Brainwashed Believers?
Some Christians are brainwashed. Most are not, and therein lies the problem! Too many confessing believers walk among us with brains that could use a good cleansing.
Paul called these folk “yet carnal” or “still worldly” (1 Cor. 3:3). James called them “double minded,” “unstable” (James 1:8). He identified the fix for this too. He said “…purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (James 4:8)
Paul had this singleness of mind, this purity of ambition. “…this one thing I do…” he wrote (Phil. 4:13). David too desired and sought after only “one thing” (Ps. 27:4), and Mary chose that good “one thing” that was most important of all (Luke 10:42).
In all these instances that “one thing” was Christ.
The heart… the mind… they sully each other. Solomon cautioned, “Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.” (Prov. 4:23), Jesus said,
“…the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defile a person” (Matt. 15:18-20).
So how do we wash our minds, our brains, our thinking, our hearts? Scripture gives us clear direction…
By the mercy of God and the indwelling Holy Spirit…
“…according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit” (Tit. 3:5 ).
By our demonstrated obedience and agapé love…
“Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart” (1 Pet. 1:22).
By feeding upon the Word of God…
“Sanctify [set apart, make holy, cleanse] them in the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17).
“That he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word” (Eph. 5:26)
By memorizing God’s Word…
“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11).
By the discipline of clean thinking…
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Phil. 4:8).
By confessing our sins…
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
By living rightly…
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)
By seeing this world as Christ sees it…
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Rom. 12:2)
Un-brainwashed Christian’s need a good brainwashing to become the sort of Christians whose lives honor Christ… Whose Name they bear… and Whose sons and daughters they claim to be.
If we are going to have the sort of confidence in God as had Jehoiada* then we are going to need a singularity of mind, and an undividedness of heart.
Are you a brainwashed believer? I hope so!
More tomorrow…
thebrokenrunner 
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