Transformed by the Renewal of Your Mind

Mary Patterson gave me a copy of a book she was reading, Milfred Minatrea, Shaped by God’s Heart.¹  This book reminded me that Biblical knowledge is not an end in itself or something to make us smarter: it is to make us different, for as St. Paul tells us in Romans 12:2, "Do not be conformed to this age, 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." 

In the same vein, upon having lunch with the new Lutheran pastor in town, I discovered he was reading a book titled Simple Church by Thomas Rainer.  I returned to the church and called it up on my Kindle.  Again, the book talked about the Christian life as transformational, the process of coming more and more to “love God, love others and serve the world.”² 

Transformation is what God desires. The classic word for it is sanctification. God offers to lead us into being a new creation.   Thomas Rainer in his book gives us a metaphor for our transformational relationship with Christ- It is like building a house to live in:

First, we build a firm foundation:
§   A personal and intimate relationship with God
§   Simply “being” in Christ.    

Next, we build on our firm foundation:
§   Growing in our knowledge and love of the Lord
§   Immersing ourselves in the family of God.
§   Learning what it means to follow and obey.
§   Learning what it means to really love others.
§   Progressively becoming like Christ.
        
Little by little, we move into our new home:
§   Maturing in the Faith
§   “Being, Knowing and Doing” the things of the Christian life.
§   Taking on the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23): 

        Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control.
§   Actively loving God, loving others, and serving the world.
§   Sharing in word and deed the Good News of Christ.

BLESSED Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. (Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, 1549 Book of Common Prayer)

¹Milfred Minatrea, Shaped by God’s Heart, John Wiley and Sons, 2004.
²Thomas Rainer, Eric Geiger, Simple Church, B&H Publishing, 2003