the creation of Adam and Eve (Matthew 19:4), the Flood that destroyed the world in Noah’s time (Luke 17:27), and the miracles performed by Elijah (Luke 4:25)–and gave no hint that these events might not be true happenings. Jesus referred to the fish that swallowed Jonah (Matthew 12:40), the life of David (Matthew 12:3), the glory of Solomon (Matthew 6:29), the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Luke 17:28-30), and the provision of manna from heaven in the wilderness (John 6:31)–and in all this record of Jesus’ words there is not even the slightest intimation at any time that the Scriptures may be inaccurate at any point. Also, Jesus pre-authenticated the New Testament. In John 16:12, Jesus expressly declared that He was leaving many things unrevealed. In John 16:13, Jesus promised that this revelation would be completed after the Spirit came. In John 17:20, Jesus expected that this new revelation would be recorded for future generations. It is true that the apostles might forget what Jesus had said, but Jesus assured them that they would not be left to their own fallible memories, but that the Holy Spirit would bring to mind all that He had said to them (John 14:26). One cannot understand Christ’s attitude toward the Scriptures, apart from believing that it was His conviction that they were without error. And when we discover what Jesus thought about the Scriptures, that is what we are to think about them.

There are many convincing lines of proof for the absolute accuracy of the Bible, but the crowning proof of all evidences, is the testimony of Jesus himself. Jesus Christ is sinless, and therefore He cannot lie. Jesus Christ is omniscient, and therefore He knows whether the Bible is the Word of God or whether it is the word of mere human beings. To Jesus Christ the Scriptures were the infallible Word of God, of which not one Scripture could be broken (John 10:35), and thus they are the final court beyond which there is no appeal. To have “the mind of Christ” is to believe in the absolute accuracy of the Bible, and to use the Scriptures as a weapon when meeting the temptations of Satan (Matthew 4:1-11).

3. THE WAY OF SALVATION

Jesus said, “The Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10), and so when Jesus said to Zacchaeus, “Today salvation has come to this house” (Luke 19:9), He implied that Zacchaeus was one of the sinners in deep need of salvation. The word “salvation” refers to the entire work by which God rescues us from our sinful state, and transforms us into new creatures with new goals in life.

One of the most widely rejected teachings of the Bible is that of the total depravity of every human being. Jesus said (Mark 7:21-23), “For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” There are loathsome things within the unregenerate human heart: lions of rage, serpents of deceit, peacocks of pride, mules of stubbornness, tigers of criticism, and hogs of greed. They are all there, deeply ingrained on the inside.

In spite of all the Twentieth Century statements about the goodness of man, the fact is that we have all been born with a bias toward sin, which was transmitted at conception (Psalm 51:5). And because sin is universal (Romans 3:23), salvation is the supreme need of every human soul–and nothing but genuine repentance and faith in Jesus Christ is the solution. Jesus implies further that water baptism provides an outward and visible sign of inward grace (Mark 16:16).

Many people react negatively to the words of Acts 4:12 where the apostles said that there is no other name than that of Jesus to call upon for salvation. Yet that is the specific teaching of Jesus himself, when He said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). There are some ethical values in the great world religions. We admire the Muslim’s faithfulness in prayer, the Hindu’s dedication to meditation, and the Jew’s strictness in keeping the sabbath, but none of these ethical standards has any saving value, because all promote salvation through human self-effort. No other religious teacher could atone for the sins of the whole human race, for no other teacher lived a perfect life, and died and arose from the dead, and then returned to God to prepare a heavenly home for his followers. God offered Jesus as the only channel by which we can have an eternal relationship with himself. To have “the mind of Christ” is to believe that receiving Jesus into the heart is the only way of salvation .

4. SEPARATION FROM THE WORLD

The New Testament speaks of Jesus as an eternal high priest who is “holy, blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens” (Hebrews 7:26). Jesus walked a path of separation from the world. He passed through the world, and lived in the world, but He did not partake of its illicit affairs. Jesus associated with sinful people for the purpose of reaching them and winning them for the kingdom of God, but He did not partake of their evil ways. And Jesus prayed for us, when He prayed, “The world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world” (John 17:14).

The doctrine of separation from the world is pooh-poohed in most churches today, but the Bible from beginning to end stresses the importance of “coming out from among” the world system. In John 17:16 Jesus says, “They are not of the world even as I am not of the world.” In Romans 12;2, we read, “Do not be conformed to this world.” In 2 Corinthians 6:17 we are instructed to “come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord.” James 4:4 says, “Whoever wishes to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” And in 1 John 2:15, God says through the Apostle John, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world.” From beginning to end there is a similar emphasis. Every writer seems to strike the same note. Jesus and the apostles all say essentially the same thing. We are to be separate, and not to conform to the greed and pride and vanity and immodesty and selfcenteredness of those who follow the world’s human-centered way of life.

The “world” from which we are to separate, is the whole value-system which dominates society and is contrary to the ways of God. The Scripture breaks “worldliness” into three component parts (1 John 2:16-17): Sensualism (“the lust of the flesh”) Materialism (“the lust of the eyes”) Egotism (“the pride of life”) The world which we are not to love basically ignores God and operates by ungodly standards. As the hymn writer implies, “This vile world” is not a “friend to grace, to help us on to God.” It seeks to dominate our personalities, and to mold our thoughts, and to get us to try and find happiness apart from God.

Many of us will have to admit that the lives of most church members really are not very much different from the world about us. We hang around church buildings a little more. We abstain from a few things. But we simply are not that different!! One of the reasons we are ineffective in evangelism, is that we are so much like the people around us that we have very little to which we can call them!! The fact is, in most of our churches, what we have isn’t that much different from what they already have.

We must refuse to be guided by the world’s standards of right and wrong. We must determine not to swim with the tide. We must resist the urge to follow the crowd. Our model is Jesus who is holy, harmless, undefiled, and separated from sinners.

5. THE NECESSITY OF FORGIVENESS

Jesus said, as recorded in Matthew 6:14-15, “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” And in Luke 6:37, He says, “Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”

The word “forgive” means to dismiss, to acquit, to loose another from a debt or an injustice. It also implies giving up an inward feeling of resentment and anger–and the restoration of a feeling of favor and affection.

At the heart of Jesus’ teaching is the insistence that the human being who will not forgive his fellow human being–will not be forgiven of God! Jesus in essence says, “How dare you ask God to forgive you, when you refuse your forgiveness to a brother?” We cannot measure the debt of gratitude we owe God for the forgiveness of our sins, and thus we must show great mercy to those who sin against us.

Jesus laid great stress on forgiving injuries. They are of three kinds: injury to the person (Matthew 5:39), loss of property (Matthew 5:40), and defamation of character (Matthew 5:11). And in Matthew 18, Jesus gives instructions about the steps to be taken in securing reconciliation when personal injuries occur. It begins with a private session to talk things over; it is to be followed by taking one or two others along if reconciliation could not be accomplished in the private session; if the matter still cannot be settled, then it is to be shared with the church (with the local body).

We are to take Jesus as our guide, and thus we are to forgive those who mistreat us in the same way that God has forgiven us (Ephesians 4:32). In the prayer which Jesus taught His disciples, we pray, “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” We ask God to forgive us only to the extent that we are willing to forgive others.

A man once said to John Wesley, “You know, Mr. Wesley, I never forgive.” To which Mr. Wesley said, “Then, sir, I hope that you never sin.” Some will say, “But no one knows how much I have been wronged and how deeply I have been hurt.” But has anyone wronged us more than we have wronged God? Just as there is no limit to God’s forgiveness of our sins, so there should be no limit to our willingness to forgive those who have wronged us. And just as God blots out our sins like a thick cloud (Isaiah 44:22), just so, when we have accepted the apology of another, and have said, “I forgive you”–then the matter should be laid aside, and should not be brought up again. The Christian who seeks to manifest “the mind of Christ” will be quick to forgive those who trespass against him.

6. THE NATURE OF THE HEREAFTER

There is an “otherworld” emphasis in the teachings of Jesus. He had a constant sense of a life beyond, both for saints and for sinners. Jesus spoke often of the joy and blessedness of the redeemed, and of the unhappy fate of those who die in a lost condition. Some believe that death will “end it all,” and they don’t care to investigate options about any kind of hereafter. But Jesus says, “The hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and will come out–those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation” (John 5:28-29).

Some people have wondered whether heaven and hell should be thought of as literal places. The various descriptions of hell (as a lake of fire, as outer darkness, and as a garbage dump) suggest to some minds that these are figures of something bad — but are not necessarily descriptions of a real place. There are likewise several descriptions of heaven which lead some to believe that heaven is not a literal place. Yet Jesus spoke of heaven as a “place.” He said, “I go and prepare a place for you” (John 14:2-3). Jesus also spoke of hell as a “place.” He told about the man in hell who wanted his brothers warned “so that they will not also come into this place of torment” (Luke 16:28).

Jesus had a lot to say about heaven. To those who suffer on earth for righteousness sake, He said, “Your reward is great in heaven” (Luke 6:23). Whatever else heaven is, it is a place where God’s people shall be immensely rewarded. When Jesus said that He is going to prepare a place for us, He promised to come back and take us with Him “that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:3). Jesus further promised that those who acknowledge Him before others, will be remembered “before the angels of God” (Luke 12:8). Jesus will introduce us before the angelic hosts of heaven. The Apostle Jude speaks of this presentation before the glorious presence of God as an event marked by great joy (Jude 24).

Jesus taught much also about the grim reality of hell. He described it as a place of fire, when at the end of the age, the angels will “separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:49-50). Jesus described hell also as a place of darkness. There will be those who will be bound hand and foot and cast into “the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 22:13). Jesus also spoke of hell as a loathsome p/ace. Jesus said it would be better for us to enter life crippled (without a hand or an eye), than to be thrown into hell where the “worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched” (Mark 9:43-48).

These sayings of Jesus don’t require any comment. They are fearful words. If the concept of a fiery hell does not shake us, we are hard-hearted indeed. And even if Jesus was using figurative language in these passages, still the description of hell as a place where the fire never goes out, needs a great deal of serious reflection.

The life that will culminate in heaven hereafter, is a life that is marked by a personal relationship with Jesus Christ on earth now. To believe in Jesus as our sin-bearing Substitute is the only way to be saved for eternity. But Jesus is not only the Messiah, our Redeemer and Savior. He is also our Model in life and our Pattern for daily living. The instruction in 1 John 2:6 is very clear: “Whoever says, ‘I abide in him,’ ought to walk just as he walked.”

The girl who operated the telephone switchboard in an office building, occasionally got a call from a man who asked her what time it was. She would answer, and he would quickly hang up. This went on for a number of months, and finally the girl asked the man who he was, and why he called so often to ask for the correct time. He said that he was the man responsible to blow the whistle at the nearby factory, and he wanted to sound the whistle at the correct time. “It’s a funny thing,” the girl said, “But I always set my clock by your whistle.” And you know–that’s what happens many times among Christians. We set our standards by what we see in the lives of other people, or by what seems reasonable to the human mind–and it gradually leads us farther away from God’s perfect standard. We need to “set our lives” by “the mind of Christ”–and make Him our example and model for living and thinking and acting. We must make it our goal to accept His truth, and walk in His way, and surrender to His will. May the theme, “Seeking the Mind of Christ,” challenge all of us to demonstrate the same attitudes that Jesus showed when He walked among human beings here on earth.

Register Now

BBI Registration Now Open!

Come explore God’s Word with us!. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. – Romans 10:17”
Sign up today!

THE BOOK OF DANIEL

Captivity… Dreams… Rulers… Fire… Lions… Prayers… Kingdoms. From a dedicated youth to a faithful sage, Daniel’s life stands as an example to follow.  Yet beyond his personal life, God gifted Daniel with a message of future events.  Though difficult to grasp, these events would shape the world for the coming Messiah and the Second Coming of Christ as King.

STUDIES IN LUKE

Luke presents a warmly personal and historically accurate account of Jesus as “the Son of Man.” This course will survey the Third Gospel, with emphasis on the unique events, miracles, and parables of Jesus found in it.

HISTORY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

This class will provide a broad overview of general church history. We will then focus on the Anabaptist and Pietist movements, especially as they relate to the formation and development of the Brethren groups. This is a two-part class. Plan to take both parts.

ONE FOUNDATION

This course is intended to lay down a measure in a world where truth is slippery and often subject to interpretation. Where “Christian Values” become a political slogan, and “good people” are our allies despite their faulty core beliefs. Where Facebook “friends” post memes about the power of God, despite a lifestyle that is anything but Godly. In the process we often fight among ourselves, doing Satan’s work for him. The purpose of this course is to lay the measure of Jesus Christ against the cults, religions, and worship in our contemporary world.

THE APOCRYPHA

While Protestant translations of the Bible contain 66 books, the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches recognize additional canonical books as well.  Where did these books, collectively known as the Apocrypha, come from and why aren’t they part of our Bible?  How reliable are they, and what value is there in studying them?

STUDIES IN 1 AND 2 PETER

The goal of this class is to acquire a firm grasp of the teachings and themes of these two general epistles. Peter covers topics from salvation and suffering to spiritual deception and the return of Christ. These letters are packed with warnings and encouragements for Christian living.

THE GREAT I AM’S OF CHRIST

A detailed study of Jesus Christ and His relationship to the “I Am” metaphors in John’s gospel. Why did Jesus describe himself in these terms? How do they relate to each other? We will look at spiritual and practical applications to further our Christian growth.

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES: AN AMERICAN CULT

Have you ever been visited by someone who said they wanted to study the Bible with you so that you might discover the truth together?  Jehovah’s Witnesses claim to have much in common with evangelical Christians, and they seem to be well versed in the scriptures.  But what do they really believe and how can we effectively witness to those who have been ensnared by this false religion?

THE BOOK OF HOSEA

While we may consider Hosea as one of the minor prophets, his message vividly illustrates the major doctrine in all Scriptures.  The theme of God’s unconditional love is magnified and extended beyond those deserving it.  God expresses tender words towards His erring people inviting them to turn from sin to reconciliation with Him.

CHURCH LEADERSHIP AND ADMINISTRATION

This course will look at basic principles and polity of leading the local church. We will examine the balance between upholding a spiritually focused organism of ministry and cultivating proper order for effective organization. Practical applications will be emphasized. This is a two-part class. Plan to take both parts.

STATEMENT OF CONDUCT

The Brethren Bible Institute believes in the discipline of the whole person (spirit, soul, and body). We will aim to train students not only about how to study the Bible in a systematic way (2 Timothy 2:15), but also how to live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world (Titus 2:12). God calls Christians to the highest of character when He commands us to be holy (1 Peter 1:15), and holiness requires discipline.

Indulgence in the use of tobacco, alcoholic beverages, drugs, profanity, and gambling are forbidden at BBI. Objectionable literature will be prohibited. Students are asked not to use the college pool during the Institute. Each student must be thoughtful, and respect the rights of others at all times, especially during study and rest periods.

A friendly social group intermingling of students between class periods, and at general school activities is encouraged. Each student should enjoy the friendship of the entire group. At all times, highest standards of social conduct between men and women must be maintained. This means that all forms of unbecoming behavior and unseemly familiarities will be forbidden.

Personal appearance and grooming tell much about one's character. Students are expected to be dressed in good taste. In an attempt to maintain Scriptural expressions of simplicity, modesty, and nonconformity, the following regulations shall be observed while attending BBI.

MEN should be neatly attired and groomed at all times. Fashion extremes and the wearing of jewelry should be avoided on campus. The hair should not fall over the shirt-collar when standing, nor should it cover the ears.

WOMEN should wear skirts cut full enough and of sufficient length to at least come to the knees when standing and sitting. Form-fitting, transparent, low-neckline, or sleeveless clothing will not be acceptable. Slacks and culottes are permitted only for recreation and then only when worn under a skirt of sufficient length. Wearing jewelry should be avoided on campus. Long hair for women is encouraged and all Church of the Brethren girls (and others with like convictions) shall be veiled on campus.

The Institute reserves the right to dismiss any student whose attitude and behavior is not in harmony with the ideals of the School, or whose presence undermines the general welfare of the School, even if there is no specific breach of conduct.

The Brethren Bible Institute is intended to provide sound Bible teaching and wholesome Christian fellowship for all who desire it. The Bible School Committee worked hard and long at the task of arriving at standards, which will be pleasing to the Lord. It is not always easy to know just where the line should be drawn and we do not claim perfection. No doubt certain standards seem too strict for some and too loose for others. If you are one who does not share all these convictions, we hope you will agree to adjust to them for the School period, for the sake of those who do. We are confident that the blessings received will far outweigh any sacrifice you may have to make. If you have a special problem or question, please write to us about it. To be accepted as a student at BBI, you will need to sign a statement indicating that you will cooperate with the standards of the School.