Insight Into Reality

When communicating with others it is possible to send an unintended message.  I used to think if someone was telling me about their problem it was because they actually wanted suggestions on possible solutions, but I have learned this is rarely the case.  Years of studying and being taught the Bible sent the message it was my responsibility, not only to learn and follow the scripture, but to engage with people with the intent to share the Gospel and lead them to Christ.  Somehow I imagined changing people's minds was now my responsibility, having been endowed with wisdom from above.  Coming to realise changing people's hearts and minds is what only God can do provided welcome relief from self-condemnation after my countless failures.

In his book Renovation of the Heart, Dallas Willard said on the subject:

"Our beliefs and feelings cannot be changed by choice.  We cannot just choose to have different beliefs and feelings.  But we do have some liberty to take in different ideas and information and to think about things in different ways.  We can choose to take in the Word of God, and when we do that, beliefs and feelings will be steadily pulled in a godly direction.  One of the worst mistakes that can be made in practical ministry is to think that people can choose to believe and feel differently.  Following that, we will mistakenly try to generate faith by going through the will--possibly trying to move the will by playing on emotion.  Rather, the will must be moved by insight into truth and reality.  Such insight will evoke emotion appropriate to a new set of the will.  That is the order of real inward change...Belief is when your whole being is set to act as if something is so.  And that is how the commands of Jesus finally come to us as we grow.  We see them to be reality." (Willard, Dallas, et al. Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ. Form, 2021. Pages 261-262)

Just this morning I read Paul's concluding remarks after establishing the proper order of the use of spiritual gifts in a church assembly in 1 Corinthians 14:37-38:  "If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. ³⁸ But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant."  Paul conveyed the divinely inspired Word of God, and if people refused to humbly receive it and apply it personally it was not his responsibility to make them change.  Paul would not have them be ignorant of spiritual gifts and thus he held forth the truth.  There was no reason to remain ignorant of God and His commands, yet if someone was intent to carry on in ignorance that was their choice.  If they were blind leaders of the blind they would all fall into the ditch, and perhaps the experience would bring them to their senses of their need for God.

God does not hold us responsible to change other people, but He does require us to embrace personal change as we follow Jesus as disciples.  He has compassion on the ignorant, but our good God and Teacher does not keep the children of light in the dark about His will and ways.  Ignorance does not work in our favour but ultimately leads to destruction.  Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, and is the revelation of God that directs us to seek and know Him, to ask for forgiveness and salvation, to obey His commands and do what pleases Him.  It is by exposure to God's Word, the Holy Spirit within us and the fellowship of the saints that prompts positive change of our beliefs to think more like Him, the humbling of our will by faith in Jesus with intent to do God's will and find rest in Him.