Your Mind Matters: The Place of the Mind in the Christian Life

by John R.W. Stott, Mark A. Noll (Foreword)

"Knowledge is indispensable to Christian life and service," writes John Stott. "If we do not use the mind which God has given us, we condemn ourselves to spiritual superficiality." While Christians have had a long heritage of rigorous scholarship and careful thinking, some circles still view the intellect with suspicion or even as contradictory to Christian faith. And many non-Christians are quick to label Christians as anti-intellectual and obscurantist. But this need not be so. In this classic introduction to Christian thinking, John Stott makes a forceful appeal for Christian discipleship that engages the mind as well as the heart.

Genres: Christian, Theology, Christian Living, Nonfiction, Christianity, Discipleship, Philosophy

93 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

John R. W. Stott is known worldwide as a preacher, evangelist, and communicator of Scripture. For many years he served as rector of All Souls Church in London, where he carried out an effective urban pastoral ministry. A leader among evangelicals in Britain, the United States and around the world, Stott was a principal framer of the landmark Lausanne Covenant (1974). His many books, including Why I Am a Christian and The Cross of Christ, have sold millions of copies around the world and in dozens of languages. Whether in the West or in the Two-Thirds World, a hallmark of Stott's ministry has been expository preaching that addresses the hearts and minds of contemporary men and women. Stott was honored by Time magazine in 2005 as one of the "100 Most Influential People in the World."

Reviews

[Douglas Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good. I think I read it many years ago, but listened to it again on audio. Really good.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent little book on the place of the mind in the Christian life. Far too many professing Christians have followed a charismatic, mystical emphasis on experience and focused on head/heart distinctions to the point we have lost our minds (no pun at all intended). Stott does an excellent job considering scriptural teaching and practical application. Sure, you will find some points of disagreement here and there, but I highly recommend it.

[Timo Cunha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bom, quem sou eu pra criticar John Stott.
Fica apenas o registro das 3 estrelas sem argumentação

[Samuel Kassing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Your mind matters. Anti-intellectualism isn’t helpful and neither is dry arid hyper-intellectualism.

Knowledge should lead us to love.

This is the heart of this little book.

[Erin Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s good and short. A solid argument of why intellect is important to someone who believes that the mind has no place in our Christian life. It was a good reminder that we are integrated beings of body, mind, and soul.

[Kevin Halloran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stott presents what you’d expect him to in this lecture-turned-booklet: a biblical and insightful look at the mind presented in a clear and compelling way. More needed today than ever.

[Matthew Emery · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short book is a must read in my opinion. Stott communicates so much truth for the Christian that often gets forgotten.

[Bojan Ostojić · Rating 2 out of 5]

Better Resources in my opinion:

Francis A. Schaeffer - Escape from Reason
James W. Sire - Discipleship of the Mind

This book is not bad, but arguments are bit weak. It feels like preaching to the choir, while people are sying "preach it brother".

I doubt this will convince people who have problematic understanding of the role of the mind in Christian life to change.

John Stott is great author, check his other works.

[Nathan Albright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I am somewhat familiar with the author's work [1], I was made familiar with this book by the recommendation of a friend of mine.  The appeal of this very short book, which is the text of a lecture with a couple of forewords, is pretty obvious to me and probably to most of the readers of my reviews.  Stott defends rationality and intellect from what he sees as a variety of threats of anti-intellectualism including the sentimentalism of contemporary culture, the appeals to spiritual experience of Pentecostals, and the ritualism of Catholicism.  I'm an intellectual Christian, something I don't think I could hide if I tried, and so obviously this book's central idea about the legitimacy of appeals to the mind and the acquisition of knowledge that can be lived and practiced is something that appeals to me greatly.  It is no wonder to me why this book is considered an IVP classic and it's something I can support without any difficulty whatsoever, not least because the author manages to put his obvious pro-intellectual appeal in a balanced worldview that clearly counteracts the defective views of the mind that he criticizes.

In a bit less than 90 pages this short book consists of four chapters.  The author opens with a discussion of mindless Christianity, where he criticizes the lack of active intellect and the shallowness of faith that much of what passes for Christianity demonstrates (1).  This is the place where the reader is going to know whether they place themselves among those who have a great deal of respect and regard for the mind or whether they are among those the author is criticizing.  After this brief discussion the author spends more time looking at why it is necessary for believers to use their minds (2) in a demonstration of the importance of the intellect and appeals to the mind in the Bible's approach to evangelism and apologetics.  Then the author turns to examine the mind in Christian life (3), in part by contrasting the biblical view with various false views about positive thinking and a faith that is blind that can be common among certain circles within our culture.  The author then concludes with a discussion of knowledge leading to action by pointing out (4) that the believer is not to acquire knowledge for its own sake but rather knowledge that is lived out in obedience to God.

It is ultimately in that balanced discussion of the author's high view of intellect as being the fuel for zeal according to knowledge that God wants in our lives that makes this book ultimately worthwhile.  The sort of knowledge that God wants from us [2] is not mere intellectual knowledge but rather the knowledge of experience of God's ways, a knowledge that is combined with a commitment to obedience.  Of course, this obedience requires knowledge but also more than knowledge alone.  There are some people who have a great longing to obey God and only need accurate knowledge of what God expects of us to obey.  There are others who have a great deal of knowledge about what the Bible says and therefore what God wants from us but lack the will and commitment to follow up on that knowledge in action.  Most people lack both the interest in knowing what God wants and the commitment to following up on that knowledge with obedience.  Yet this author has clearly laid to believers a challenge that deserves to be taken up in our times of shallow belief and rampant disobedience to the clearly expressed general will of God in scripture.

[1] See, for example:

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2018...

[2] See, for example:

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...

[Rachel Cash · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a simple read that identifies "six spheres of Christian living, each of which is impossible without the proper use of the mind." This book will motivate the Christian to take seriously the study and pursuit of godly wisdom for the good of himself, the Church, and the world he hopes to reach with the Gospel as well as to the glory of God, who is magnified through our pursuit and application of wisdom.

[Lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was short, but better than several lengthier versions I have read on the topic. John Stott always does an incredible job of covering a ton of ground in his books/sermons. I have a hard time getting into his books, but they always increase in interest towards the end. It is worth sticking with it for his last few pages alone (or just skip and read the last "chapter").

My only issue was John addresses arguments against faith and belief. He titles one section as "Faith: Illogical Belief in the Improbable" (based on a quote by H.L. Mencken) and addresses several mainstream arguments for a feel good superficial attitude of positive thinking or positive mental attitudes. He goes on to argue against these definitions of faith because they are thoughtless and without object - there is no object to the faith.

p. 51 "[Dr. Peale] recommends as part of his 'worry breaking formula' that first thing every morning before we get up we should say 'I believe' three times, but does not tell us in what we are so confidently and repeatedly to affirm our belief...believe what? believe whom?"

In my reading, Stott rejects objectless faith and then argues for a seemingly objectless thought. To be fair, Stott certainly argues it implicitly with several bible quotes [see pages 56-58], but he fails to define the object of our thought - The Word, The Truth, The Christ - explicitly.

This oversight is no different than W. Clement Stone's "I feel happy, I feel healthy, I feel terrific!" self-confidence faith. Without a sure and explicit focus on Christ as the object of our thoughts we may as well chant self-assuredly and arrogantly "I know I am happy, I know I am healthy, I know I am terrific!"

Stott is spot on with the how and the why - the middle and end results of Christian thinking and using our God-given minds, but he skips past the what or who - the beginning. To skip past the beginning is to miss the one who was in the beginning, The Word, The Christ, and by doing so Stott misses the mark, if only slightly.

[Mitch Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stott argues that "Knowledge is essential for faith" and that we should invest in our understanding of God, so that we can love God deeper. Knowledge is a means to an end, the end of a greater relationship with the Creator.

He helpfully warns against the dangers of Anti-intellectualism, but also reflects on how hyper-intellectualism is just as problematic.

One should let their knowledge of God drive their love of him and others :) Not letting it puff them up, void of action.

I would give this book a 4.5/5, but I think it is more 5 than 4, thus I give it a 5.

I am still wrestling with the accuracy of the the idea that Stott writes, that more time should be spent of learning than on ministering, he expresses this in the second last chapter. However, when we focus so much on ministering to others without growing our on personal relationship with God, we are really doing a disservice to those that we are ministering to. I think that Bonhoeffer add's helpful things about "Time alone and Time together" in his book 'Life Together'. I also think of the insight from Brother Yun in his testimony titled 'The Heavenly Man', where he describes his times in prison as the way God gave him times to restore his personal relationship (through Prayer and meditation of scripture) which he failed to upkeep during his ministering.

[Eddie Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short read but an important one. This is billed as an 'IVP Classic' and the book truly deserves that designation.

As Stott notes at the end of the book, he seeks to "sketch six spheres of Christian living in which the mind plays an essential part." Those six areas are: Christian worship, faith, holiness, guidance, evangelism, and ministry.

Each section is given a concise treatment that leaves the reader with food for thought and enough references to guide one into further study.

There's little fluff here and that is most appreciated as Stott gets to his points quickly and succinctly.

Though small in volume this book would still be a great choice for small group study.

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is faith irrational? Intellectualism something to be avoided? Should we look at theology with distaste and distrust? NO! argues John Stott in this 60 odd page booklet. Our minds play a vital role in Christian faith. Opinions, indeed, are stronger than armies. Knowledge, wisdom, discernment and understanding are foundational to Christian living in worship, faith, holiness and in our service and love to the other. A great answer to ritualism, radical ecumenicalism and the emphasis on individual experience as substitutes for the vital role of teaching, hearing and preaching in knowing God.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great summary that emphasizes the mixture of the intellect and emotion in the Christian life. My complaint is that it could have been longer, deeper, more fleshed out, and thorough. I didn't really learn anything new, it just reiterated good points everyone should already know.

[Colin Michaelis · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Stott is addressing an issue that was important maybe 50 years ago. And is still today. I found the first chapter or two a little dated, but the third and forth chapters in this very short book were pure gold. The importance of the mind, i.e. of understanding and reason, is explored in chapter three in the context of: Worship; Faith; Gospel; Holiness; Guidance; Evangelism; and Ministry.

In regard to reasoning and sharing the gospel, Stott writes, "All human beings think, because God made a human being a thinking creature. The teaching of Jesus himself, although beautifully simple, certainly made his listeners think." And "Our duty then is to avoid distorting or diluting the gospel, and at the same time to make it plain, to cut the word of truth straight so that people can follow it, lest 'when any one hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in his heart.' I fear that our clumsy explanations sometimes give the devil this very opportunity which he ought never to be allowed."

I believe, that many exvangelicals and others who have walked away from their faith, (some of whom I know), had clumsy, shallow explanations of the gospel; the origins and validity of the canon of scripture; the nature of the universe and its origin; and the nature of life, its origin and “evolution”. They were given simplistic answers, sometimes from people who valued blind faith and eschewed reason and intellectual rigor. How sad. That is not the approach of Jesus, or the apostles, including Paul. It is neither good stewardship of the gospel, or of the responsibility we have for evangelism and teaching truth.

This quote from J Gresham Meachen is priceless, "There must be the mysterious work of the Spirit of God in the new birth,” he wrote. “Without that, all our arguments are quite useless. But because argument is insufficient, it does not follow that it is unnecessary. What the Holy Spirit does in the new birth is not to make a man a Christian regardless of the evidence, but on the contrary to clear away the mists from his eyes and enable him to attend to the evidence."

And, I wholeheartedly join John Stott in the following prayer and thank God for people like Gavin Ortlund, Glen Schrivener, Frank Turek Wes Huff, John Lennox, and the late Tim Keller, who God has given us. "I pray earnestly that God will raise up today a new generation of Christian apologists or Christian communicators, who will combine an absolute loyalty to the biblical gospel and an unwavering confidence in the power of the Spirit with a deep and sensitive understanding of the contemporary alternatives to the gospel; who will relate the one to the other with freshness, pungency, authority and relevance; and who will use their minds to reach other minds for Christ."

[Sally Cathcart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stott encourages Christians to grow in knowledge of the Lord. Knowledge helps us worship better and grow in faith and holiness. He warns against puffing ourselves up in knowledge, but Stott encourages us to love our neighbors and learn that we might share God’s love.

[Elizabeth Van Gorp · Rating 4 out of 5]

I kept checking the publication date because he keeps addressing his current day and age where people give too much power to emotions and not enough to reason and intelligence! Written in 1972, it was like a futuristic letter to 2022. Overall, I was inspired by this short text about the necessity of intelligence and being a Christian. I've not read any theology like this and it was so important that I must read it again.

[Jake Busch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great short little read on Christian intellectualism. Offers a pushback we see today against a passive anti-intellectualism of “let go and let God”. Christians KNOW the Lord Jesus.

[Nderitu Pius · Rating 5 out of 5]

Straight to the point. We have seen a shift in the way Christianity is delivered and understood by many. I can see why we need doctrine in our lives as Christians... I won't tell you, go and read this beautiful book 📚

[Silvio Quental · Rating 5 out of 5]

Um verdadeiro clássico da literatura evangélica, este livro inicialmente suscitou ceticismo em minha leitura. No início, temi que o autor estivesse a tentar promover uma teoria bíblica excessivamente otimista, apesar de ter lido antes outras livros de John Stott. No entanto, à medida que avancei na leitura e consultei as Sagradas Escrituras, percebi que a verdadeira revelação deste livro é tão simples quanto o evangelho. Sua abordagem transcende preconcepções, apresentando uma visão clara e autêntica, que se revela poderosa na sua simplicidade e realmente, crer também é pensar.

[Fernanda Tomiotto · Rating 3 out of 5]

O livro trata de um tema interessante e importante. O conteúdo é rico, apesar de ser um livro curto. Entretanto, no meu ponto de vista, a leitura se torna trucada em muitos trechos (talvez por conta da tradução que li), o que me fez quase desistir da leitura em vários momentos.

[Monique Gerke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Conhecimento é essencial para a fé cristã.
"Porque sempre que Cristo abre as escrituras para nós e aprendemos com ele, nosso coração deve arder dentro de nós."

Ótimo ensaio do pastor John Stott, sobre a importância do uso da mente na vida cristã. Crer é também pensar.

[Daniel Calle · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Stott fue un predicador y clérigo anglicano. Por muchos años fue Rector de la iglesia All Souls en Londres. Escribió también varios libros de gran influencia en el cristianismo. Por medio de su ministerio comunicó la verdad de Dios en forma relevante para el cristiano contemporáneo, tratando varios temas de actualidad desde una cosmovisión bíblica. En "Creer es también pensar" se enfoca en la importancia de la mente en la vida cristiana.

Stott escribe este libro preocupado por la realidad del anti intelectualismo en la iglesia. Él postula que algunas evidencias de anti intelectualismo dentro de la iglesia cristiana pueden verse entre los católicos, los liberales y los pentecostales. Todos ellos desprecian la reflexión teológica y el estudio de la doctrina, priorizando el ritual, la justicia social y la experiencia respectivamente. La tesis de Stott, por lo tanto, es que la mente y su uso ocupan un lugar esencial en la vida cristiana, específicamente en seis aspectos: (1) la adoración, (2) la fe cristiana, (3) la santidad, (4) la guía en la voluntad de Dios, (5) el evangelismo, y (6) el ministerio. Al desarrollar esta tesis, su intención no es producir un cristianismo frío y académico, sino «una cálida devoción encendida por la verdad» (18). En otras palabras, es imperativo mantener un equilibrio bíblico en el uso apropiado de la mente, evitando el anti intelectualismo y el frío academicismo.

El libro se divide en cuatro capítulos. El primero funciona a modo de introducción, los dos siguientes exponen el desarrollo de su tesis central, y el último exhorta a mantener un sano balance en el uso apropiado de la mente en la vida cristiana. Stott expone la importancia del uso de la mente para el cristiano, su centralidad en seis aspectos de la vida cristiana y el fin del conocimiento de la mente en la vida cristiana.

El libro de Stott es fascinante y profundo. A pesar de ser un libro breve, explica con claridad y un estilo fluido y directo la importancia del uso de la mente en la vida del cristiano. Una de las principales críticas al cristianismo es catalogarlo como un salto de fe ciega, que acepta historias fantasiosas acerca de Cristo. Stott demuestra bíblicamente la falsedad de esta declaración, afirmando la centralidad del uso de la mente en la vida cristiana.

"Creer es también pensar" es una necesaria llamada de atención al creciente anti intelectualismo dentro de la iglesia cristiana. Stott presenta tres ejemplos específicos de cómo se manifiesta este anti intelectualismo en el cristianismo: el ritualismo, el énfasis en la justicia social y el experiencialismo. Podríamos nombrar más en nuestros días, como el sentimentalismo, la relativización de la verdad y el deseo de tolerancia que minimizan el estudio serio y el trabajo teológico académico. Aunque la unidad y el amor son fines correctos y buenas motivaciones, el desdén por la verdad de las Escrituras ha hecho mucho daño a la iglesia de Cristo. Muchos que dicen ser cristianos son llevados por las corrientes del mundo y por las herejías destructoras de los falsos maestros. Los propios pastores y líderes de las congregaciones desprecian la doctrina sana para predicar sus propias opiniones, para hacer crecer su iglesia pragmáticamente y para incentivar un emocionalismo malsano que entusiasma, pero no edifica. En ese sentido, el libro de Stott sigue siendo tan relevante como cuando se escribió por primera vez hace 50 años (1972).

[Joey · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Show me a person's actions, and I will show you their thoughts." This is one of the most convicting and eye opening truths about human nature. Likewise, the reverse is also true, a person who controls their thoughts also controls their actions. One of the greatest struggles of the human experience is managing the heart/ the mind. This principle aligns with Proverbs 16:32: "He who rules his spirit is greater than he who takes a city." The mind can be the devil’s playground, but when a heart is fully submitted to Christ, it becomes a vessel for God. Stott is widely known yet remains one of the most underrated writers and preachers of the 20th century. He never confuses the reader. Though he employs a rich vocabulary, his message is always clear and grounded in sound logic. I highly recommend this book..


Notable highlights;

"Faith, if you like, can be described like this: It is a man insisting on thinking when everything seems determined to bludgeon and knock him down in an intellectual sense. The trouble with the person of little faith is that instead of controlling his own thought, his thought is being controlled by something else. He is then going around and around in circles. That is the essence of worry. That is not thought; that is the absence of thought, a failure to think."

"Faith, according to this passage, is thinking, and the problem with the man of little faith is that he does not think, he allows circumstances to bludgeon him. We must spend more time studying our Lord's lessons in observation and deduction. The Bible is full of logic, and we should never view our faith as purely mystical."

"The Christian mind has succumbed to the secular drift with a degree of weakness and nervelessness that is unmatched in history." It is difficult to do justice with words to the complete loss of intellectual morale in the 21st-century church. One cannot characterize it without having recourse to language that would sound hysterical or melodramatic. There is no longer a Christian mind."

"To set the mind on the flesh is death; to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace."

"Self-control is primarily mind control; what we sow in our minds, we reap in our actions."

"In Scripture, the deceit of the mind is laid down as the principle of all sin."

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great little book that was originally given as a lecture by John Stott in 1972. He emphasizes the importance of engaging the mind with the Truth of the gospel, while also balancing his arguments with a caution against overreacting and minimizing the important work of the Spirit in changing hearts. Without the work of the Spirit, Gresham Machen helpfully points out, “all our arguments are quite useless. But because argument [alone] us insufficient, it does not follow that is is unnecessary.”

I plan to return to this helpful little book again and again as a resource and reminder of the importance our intellects and minds play in understanding God’s will.

Lastly, this quote from Stott made an impression on
me:

“I pray earnestly that God will raise up today a new generation of Christian apologists of Christian communicators, who will combine an absolute loyalty to the biblical gospel and an unwavering confidence in the power of the Spirit with a deep and sensitive understanding of the contemporary alternatives to the gospel; who will relate the one to the other with freshness, pungency, authority and relevance; and who will use their minds to reach other minds for Christ” (74).

[Brianna M · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for every Christian!

This brief little book is filled with big truths on why “Knowledge is indispensable to Christian life and service”. Though a quick read, take your time reading it as it’s dense with knowledge and not just fluff; but don’t worry, you don’t have to be an academic to enjoy.

Originally presented as a lecture in the 1972, John Stott targets biblical principles on the integral places intellect has in the Christian Faith that are just as relevant and compelling today as it would have had back then.

Stott calls for balance and understanding when engaging with our mind and spirit in all facets of our lives, particularly in worship to God, as we conform to how God designed us and commands us to live. As well as how knowledge and wisdom should be acted on with love and not cold.

Stott also draws from a range of resources, along with scripture, to address these 4 elements in this topic:
1. Mindless Christianity
2. Why use our minds?
3. The mind in the Christian life
4. Acting on our knowledge

It’s a great introductory book for any with questions in this area or need help to articulate the key points.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is the transcribed edition of a talk Rev. Stott gave to an InterVarsity conference in the early 70s. At that time (as is still true today unfortunately), Christianity was considered by many to either be a leap of blind faith or so wrapped up in emotional experiences that the use of the mind was assumed to be inconsequential. Of course, this is wholly untrue and Rev. Stott puts forth the Biblical evidence for the centrality of the intellect in all phases of Christian life. In fact, he covers the necessity of intellectual pursuits in six majors areas of the faith: the discipline of worship, the study of theology, the pursuit of holiness, the search for guidance, the practice of evangelism and the vocation of ministry.

Dr. Stott remains a favorite author of mine (and many, many others) because his writings are eminently instructive and practical. This short treatise is no exception.

[Glenn Crouch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven’t read this book in probably 40 years. I encountered it in High School back in the 70’s as it was promoted by my school’s Christian Fellowship group - and being an academic it did appeal to me. It is a good, short book that basically says that being a Christian is NOT turning your brain off, rather as Christians we are challenged to use the minds that God has given us. I also think Stott does a good job of avoiding an “intellectualism” approach.

However, I know many of my Pentecostal friends were hurt when reading this back in the 70s - and I must admit I still find the Authors words harsh when it comes to our Pentecostal friends. It is not that he is incorrect in the dangers he is highlighting, but that he tends to see the problems as universal to the movement.

So perhaps this hasn’t aged as well as many of his other books, but is was nostalgic to read it again :)

[Jonathan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have a lot of respect for John Stott and really really benefited from and enjoyed his book "Balanced Christianity"! However, this book was just okay for me. I enjoyed his structure (dealing with the mind's relation to creation, revelation, redemption and judgement and how the mind relates to the Christian life) and resonated with his frustration with Christians who are anti-intellectual.....but the book was just okay. Perhaps I am too mystical and charismatic, but I just thought he took things a bit too far. And the writing wasn't that enjoyable to engage with.