Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

September 17
Thursday


THE THINKING
CHRISTIAN

READ:
2 Cor. 10:1-11
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David McCullough's biography of John Adams, one of American's founding fathers and early presidents, describes him as "both a devout Christian and an independent thinker, and he saw no conflict in that." I am struck by that statement, for it carries a note of surprise, suggesting that Christians are somehow naive or unenlightened, and that the idea of a "thinking Christian" is a contradiction.

Nothing could be further from the truth. One of the great benefits of salvation is that it causes the believer's mind to be guarded by the peace of God (Phil. 4:7). Which can foster clear thinking, discernment, and wisdom. Paul described this in his second letter to Corinth when he wrote that in Christ we are equipped for "casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" (2 Cor. 10:5).

To sift through an argument wisely, to embrace the clarity of the knowledge of God, and to align our thinking with the mind of Christ are valuable skills when living in a world lacking in discernment. These skills enable us to use our minds to represent Christ. Every Christian should be a thinking christian. Arte you? __Bill Crowder
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````````````````If you grasp the message of God's Word,```````````
````````````````If you've learned to think things through,```````````
````````````````Then you can defend the Christian faith````````````
`````````````With wise words both clear and true. __Branon`````````
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Faith was never intended
as a substitute for intelligence.

*************Today's Bible Reading __ 2 Corinthians 10:1-11********

1 Now I Paul, myself am
pleading with you by the
meekness and gentleness of
Christ--who in presence am
lowly among you, but being
absent am bold toward you.

2 But I beg you that when I
am present I may not be bold
with that confidence by
which I intend to be bold
against some, who think of
us as if we walked according
to the flesh. 3 For though we
walk in the flesh, we do not
war according to the flesh.

4 For the weapons of our
warfare are not carnal but
mighty in God for pulling
down strongholds, 5 casting
down arguments and every
high thing that exalts itself
against the knowledge of
God, bringing every thought
into captivity to the
obedience of Christ, 6 and
being ready to punish all
disobedience when your
obedience is fulfilled.

7 Do you look at things
according to the outward
appearance? If anyone is
convinced in himself that he
is Christ's, let him again
consider this in himself, that
just as he is Christ's, even so
we are Christ's. 8 For even if
I should boast somewhat
more about our authority,
which the Lord gave us for
edification and not for your
destruction, I shall not be
ashamed__ 9 lest I seem to
terrify you by letters. 10 "For
his letters," they say, "are
weighty and powerful, but
his bodily presence is weak,
and his speech contemptible."

11 Let such a person consider
this, that what we are in word
by letters when we are
absent, such we will also be
in deed when we are present.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

In the war of ideas, God's truth contends with the evil one's deceit
(vv.4-5). Rather then retreat from active engagement with the world,
we are to interact with the weapons God has supplied. His Word
and Spirit are completely sufficient for this. __DENNIS FISHER