Hostile Minds

Posted by Dan C. on

“. . .the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God. . .” – Rom 8:7a ESV

“. . .the carnal mind is enmity against God. . .” KJV

These few words from Paul might offer the clearest, most succinct statement of the ‘natural’ state of mind of the ‘natural’ man, in respect to God. Paul is stating in no uncertain terms that the ‘natural’ mind is hostile to, or enmity against, God.

At the same time, Paul also tells us in that ‘natural’ man is born knowing that God exists:

“For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” Rom 1:19-20

This places the atheist, the person who would claim that God doesn’t exist in the position of trying to live in denial of what he knows to be true! Talk about being between a rock and a hard place!

So what?

So the next time you’re in a discussion in which God is mentioned and the accusations of ‘forcing’ religion start flying around the room, keep your peace and remember the terrible conflict in the heart of the accuser. The battle in that heart is not against a specific person, but against God. That will change your attitude toward the accuser, as well as how you respond.

Food for thought.

5 responses to “Hostile Minds”

  1. Thanks Born. I needed to hear that. I do believe your post was just for me. I’ve been so frusterated lately, and it’s so easy to lose your cool. But yeah, I do need to remember that it isn’t personal and that God can take care of Himself…and that these folks do have a battle going on in their hearts.

    Thanks again for the food for thought..

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  3. My understanding of the Romans 8 verse and the natural mind is a constant, not a one time thing. I may be off here but not allowing the Holy Spirit to lead you continuously will then allow you to fall back into the natural mind-set of those without God… Allowing the HS to lead continuously will allow you to live in a correct and godly way. Ignoring the HS in my own life does nothing but cause me to make decisions without the Lord’s perspective and goes back to having a mind which does what it deems right in it’s own eyes. Just some thoughts, it’s not only the Atheist that struggle with this… 😉

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    • So nice to see you! IMO the mind still has vestiges, or still bears the impact of sin, however that exacylu operates. We are told of Paul’s battle with sinful impulses and I think it’s clear that much of the battle is fought inside the brain housing group (euphemism connection is with the ‘trigger housing group, of some rifles). That we are told that as believers that we have the ‘mind of Christ’ does not mean that it’s ‘pure’. And as you say it’s living/walking in the spirit that goes a long way to being ‘transformed’ in our minds (Rom 12:1-2). If it was a done deal when we were saved, why would Paul say that? And for me the key to ‘walking in the spirit, the way that the Spirit leads is through the written revealed work. And when I get those sensings/whispers/whatever, If I know they line up with what is already somewhere in Chapter and Verse, in principle, if not explicitly, I’m gonna check it out. 🙂

      Christians have ‘carnal’ minds along with nonbelievers. And the carnal mind, no matter where it resides, is hostile to God. I can take that any other way, especially since Paul was speaking to the church in Rome.

      Again, I am glad to see you!

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