Dilemma of trying to have an "open mind"

[Guest]

I am finding that the more I allow myself to consider different possibilities on issues the more I feel like my brain is about to explode. I find myself questioning everything, which can be good, but sometimes I also wish I could just go back to days of just believing what I am told a certain verse means (because it's easier on my brain!) Of course, that would be impossible, and deep down I am glad for the questioning... it just seems to be a lot of work!

Anyway, just wondering if anyone else feels like this at times? If so, how do you deal with it?

[Guest]

Hi Rae, I can relate.

Just as you’re considering a myriad of issues…..BAM…a whole bunch more come up that you weren’t even aware of. The brain does indeed teeter on the brink of explosion.

Here’s something to consider

Paul said the following:

1Co 13:2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

I think his implication here is that he didn’t understand all mysteries and all knowledge.

Peter in turn said of Paul

Pe 3:15 And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,
2Pe 3:16 as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand

Now Peter is saying it’s difficult at times to understand Paul.

I find it takes some pressure off the brain knowing that the Apostles had some questions as well.

I like to think of myself as a perpetual student sitting at the master’s feet (Jesus). It’s not my responsibility to understand everything but rather to always be listening and learning. Will we understand everything? No…..but we’re in good hands and he’ll teach us what we need to know.

[Guest]

I agree with "anothersteve."

Also, in my opinion, trying to make sense from the teachings of dispensationalism causes people to be, "always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." as it says in 2 Timothy 3:7 (NASB).

Once I figured out that the dispensational baby must be thrown out with the bathwater, the search for truth became easier. It is fun for me... like a treasure hunt... understanding one golden truth from Scripture at a time.

It is also good to realize that there are just some things which we do not understand yet and there is nothing wrong with building precept upon precept.

Blessings,
Lazarus43

[Guest]

My 2 cents -

Sometimes, when my head starts swimming with too much theology, I find it is useful to set aside all the "...ism's" and just focus on Jesus. He is really good at clearing up the fog and bringing me back to the simplicity of following Him.

Matthew 11:25-30
At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son decides to reveal him. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry.”

Dave

[Guest]

We are "complete" in Christ Jesus...

Rae,
Please listen to an 85 yr old man of God at this site;

www.worldchallenge.org

Rev. BH Clendemen


In the presence of the Lord there is fullness of JOY
Abandon yourself to God
Is God our all in all
Have I been careless with the things of God
Has my flesh dominated the spirit
Is it well with my soul

Too much head knowledge makes one tired.

Rest and come away and meditate upon God's word.

Blessings,
MLH

[Guest]

I just found this (which I totally agree with):

Love God With Your Mind

Well, I'll post it!

Don't lose your mind.

When we are faced with a health or legal crisis most people want the most experienced and educated doctors or attorneys in the world. Places like Harvard, Stanford, Duke, Emory, and University of Chicago are all very prestigious institutions. I’ve never dismissed a physician client who attended Yale as someone I would not want on our staff.

We like doctors from prestigious schools operating on our hearts and attorneys doing our taxes but when it comes to matters of faith many Christians have discounted scholars from those very schools.
I wonder why?

Are we not to love God with our minds?

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself." This was Jesus’ reply to the rich young ruler who questioned salvation. In the Gospel of Mark, the story reports that Jesus instructed a lawyer with this text.

Jesus combined Deuteronomy 6:5 "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." and Leviticus 19:18 "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD."

And he added, "with all your mind."

Apparently, it was critical to Jesus that we not leave out our minds when it comes to issues of God and faith.

Clear, sound reasoning is important in living out our faith. We are to love God with our heart, soul, strength, and MIND. The Greek word for mind is dianoia, which means center of rationality and understanding. This doesn’t mean that we disregard matters of the heart, but we must be careful not to allow how we feel about God to be our single source of direction. Just like we cannot allow our minds to dominate our hearts, we cannot allow our hearts to dominate our minds. We must not allow how we feel (heart) about God to prevent us from loving God with our mind. Proverbs teaches, "Though it cost you all you have, get understanding."

To Jesus, we must love God with our whole beings and that includes our minds. For faith without reason and understanding-- that is, faith that is only felt but not understood is deadly. It often kills faith in the life of a believer over time and it often cause real death in others as a result of zealous actions. We all know what happens when zealots lose their minds.

Never be afraid to love God with your mind.

It only makes God sense.

I can really relate to everything you said, Rachel. So good for you! Keep up the good (hard and very hard) WORK of loving God with all of your mind and all of the rest of you too, obviously! (THINK about it, just kidding, sort of, but not totally)....

Sometimes, when my head starts swimming with too much theology, I find it is useful to set aside all the "...ism's" and just focus on Jesus. He is really good at clearing up the fog and bringing me back to the simplicity of following Him.

Hmmm....that sounds like a theological statement to me, lol

I know what you mean though. For me it is a matter of balance. Especially since I don't think my brain ever gets turned off...I've tried, it don't work, (I'm an INTP)....

I've had "brain-twisters" like Laz was talking about (dispensationalism being one of them). I came out of it...and it was hard. I've never said this in any kind of debate with a dispensationalist -- but -- I really do believe the Holy Spirit taught me (this wouldn't work in a debate, I don't think). He taught me...but it was I who had to do all the hard study and prayer. Yes, prayer was integral to this! I prayed SO much (agonizing)!

I still have some "brain-twisters" but have no idea if I will get my answers in this life or not....

Well, I've run out of ideas for the nite. Time to relax and get refueled by spending some personal time with Him. Prayer does wonders for everything, including my mind.
Rick

P.S. Hey you guys, look at what A.W. Tozer sed (below).

[Guest]

Thanks for bringing this up Rae. I can relate totally.