The Way of Deliverance 545
altered: only a Christian casing has been added. They use their old
brain to search, to accept and to propagate spiritual truth. Is it any
wonder they fall into countless errors and precipitate endless
conflicts in the church? just as God is displeased with the wicked
man who uses his own strength to do the Lord’s work, so He is
displeased with the wicked man who uses his own mind to apprehend
God’s truth. An unrenewed mentality is spiritually dead; hence
everything which proceeds from it is likewise none other than dead.
Many may boast in the depth of their Bible knowledge and in the
excellency of their theological tenets, but those with spiritual
discernment are aware that it is dead.
Upon recognizing the staleness of his mind and being willing to
put it off by the cross, the Christian now should practice denying all
carnal thoughts daily. The renewal will otherwise be impossible. For
how can God ever succeed in His responsibility of renewing the
believer’s mind if the latter still thinks according to the flesh?
Patiently and decisively must the Christian examine every one of
his thoughts—but in the light of God. Whatever is not of Him or is
contrary to His truth must be “squeezed” or “pressed” out of his
head. Mere mental understanding of truth similarly must be rejected.
Paul has mentioned how our unrenewed mind is filled with
arguments and proud imaginations (2 Cor.10.5). These prevent men
from arriving at true knowledge of God. Christians must bring all
these thoughts captive to obey Christ. The Apostle says “every
thought”; consequently one must not allow so much as a single
thought to escape such treatment. He should not rest until every idea
is brought into subjection to Christ. The examination of his thought
should determine whether (1) it comes from his old mind or (2) it
emanates from the ground given away, and whether (3) it will yield
new ground to the evil spirits or whether (4) it issues from a normal
or renewed mind. He should inquire why his thinking is confused,
prejudiced, rebellious, or infuriated—why he opposes certain truth
before he even examines it—why he is against some Christians