Let me introduce my discussion on today’s episode on intellectual virtues by discussing first the “godly life.”
How do we Christians start to cultivate a godly life? We start by believing the Gospel, and believe consequently that "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." (1 Peter 1:3). Notice diyan “through our knowledge of Him.” That is again the Gospel, the person and work of Christ. Also notice that this knowledge is a knowledge that is outside of us to which we assent. Carl Schultz explains that “[T]he world knows God . . . through the divine initiative (Gal 4:8-9).”* Tinatanggap ng tao ‘yang initiative na ‘yan as “a response of faith and an acceptance of Christ. It is he who has made God known ( John 1:18 ). To know Christ is to know God ( John 14:7 ). Eternal life is to know the true God and Jesus Christ ( John 17:3 ). Paul desires to know Christ in his death and resurrection ( Php 3:10 ). Failure to know Jesus as Lord and Messiah ( Acts 2:36 ) resulted in his rejection and crucifixion ( 1 Cor 2:8 ).” But to know God does not settle as merely a belief about God but “[t]o know God is not to struggle philosophically with his eternal essence, but rather to recognize and accept his claims. It is not some mystical contemplation, but dutiful obedience.”† So this knowledge settles in our lives, snuggles in our heart, soul and mind. It flourishes in true beliefs and actions. It is to this that Paul “thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” sa Colossians 1:3-6 kasi daw “we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people— the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.” Lumalago siya at namumunga.
So nabanggit ko kanina na introduction ko lang ‘yan. Introduction siya kasi ang focus ng episode natin ay ‘yung faculty na ginagamit natin para matalastas natin ang “knowledge of God” that would inform our godly life. Ang tinutukoy ko na faculty ay ang ating isipan. Ang ating isipan kapag ito ay nagiging reliable at responsible sa pagsusuri ay nagkakaroon ito ng greater chance of discovering the knowledge of God and His will. A mind that has developed intellectual virtues is a godly mind in that respect kasi nakapag cultivate siya ng isipan that is well-suited to find the goods of truth, knowledge and wisdom in God at hindi yung patterns and standards of this world. Napakalaki ng role ng mind sa pagtuklas at pagtalima sa knowledge of God. Sabi ni Philip Towner,
“Throughout both the Old and New Testaments, the mind/reason is alternatively the thought system and the faculty of conscious reflection and perception. It is with the mind that decisions are made, whether moral or amoral in nature. It is with the mind that one chooses to accept God and obey his commandments, or to reject him and rebel against him.” ‡So ngayon ang sunod na tanong natin is how do you cultivate a mind na maging reliable at responsible na tool siya for the goods of truth, knowledge and wisdom in Christ? Isantabi muna natin sandali yung issue ng “godly life” kasi ang magiging focus natin ngayon ay kung paano nai-inform ‘yung godly life. So again, how do you cultivate a mind na maging reliable at responsible na tool siya for the goods of truth, knowledge and wisdom in Christ which will then give sanction or inform na magkaroon ka ng godly life? Ang sagot diyan is to develop a GODLY mind suited for inquiry. Your mind must develop habits that are godly in relation to the discovery of the goods of truth, knowledge and wisdom. Kakailanganin ‘yan sa ministry ng apologetics.
A godly mind suited for inquiry ay ‘yung may disposisyon o tamang paniniwalang pinanghahawakan at sinasabuhay sabi ng kaibigan kong si Pastor Phonny Jorquia. Ang mga goods (i.e., mga bagay na beneficial) na truth, knowledge at wisdom of God ay pursuit ng isang lingkod ng Diyos. Ang mga bagay na ito ay pursuit ng isang taong may maka-Diyos na isipan. Hindi mo na siya kailangan turuan palagi kasi oriented na siya sa pagsasaliksik sa kalooban at kaisipan ng Diyos sa lahat ng bagay ng kaniyang buhay. If he would have this godly mind, and you put him in a stressful situation and ang instinct nya is to inquire of God. Kaya sa apologetics ganiyang utak ang gusto natin. Marami kang mae-encounter na mga objections that will probably shake you to the core, most especially kung ang nagtatanong is isang atheist na dating worship leader at anak ng pastor. The questions are like melee blades hurled at you from all direction, they look chaotic but they are calculated and well-thought. So the habit of a godly mind is to inquire, but not only to inquire to God but to inquire with hope, faith and love.
However ang discussion natin ngayon does not only understand the godly mind as something to be cultivated to be reliable and responsible but may isa pa po siyang epekto if we practice thsi godly mind sa mga conversations especially kung ang context nito conversation sa doubting na kapatiran. Ang pag practice nito nagpo promote pagtuklas ng knowledge of God. May epekto siya sa environment kung may kausap kang kapatiran na nagtatanong sa’yo about his own struggles in life or baffling questions that give him doubt. A godly mind ay may inquiry-relevant na characteristic which then creates a congenial, cognitive environment para ‘yung usapan ay maging inquiry-relevant din all for the simple sake ng pag produce ng new beliefs, at hopefully beliefs about and in God. Sabi ni James, “Everyone should be quick to listen” (1:19).
Tayong mga tao naturally nag-iinquire tayo. Sabi ni Jason Baehr,
“One remarkable feature of our species is its propensity for inquiry. We humans are neither oblivious to nor indifferent about our surroundings. Nor is our interest in our surroundings purely practical. Rather, as beings that are both reflective and rational, we often find ourselves fascinated and puzzled by the world around us. We desire to know, to understand how things are, were, or might someday be. As a result, we make intentional and sustained efforts to figure things out. We inquire.”§A person involved in apologetics ministry especially one that ministers with doubting believers will do well in setting up an environment na maayos for inquiry. Kung nadevelop na sa kaniyang isipan ang mga inquiry-relevant traits like attentiveness or focus, ‘yung kausap niya would see that he’s in a congenial environment kung saan bawat obstacles sa kaniyang doubts would be jumped over. This is the reason why apologetics is also a great venue for mentoring at discipleship program sa mga nais yakapin ang kalooban na ito ng Panginoon. This congenial environment is a perfect place for inquiry kasi yung doubting mind ng believer ay sa totoo lang ay may design plan na luwalhatiin at kilalanin ang Diyos. So kung mailagay mo ang doubting believer sa congenial environment na ganiyan malaki ang chance na maisakatuparan niya ang design plan ng Lord sa kaniyang isipan -- na luwalhatiin at tuklasin ang knowledge of God. A mind that is attuned to God’s design plan for her mind is a mind that will constantly pursue the goods of truth, understanding, and wisdom in Christ. At ang maganda nandiyan ka to understand ang nature ng doubt niya at kung paano mawawala sana ang tanikala ng doubt na ito sa kaniya.
Pero kailangang nating tandaan palagi din na ang nabubuong congenial environment ng isang godly mind is not a direct response to the question of the doubter. What you're trying to avoid is for people to feel that your answer to his question is a congenial environment. A hospital may secure for you a sterile room but it would be wrong to assume that this room will cure you. You need doctors to attend to the true reason you are there. What this environment does for you is to give you a better assurance na ‘yung kausap mo na may design plan din ang Lord sa kaniyang isipan na mag inquire, will have a more warrant kung natagpuan nya ang sagot na ito sa isang inquiry-relevant na context, na hindi siya pinilit o sininghalan atbp. He is in a place where na tugma sa kalikasan ng kaniyang isipan.
Next episode po babanggitin ko po ang ilan sa mga traits na ito ng godly mind para po ma-identify ninyo ang mga virtues na ito, na malaki po ang role sa susunod na monthly topic natin na 4H apologetics. Kung nais po ninyong mabasa ang manuscript ng episode na ito, pumunta lamang kayo sa fb page ng Kaliwanagan kay Kristo.
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* Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology (BEDBT), sv "Know, Knowledge"; https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/bakers-evangelical-dictionary/know-knowledge.html
† BEDBT, sv "Know, Knowledge"
‡ BEDBT, sv "Mind/Reason"; accessed at https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/bakers-evangelical-dictionary/mind-reason.html
§ Jason Baehr, The Inquiring Mind, 1
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