“Be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” -Romans 12:2
For five weeks now we’ve been exploring Gospel-born New Minds. We began by proposing the Gospel as an alternative to the insanity of the world: “…insanity: doing the same things and expecting different results.” We then said that this definition is, in some ways, true and yet not totally true. Today we’ll get after the less-true part.
There is obvious truth in this, of course: if we don’t get new minds, we’ll continue to live lives that are just as crazy as the hamster-wheel-spinning world. After every storm knocks our world down, we’ll lean it back up, ignoring the sandy foundations of a Christ-less philosophy of life.
It is very, very important that our mental starting place is the Gospel.
Don’t be insane, right? You open up a book like Ecclesiastes and read that “there’s nothing new under the sun.” It’s important, therefore, to look above the sun for wisdom and help. For something new to rescue us from our insanity (among other things). And that’s where Jesus steps in (literally).
But, to conclude this series, let’s consider the counter-point: there may be a small measure of danger hidden within this clichéd definition of insanity.
Maybe there are some things we need to keep doing over and over again, regardless of the short-term results.
We live in a culture filled with people looking for a new celebrity-savior, a quick fix, a miracle cure. At this point in our history, many people feel like Jesus is old business—yesteryear’s savior, a poor fix, and as miraculous as sliced-bread (yawn). In our context, many people feel that Jesus and Christianity are “the same things” and that to sink ourselves into Him is nearer to insanity than sanity.
And many of us who are Christians can feel worn down by the world on precisely this point: Is Jesus going to come through? Can we expect something different? Are we crazy?
The message of Scripture, though, is clear: the old ways (of God) work, they’re just narrow and difficult. Each step, every day, feels like the same old thing—habits, disciplines, digging wells and doing the work.
As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs (Psalm 84:6)
Thus says the LORD: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.” (Jeremiah 6:16)
You make known to me the path of life. (Psalm 16:11)
Are we crazy, waiting for this to pay off?
But this is what all good work is—kind of crazy! Look closer. All that hard work that seems to be doing nothing is all doing something—it’s making your body stronger, your will stronger, your mind wiser, your skills sharper, your friendships deeper. The work reveals the path. The work reveals your unique weaknesses and strengths, and takes you to friends who can help and to others whom you shall bless.
In the way of Christ, it can be easy to get fed up with poor results. “This is crazy!” So is cooking super AGAIN. Going for a jog AGAIN. Reading your bible AGAIN. Hearing ANOTHER sermon. It can feel crazy. But it isn’t.
Because we’re not doing the same thing and expecting different results—faith is doing one single thing stretched out over a life. The good results are numerous and easy to see. But they are hard to see in a world of neon plastic, stores of pre-landfill nonsense, celebrities sprouting like mushrooms.
Would you notice an oak tree in Times Square?
Trust in the Lord, friend. Renew your mind. Consider yourself alive to God. Present your members to Him. Righteousness is happening and will happen.
Psalm 136 repeats the phrase, “for His steadfast love endures forever,” twenty-six times in twenty-six verses.
TWENTY-SIX. Repetition. Doing the same thing over and over. Going crazy.
What phrases do you repeat? We all have them. We all have habits, routines, rituals, litanies. What are yours? Are they faith-building, flowing from the Gospel, flowing into loving-strength?
If you were to write a song today with a chorus line that repeats itself twenty-six times throughout the song, what would that line be? “For His steadfast love endures forever”?
“Be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” -Romans 12:2
New Minds won’t just happen. No one ever accidentally, unwittingly, surprisingly, became a mature, wise, godly Christian. There must be years. Tedium. Disciplines. Rigor. Routine. Repetition. Seasons of dryness, lostness, emptiness, ache. Failing, falling. Getting back up.
Crazy? Sure, fine. Crazy, to the world. “Paul, you are out of your mind!” (Acts 26:24) Okay. No roach ever loved having the lights turn on. But for you and me, friends, the lights are on. Rise and shine. It’s a new day, with old paths that still lead us to new life: old trails, new beauties.
“Awake, O sleeper; arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (Ephesians 5:14)
Glory Hallelujah. Here we go.
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
