Christian Living

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What hinders a Christian in their walk with God and how can they address these issues for their spiritual betterment?

CHAPTER 6
HOW CAN I AVOID INFLUENCES THAT CORRUPT MY MIND?

In an earlier chapter we talked about addressing the weaknesses of the flesh. Each of us has a sin nature (the flesh) that has affections [innate forces resident in the evil nature; propensities (a natural inclination or tendency41)] and lusts (forces reaching out to find expression in the gratification of these desires; to the goings forth of the soul towards objects which it is wrong to pursue42).
We mentioned that now that we are a Christian we need to learn how to put ourselves under subjection to the Spirit so that we are no longer under the power of the sin nature. This occurs when our mind is renewed by means of the word of God and the unification of the Holy Spirit with our human spirit. The renewal of the mind relates to putting off the thoughts of the old man and putting on the thoughts of the new man. This new way of thinking is found in the word of God and hopefully is disseminated to us by the leadership of the church. Our responsibility is to appropriate these new thoughts and have them be the new way that we think.

●Thoughts of crediting someone with evil should be replaced with thoughts of believing the best about them unless positive evidence indicates otherwise.
●Thoughts of being critical of others because they were not doing things the way we thought that they should do them should be replaced with thoughts of minding our own business.
●Thoughts of lust toward members of the same or opposite sex should be replaced with thoughts of seeking to save that which is lost, and to know no person after their flesh.
●Thoughts of addiction should be replaced with thoughts of attending the gathering of the saints for the benefits of hearing God’s transforming word and being impacted by the Holy Spirit’s presence.
●Thoughts of getting even with someone who has done us wrong should be replaced with thoughts of praying to God for the removal of the divine punishment upon them, that they not perish, and for an opportunity to speak the gospel to them.
●Thoughts of slander toward someone who is saying bad things about us should be replaced with thoughts of speaking only of those things which we can commend in them.

Hopefully as we begin each day we will put on these new thoughts that provide for us a divine perspective in those areas of weakness that have inhibited us on a day to day basis in the past. As we go about throughout our day there will be many influences coming at us from the affections and lusts of other people’s sin nature whether it be by means of our personal interaction with them or by means of media entertainment. I call this life. We talked earlier about addressing personal associations in a previous chapter, but what about addressing media entertainment. This could come in the form of movies, television, internet, video games, DVDs, etc.
In most cases what we hear and see in regards to media entertainment is projected to us from the perspective of the sin nature, unless we are watching a broadcast that features a Spirit-filled Christian, probably one in a leadership capacity, conveying to us the word of God in the power of the Spirit.

Before I was saved there were three genres in television that I couldn’t get enough of. These are the genres about science fiction, mysteries, and sports, in particular wrestling. After I got saved and for many years thereafter I still watched shows in these genre areas without discretion. As you know when we watch TV our minds usually are in what I would call the passive mode. We take in what we see and hear and in many instances without any regard to what is being said or in any regard to the images that are being displayed. After the show is over some of these thoughts and visual images would come back and replay themselves over and over in my mind. Sometimes they would trigger my weaknesses and before I know it I are back entertaining memories in this regard. Instead of finding myself meditating on God’s word I was now in subjection to the affections and lusts of the flesh.
As I continued to attend worship services hearing messages about the new person I had become I began to notice that the thoughts of the flesh and thoughts of the Spirit are contrary to one another. If our mind is entertaining earthly thoughts and images then this will restrain the influences of the Spirit. Likewise if our mind is entertaining spiritual thoughts and images, then this will restrain the influences of the sin nature. The flesh and the Spirit are enemies, being opposite in their nature.

For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. Gal 5:17

So I had to make some adjustments as to what I was going to choose to let my mind be influenced by. Some of you who are reading this might say, oh no, here we go with legalism, don’t do this and don’t do that. Legalism is a form of religion that tries to please God by what we do. In this setting there is no empowerment by the Holy Spirit, probably no indwelling Spirit, and very little if any instruction concerning appropriating the new truths about the one new man who we have become at salvation.
In contrast spirituality is based on a relationship with God the Father by means of repenting to Him and believing in Jesus, being substantiated by the receiving of the Holy Spirit. Godliness is learning how to develop a fellowship with God the Father by means of the perspective of the word of God and ministry of the Holy Spirit. The emphasis is not on doing this or that for God, but is on having a change of mind that will provide for us the proper motivation in the actions that follow.

I hope that this helps to clarify the difference between legalism and Godliness.

For me it didn’t mean that I gave up media entertainment in its entirety. I suppose I could have, but remember we still have to live here on this earth. I don’t believe that we are to stick our head in the sand and be oblivious to everything around us. If that were the case we might as well go somewhere in the wilderness where no one else lives, build a log cabin, and be removed from society. Remember we are to be lights that shine in the world and not out of it.
What I needed to do was apply discretion, and not just total abandonment concerning watching media entertainment. I still watch sports, but simply not as much as I used to. The only sport that I am devoted to is football as I watch my favorite team on a weekly basis. As far as wrestling goes, I gave this up. I found that the violent images of men toward men, women toward women, men toward women along with the verbal abuse that was scripted from one wrestler to the other was something that I no longer wanted to see and listen to. Once in a while I might watch a sci-fi movie. As far as mysteries go, I don’t watch these anymore. I find that there is an infatuation with violence and sex in most of these kinds of movies where people are being exploited and abused by others. Once in a while there will be a series that will portray someone’s life that I might find interesting. I watch the news in order to keep up with current events both locally, nationally, and internationally. And lastly, I no longer play video games. I used to like the 3rd person shooters, but these engage the mind in a kind of live or die mentality.

We could extend this conversation by talking about what kind of clothing is appropriate for Christians to wear?
Should a Christian abstain from drinking alcohol?
Is a Christian allowed to gamble?
In our attempt to answer any of these questions, what we need to ask our self is, is the decision that I might make going to bring me into subjection to thoughts and images that will eventually corrupt my mind?

I hope that this helps you in your walk with God. Being a Christian doesn’t mean that we separate ourselves from everyone and everything in the world. But what is does mean is that we should apply the discretion that we receive from the word of God in regards to: our associations, where we go to church, and to the influence of thoughts and images that we allow to enter into our mind.

Before we close this chapter let’s look at a couple of sections of scripture in this regard.

Please go to Col. 3.

Set Your Affection On Things Above
Col 3:2
We are commanded to choose to set our minds on heavenly realities and values, which are determined by the presence and power of the risen Christ, and not set our minds on earthly realities and values.

Which of these realities and values is our mind centered on?

Some might say that if our mind is occupied with heavenly realities and values then we are of no earthly good.
Just because we are a Christian doesn’t mean that we can’t own a home.
Just because we are a Christian doesn’t mean that we can’t own a car.
Just because we are a Christian doesn’t meant that we can’t have a savings account.
Being a Christian means that we have a new nature, a new mind, and a new perspective about ourselves and others which serves as the catalyst for the Holy Spirit to empower us, to guide us, and to teach us.

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

As we choose to listen to the transforming word in the power of the Spirit we will have divine discretion concerning what we should and should not allow to influence our mind.

Let’s take a look at Gal. 6.

Reap Life Everlasting
Gal 6:6,8
Paul is saying to the Galatian believers that those, who are being taught in the word, should support financially those who teach.

6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.

For if we are so entirely devoted to the flesh (to its bodily appetites or natural desires), as to direct all our thoughts to its interests or convenience43, then we shall receive the physical and moral decay or rottenness that follows sins of the flesh44.
But if we expend thought, time, effort, money, upon the furthering in ourselves and in others of the fruits of the Spirit, he shall receive from that Holy Spirit to whose guidance dwelling within him he resigns himself, that quickening of his whole being, body, soul, and spirit, for an everlasting existence in glory45.

8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

I am using the idea of sowing to the Spirit in regards to financial giving as an application concerning what we as believers should allow to influence our mind. Discretion comes from sowing to the Spirit. As we choose to put on the mind of Christ the fruit of and the guidance by the Spirit will be operative in our life, and because of such we can go to God the Father in prayer requesting assistance in helping us discern what thoughts and images we should entertain and those that we shouldn’t.

Lastly, let’s leave you with a couple of verses from the Book of Proverbs.

So Is He
Prov 23:7-8
For as a person is in his heart, so is he in act. This person is referred to here as being a host, who watches every morsel which his guest eats, and grudges what he appears to offer so liberally46. He estimates his meats, and the cost of the entertainment, more than he does you; and is ill at ease if you eat much of his food47.

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words.
Proverbs 23:7-8

As an application for us, who are Christians, it is so true that what we think in our heart so determines who we are in our actions.

If you notice in your thoughts that you are contemplating: wanting to physically assault someone who has said something that you didn’t like; wanting to ruin someone’s reputation by making up false stories about them; taking what someone else owns; having sexual relations outside of your marriage; going over someone’s house to just hang around with someone who knowingly is an alcoholic or drug addict; watching pornographic movies, committing fornication with someone of the same or opposite sex, etc., then what you are allowing to influence your mind is wisdom that is from below, being earthly.

If this is the state of your mind, then there needs to be an increase of divine influence by means of personal study and attentiveness to the gatherings of the saints for the purpose of hearing the word of God and being impacted by the presence of the Holy Spirit.

If you notice that in your thoughts you are contemplating: wanting to see your neighbor respond to the Gospel; bringing an unbeliever to a bible study or church worship; thanking God for your family and all that he has provided you with; asking God to help you address certain areas of weakness; speaking good things to others about those who have spoken bad things about you; being a witness of Christ by doing good toward those who don’t like you; trying to arrange a home visitation to help those who are enslaved by an addiction; etc., then what you are allowing to influence your mind is wisdom that is from above, being spiritual.

If this is the state of your mind, then you are a good place in your walk with God.

In the next and last chapter we will look at a mindset that has caused me much anguish.

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