A Mind for God

I absolutely loved this book. It was required reading for a class I am taking, and I'm so glad. This book is not to be judged by it's size, because it is certainly not a quick read. This is one to pour over for a few days - with a journal, or at least a pen to underline (my copy is quite mussied up!) and engage. So much to think about... I love the message(s) of this book, and it has changed me and some of my thinking. Please read it, you won't regret it.

This work packs a lot of punch for its size. It is a serious challenge to the contemporary Christian to be reading, learning, thinking, and reflecting so that we may be "transformed by the renewing of [our] mind." White contends that the only way for the Christian to successfully contend for the faith against the philosophies of the crowd around him is to out-think them; and the only way to out-think them is to out-read them. Helpful suggested reading lists are included in the Appendix. Much of this material is repeated in "Serious Times" by the same author.

Not a book to be ignored, "A mind for God" confronts us with the painful truth that the Christian mind is disappearing, then proceeds to inspire action by showing us what it means to develop our minds for God. The book is fast-paced, never boring, insightful, and even has helpful reading lists to help us get on with it & do something about our problems. This is a book that I will be going back to time and again for inspiration and guidance.

Bertrand Russell said, "Most Christians would rather die than think; in fact, they do." I am afraid that Mr. Russell was right. Of course, we could substitute just about any class of people for Christians in this sentence, and it would still be true. And, it should be pointed out, all of Bertrand's thinking didn't keep him from dying. One has to wonder what is the point of thinking if it doesn't keep you from dying. Woody Allen said it well: "I don't want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve it through not dying." Unfortunately for him, though, his work will certainly outlive him. I digress. The point is that Bertrand Russell's criticism of "most Christians" is true. And while all of his thinking turned out to be pointless, the thinking of Christian thoughts is not. The thinking of Christian thoughts is an essential element of eternal life. So it is a great tragedy if Christians are just not thinking much.The proof that Christians are not thinking much can be found in any "Christian Store." Christian Stores used to be called Bible Bookstores. Now they are filled with an amazing array of pablum. Even the books they sell are weak-minded and often not really Christian. Your Best Life Now? You've got to be kidding. If Christianity says anything, it says, "Your best life later." Please. I beg you. Swim against this tide of non-thinking. You could make a good start by reading A Mind for God by James Emery White. In this great little book (about 100 easy-to-read pages), Dr. White will encourage you to obey Christ by loving God with all your mind--to think Christianly. "Thinking Christianly," Os Guinness wrote, "is thinking by Christians about anything and everything in a consistently Christian way--in a manner that is shaped, directed, and restrained by the truth of God's Word and God's Spirit." According to the apostle Paul, the "renewing of the mind" is a critical aspect of a life that follows Jesus. Thinking Christianly is essential to living as His disciple. A Mind for God will not only motivate you to repent of your mindlessness; it will also give you solid practical guidance. Some of the guidance is kind of obvious, like "turn off your TV and read." Some of it is less obvious, like "morning is better than evening." One of the great features of the book is its appendices, which contain a list of books that will turn anyone who reads them into a good Christian thinker. There is one chapter that I wish Dr. White had thought to include. That chapter would say something about the life of the mind as it relates to the life of the Church. How should the Church foster deep, careful, Christian thinking? In what ways--and to what extent--should our fellowship and service be an intellectual exercise? How does or should our fellowship include a sharing of the mind of Christ? How should a thinking Church interact with the world? How could the Church have a truly prophetic voice in the greater culture, a voice that offers real though

Dr. James Emery White continues to provide groundbreaking work in tying the depth of his scholarship to terms that spiritual seekers and mature Christ-followers can clearly understand. Challenging the edges of the mind is the promise that he delivers with a profound punch. The suggested reading list in the back illustrates what White does so well-stimulate a thirst and then provide deep wells from which to drink.