One of the reasons that some fall back into the spirit of the world is the failure to equip themselves. Even equipping oneself, one can fall back into the bondage of the world. The Christian mind must be determined and committed to the Person of Christ, the Word of God and the fellowship of the saints. As Tim J. Nettles writes in the foreword of the book, The Armies of the Lamb, The Spirituality of Andrew Fuller; “He who would enroll in the Lord’s army must entertain…no hesitation of his loyalty….”. If one’s loyalty falters, the dismantling of the Christian mind will become evident.
Once the mind is disengaged from spiritual things it is fair game for “the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.” I John 2:16. The Christian mind ensnared by the spirit of the world will soon be captive to the spirit of the world. John Owen in his work, The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded, writes, “If the world can fill the minds, the thoughts, and affections, it will to some, fortify the soul against faith and obedience, and in others weaken all grace.”
When one is tempted and drawn away by his own desires the spirit of loyalty to the faith will cave to abiding in the spirit of the world. Subsequently, unrestrained lusts, having its sway, will strip any Christian mindedness. Having arrived in this atmosphere the Christian mind suppresses the truth and remarkably jettisons from his conscious the evil of sin. Sin no longer resisted in the mind brings a habitual disposition of worldliness.
A further dismantling of the mind occurs with a spirit of indifference. The Christian mind has abandoned the vitality and desirability of the faith. Faith is no longer mysterious, romantic and delightful. It is a faith no longer worth fighting for. There is no will to fight. There is no longer a testimony that can bear witness that he is a child of God. Consider the commendation of the apostle Paul to Timothy in I Timothy 6:1-2. “But you, O man of God …pursue righteous… Fight the good fight of faith….”
Colonel Bull Simmons, special forces, who led the Son Tay Raid to rescue 500 prisoners of war held captive by the North Vietnamese Army in November, 1970 made a profound statement; “History teaches that when you become indifferent and lose the will to fight, someone who has the will to fight will take over.” This is an excellent metaphor to the carnal Christian who has lost the will to fight for the faith. Consider one who will take up the fight against the wayward soul. The adversary, the devil, will now torment those who have entered into his domain of worldliness. “…The whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.” . I John 5:19 “…your adversary, the devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” I Peter 5:8.
The Christian whose mind has been dismantled has no chance against the assault upon his soul. He will subsequently succumb to the wiles of the devil. The devil will use pressures, troubles, and discouragements to drive the soul into the dungeon of addiction, depression, fear, bondage, anger, hopelessness, suicide, and multitudes of other afflictions. If the devil is not considered in this suffering, redemption will be difficult because he is ill equipped and has lost the will to fight.
Furthermore, the Christian mind has collapsed by not heeding the warning the apostle Paul gave the Church in Ephesus. “This I say, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned, Christ, if you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus.” Ephesians 4:17-21. It is no match for the world, the flesh and the devil in this condition. “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Romans 8:6.
One in this condition is not hopeless. Return to the Shepherd of your soul. God is longing to bring you out of the valley of the shadow of death. The children of God are precious in His sight. They are the Bride of Christ. Repent of your waywardness in the wilderness of sin. Re-establish your walk and affection for the fellowship with the body of Christ, biblical preaching, teaching, and worship. Renew your Christian mind. You will be called blessed again. “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with their whole heart.” Psalm 119:1-2.
