Romans 12:1-2
Lesson #11- “Humans are Religious Beings”
In our Friday Daily Droplets have examined various techniques offered by Dr. David Burns in his book, Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy, in the context of biblical teaching. In my experience, I would concur with Dr. Burns that much of our emotional issues stem from having poor, unhealthy, even unbiblical thinking. In order to have proper biblical, godlike thinking, we’ve got to have our minds immersed in the Scriptures. Not writings about Scriptures (not even my own), but the Scriptures themselves. It is through the Scriptures that the Holy Spirit can communicate with our own spirit and clarify our thinking for us.
Thus, Paul writes to the Roman Christians: “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom. 12:1-2).
We cannot allow the world to conform our thinking into its mold. But our thinking can be renewed through Jesus Christ if we allow His word to penetrate our hearts and provide a new way of thinking. At the same time, we’ve got to take control of our negative thoughts that have infiltrated our minds through the deceit of Satan. Here, I offer 2 Corinthians 10:5, where Paul writes: “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” We must work at bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. To that end, I have shared the techniques that have been developed and utilized by Dr. Burns to great effect.
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But, Dr. Burns is a Buddhist. That argues that he has no firm basis for what he writes. On the other hand, Christians have a basis for our thinking and our behavior: it is the nature of God. To understand what is consistent with the nature of God, He revealed Himself through the Holy Spirit to specially chosen individuals so that they could reveal to all the world how God created us, designed us, and what He expects from us (Eph. 4:14-15).
Consequently, mankind is to be more than just “spiritual.” In common usage, “spiritual” often means simply believing in a spiritual existence, perhaps a higher power, and that mankind should strive to achieve their own fulfillment (whatever that means). But the Bible defines “spirituality” much more narrowly, as it relates to Jehovah God and His Son, Jesus Christ, and His church, the body of saved people.
Contrary to the wishes and expectations of many people, God also expects mankind to be religious. That is, there are “rituals” or “ceremonies” that God also expects out of mankind if he or she is to be “spiritual.” We are to assemble on the first day of the week (1 Cor. 16:2), to “break bread” (Acts 20:7). We are to pray publicly together as a church, give of our income, sing together, and study the Bible together. These are all “religious” acts that God requires us to do together.
The fact is that mankind is religious. Most just substitute false religious acts for those with a divine origin. Now, being spiritual and religious in and of itself will not solve the issue of depression. But we can’t solve the latter effectively until we get the former right.
Paul Holland
