Unfortunately, Christian convention
espouses a host of phrases that muddle our understanding of human nature. You
hear about the flesh versus the spirit, the new man versus the old man, the
spiritual nature versus the carnal nature, the unregenerate nature versus the regenerate
nature, and what-have-you. But if you stick to the human nature compass, you’ll
have a healthy working model based on Jesus Christ.
Jesus didn’t come to redeem you on the
installment plan, part now and part when you’ve died and gone to heaven. He has
redeemed your whole being now. In Christ your human nature is made trustworthy,
but only if you ask the Holy Spirit to help keep you fit and balanced. Just
like a car’s engine can get out of whack and need a good tune-up, you’ve got to
take care of your human nature or it will break down.
Mind and Heart
Put in proper perspective, the mind
has to do with thinking, talking, reasoning, gathering facts, setting
priorities, and estimating the consequences of choices. There is an age-old
bias in many cultures and religions that men are somehow better at thinking and
reasoning than women. Therefore, men are somehow closer to God. I feel furious
when I hear this because it is so untrue. There is no male or female in Christ
(Gal 3: 28). There are only individuals who can think effectively to the degree
that they exercise this function.
Sure, if you don’t use your brain, it
will grow as rusty as the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz. You’ll lock your keys in
the car, mess up your taxes, and make idiotic choices. This has nothing to do
with genes or gender. It can be remedied by practice in putting on your
thinking cap and reasoning things through.
Thinking is what you do in your
head—literally, the frontal cortex of the brain. Feeling is something you do in
your heart. People who think too much end up emotionally detached: islands unto
themselves. People who feel too much are like roller coasters, reacting emotionally
to every little thing.
 |
| Human Nature Compass |
Christ was neither a talking head,
like some verbose religious communicators, nor an emotional loose cannon, like
some overly zealous followers. Jesus had equal trust in his mind and heart. He
made thoughtful choices that were infused by real emotion. He was invested in
his relationships, passionate in pursuing the Father’s will, and steadfast in
his mission. You and I are called to develop this same inner dynamism.
While thinking helps you make wise
choices, emotion is the energy of personality that brings a depth dimension to
your behavior and relationships. If thinking is the melody in your life, then
emotions are the chords, bass, and syncopation that lets your life swing.
As an individual in Christ, you learn
how to bring the aliveness of your thoughts and feelings into prayer conversations,
sharing what’s on your mind and heart with God, and experiencing what Christ
has to share with you conceptually and emotionally.
 |
| Mind and Heart |
I encourage you to pull out the stops
when it comes to communion and communication with the Lord. Try talking out
loud sometimes when you’re stuck in traffic or taking a walk. Of course, make
sure no one hears or they’ll think you’re nuts. Some of my favorite prayer
times are at the spa when Jesus and I are alone in the sauna.
It is erroneous to suppose that God
only wants to hear from you when you are calm and rational. I suppose we get
this idea from prayers recited in public settings, where dignity and decorum
are required. But one-on-one communion with the Lord is enriched by emotional
transparency about your ups and downs, dreams and frustrations. Full-bodied
communication stirs God’s heart.
Kate and I have a longstanding policy
of praying out loud for one another during times of need or stress. We don’t do
this every day, but every once in a while we go through a “walking prayer.”
This means that one of us will pace the floor, walking and talking to the Lord,
until the real emotion behind the prayer begins to seep through. Then we will
allow bodily gestures, vocal inflexions, and facial expressions to gain
momentum until our whole human nature is engaged.
The responses we get from the Lord are
as real as our prayers. Try it. You’ll find that your mind opens, your heart
warms, your body melts, and your spirit is revived.
