Minding On Over

And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds -- Colossians 1:21

I ran across a link on Drudge today about research into near-death experiences.  Apparently they have done some extensive studies that validate claims people make about leaving their bodies and observing things from a different perspective.  I don’t base my faith on anything like that, but it is something to ponder.  My heart has never stopped that I know of.  I did get severely injured one time and had a really odd experience of watching myself fall.  There’s no question that trauma does funny things and can potentially alter what we recall about an event. 

I don’t pretend to know how body and soul come together or where the spirit is, but I am more or less convinced that the mind does not reside in the physical brain.  It’s just a gooey interface.  The Bible says over and over that the life is in the blood.  There seems to be a connection between mind and heart in Scripture.  My problems are not all in my head, but a lot of what troubles me is in my mind.  We have talked about being double-minded, and how we cannot receive from God if we are constantly in doubt and conflicted.  How do you have two minds?  You must be out of your skull. 

Sometimes I can see it, but I do not think I can explain it.  We are in Christ -- Christ in you --the kingdom is within you -- put on Christ -- put off the old man -- who will free me?  -- no condemnation in Christ -- you have the mind of Christ -- let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.   

And consider Romans 8:5-7, with added emphasis:    

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.  To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.  For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.

Because of the cross, we who were alienated and hostile in mind are now able to lay aside the old mind.  We don’t get a new brain or a new physical heart, but we can step into a new mind, enter into the mind of Christ, sharing His understanding, love, compassion, strength, and goodness.  We can also go back, in times of stress and temptation, to the old way of thinking. 

The answer to failure is not guilt, self-condemnation, and self-recrimination.  We feel bad when we stumble, and we ought to, but the only solution is repentance – metanoia.  That's what I get for puttig it on in the dark.  Now that I'm out in the light, I can see that this mind does not work with this new spirit.  I need to go back in and change my mind.