A Word Of Hope about.....THINKING BIBLICALLY

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (New International Version)“4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

As we approach life and its struggles, it is helpful to remember to approach everything by reminding ourselves to “THINK BIBLICALLY”. I think that is part of what is meant by ‘taking every thought captive’ in the above verse. We are to think a thought as Christ would think that thought. In order to do that, we need to think Biblically. In order to think Biblically, we need to be continually growing in love, knowledge, and application of God’s Word!

So often as I meet with women, I often notice areas of unbiblical thinking. The best counsel I can give when I notice this is to challenge them (and myself) to be sure that we are thinking Biblically. For example: A woman has confessed to cheating on her husband, and she says “I know Christ died for my sins, but I still feel guilty. I don’t feel forgiven”. Is this Biblical thinking? No, because Biblical thinking would say that no matter how I ‘feel’, the fact is true that as a believer, I AM forgiven. Another example: The same woman says “I know Christ has forgiven me. So now I just need to forgive myself, but I don’t seem to be able to do it”. Is that Biblical thinking? No, because Biblical thinking would acknowledge that self-forgiveness is nowhere in Scripture, and it is trying to be your own god, in a sense. Biblical thinking would say that I need to acknowledge that Christ’s death on the cross was sufficient for me, and there is nothing more I need ‘do’.
Romans 5: 6You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! 10For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Here’s another example: A woman is struggling with excessive alcohol use. She is frustrated at her lack of victory in this area, and she says “it’s just the way I am. I just have to accept that I cannot change. It isn’t that big of a deal anyway”. Is this Biblical thinking? No, because Biblical thinking would acknowledge that in Christ, there is freedom. Christ’s death would be in vain if there was no victory over sin! Biblical thinking says “God CAN change me”.
Romans 6: 6For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.

What are some areas that you have caught yourself in unbiblical thinking?? I’d love to have you comment and add some more examples. You never know, someone might need to hear exactly what you have to say about your personal challenges with Biblical thinking vs. unbiblical thinking.

Let’s all remember to THINK BIBLICALLY!!