Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church Christian Eyes, Ears, and Minds "We have the mind of Christ" 1 Cor. 2:16 The picture to the right is a portrayal of Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus. Saul was on his way to Damascus to arrest Christians. On the way Christ appeared to Saul in a bright light saying, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" Saul said, "Who art Thou, Lord?" Jesus answered, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting." At that, Saul was blinded. The physical blinding of Saul was symbol of Saul’s deeper problem, namely his spiritual blindness. Jesus instructed Saul to go to Damascus and find a man named Ananias. Through Ananias, Jesus caused the scales to fall from Saul’s eyes.  From then on, Saul was known as Paul, and his vision was never impaired again. From that moment on St. Paul saw all things through the Word of God. It was through the Apostle Paul that God commanded, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

Christians have the mind of Christ. "We have the mind of Christ" (1 Cor. 2:16). Ephesians 4:23-24 says, "You be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth." As the Christian looks at the world around him, he is to see it as Christ sees it. The Christian is to listen to the world with Christian ears. The Christian is suppose to delight in excellent things. "This I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent." (Phil. 1:9-10) "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things." (Phil. 4:8)

Take a good look at the world around you. It is a lost world. It is a thoroughly corrupt world. It is a world that honors the grotesque and immoral. Just think of all the things, lifestyles, philosophies, and images of popular television and music that are common place today. Think about how the gay community is systematically pushing its agenda forward. Within a few short years we will see acceptance of pedophilia, just as we have seen the gradual acceptance of homosexuality. The American Psychological Associate is debating whether this "orientation" is a "sickness" or an "alternative lifestyle," as it did with homosexuality three decades ago.

The evolutionist, multi-culturalist, relativist, feminist, environmentalist, pragmatist, and hedonist have saturated the entertainment industry, the halls of government, the sanctuaries of churches, and classrooms and textbooks our schools. Just think how much more common divorce is than it use to be. Try to imagine the kind of conversations that surround your children and grandchildren on a daily basis. As an authentic Lutheran pastor and father I can’t remember the last time I went to a school meeting, program, or performance where some kind of anti-Christian stupidity was uttered as if it were God’s "gospel" truth. These philosophical schools are pretty successful at teaching our children to think and speak as they do. They are also pretty dangerous to your children’s Christian well-being.

So here is my point and my question. Are you as good at teaching your children and grandchildren to think, see, and listen as a Christian, as the world is at teaching them to think, see, and listen as an evolutionist, multi-culturalist, relativist, feminist, environmentalist, pragmatist, and hedonist? One of my duties as pastor is to keep my ear to the ground in matters of Christianity and culture and to call upon parents and congregations to equip their children and churches for battle and survival.

"You have the mind of Christ." It is true. But sadly we do not use the mind of Christ that has been given to us in the water and the Word. Christians have become blinded to grotesque anti-Christian ideologies and lifestyles. Christian parents take many steps to protect their children from psychical harm, but when it comes to protecting their souls and minds, our parents and churches act as if the scales have never fallen from their eyes.

Yet, the Word of God is true, "You have the mind of Christ." You have been "transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Rom. 12:2) You can listen to, see, and think about the world as Christ does. As Lutherans we see things more clearly than any other Christian group. Our doctrine enables us to teach and train our children in the way in which they should go. As the scales fell from the eyes of St. Paul, they have fallen from ours. Now let’s open our eyes and ears and engage the mind toward the end that we, by God’s grace, build a congregation and a Lutheran school that and teaches Lutherans how to think as Christ thinks.

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men."