Loving God with All Your Mind – J. P. Moreland

Have you ever felt satiated after a satisfying meal? I have. Similarly, have you experienced intellectual or mental satisfaction? I am referring to substantial intellectual nourishment, not the junk food or superficial content we often consume. Genuine intellectual fulfillment occurs when we engage with profound and sound teachings, that is, biblical teachings with robust theological foundations. I experienced this during a Sunday evening special service at my friend’s church. My friend, the pastor, had invited Dr. J.P. Moreland, a distinguished professor of apologetics at Biola University, to speak. I was pleasantly surprised to find myself feeling intellectually filled. Instead of the usual motivational messages, I was intellectually enriched by his shared truth and knowledge. In other words, I was touched in my mind rather than just in my heart. It was an experience that stimulated my mind rather than my emotions—a form of fulfillment distinct from what I usually encounter.

To summarize the point, Dr. Moreland tells the story of his dentist, who became a Christian not too long ago. During one of his visits, he was excited to hear him witnessing to his patients. However, when he saw that he did not seek to answer some questions about the Christian faith, he asked him about it. To his shock, he was told that it did not matter to him because, at the end of the day, it was all about faith anyway. Dr. Moreland questioned, “Where did he get that idea?” Furthermore, he questions how the contemporary church got to a point where we focus on faith and feelings and not so much on knowledge. Based on his observations, he expressed the following:

“How did we get here? We got here by abandoning the life and the mind of the local church. These awakenings sweeping in mid-1800s, causing the Christian religion to be reduced to feelings and opinions. The evangelical community withdrew from the intellectual world and culture because of the intellectual assault… And as the church withdrew, a vacuum was filled, and the University replaced the church as the authority over culture. It’s the University that has the right to define the reality today, not the pastor.” (J. P. Moreland)

“…but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.” (1 Pet.3:15-16)

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 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, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.” (2 Cor.10:3-6)