(to the tune of "homecoming" on Samsung's Android )
I invite you,
I invite you,
spirit of the Holy God, invest this body with
your mind, to mind
things that you mind,
taking on your mindset, your motives, and your view.
[If you want the tune on repeat, after clicking homecoming, click the settings cog (top right of You Tube) and choose Loop video]
The Greek word μετανοέω (metanoeō) is part of the two-fold response which is given a core place in Jesus's gospel along with trusting this God's living word to us (Matt 3:2, Mark 1:14-15 "metanoia kai pistis") & is commonly translated in English bibles as "turn from your sins"; and commonly in my experience understood by Christians to mean "feel sorry for your sins". This often fits the context, so is often undisputed. One trouble with it however, is that over a century before Jesus Christ, when the Jewish bible was translated from Hebrew into Greek, in the Septuagint (commonly designated LXX), this (concept &) word is used of God himself, not commonly, but at significant junctures of the narrative (Gen 6:6; Exod 32:14; Ps 90:13; 110:4; 135:14; Joel2:14; Jeremiah 20:16; 26:13; Jonah 3:9-10; Amos7:3-6; ). A careful look back at the word and its use in First Century common usage, confirms what has been known but somehow drowned but by our own sub-cultural forces and understandings. This, it happens is the very thrust of the word metanoeō: "let go of your own understandings (of the way forward), & take on God's (freshly disclosed, now being revealed) understanding ( of the way forward)."
With this in mind, the emphasis of the rest of the New Testament's letters from Christ's Apostles (think Ambassadors) to fledgling communities of God's new people under God's anointed King/Prophet/Priest (=Christ)… starts to make more sense! Their emphasis on a new way of seeing the world, new motives for actions, a new mindset, a wisdom from above; is not an additional next step, just a continuance of what it means to "metanoia kai pistis". [& Jesus also does this with another metaphore which he uses in both an initializing, but also in a continual- refurbishing/ renovating sense as well; that of "Take up your cross (daily)."] Early Christian leaders say
"We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written: ‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived’ – the things God has prepared for those who love him … – these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. … The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. …. for, ‘Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Christ." (Paul: 1 Corinthians 2:6-10, 16 NIVUK)
"..he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will – to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfilment – to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,.. (Paul: Ephesians 1:5-10, 17-18 NIVUK)(I grayed the part of the text above which some devout Christians in my life-time (including me) have been prone to major on, to the neglect of the rest of this amazing text..)
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers & sisters in view of God's mercy to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy & pleasing to God, this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, by the renewing of your mind, then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is, his good, pleasing, & perfect will." … (Paul: Rom 12:1-2)
(James- almost the whole book speaks of the mindset, & view, & wisdom of God as something to be trusted with our lives, and as the antidote to the hellish wisdom of this world. It is a focus on a real trust in God, and his gifts, especially his wisdom, his new-mindset from-above.)
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