A wise man once said: “The ability to speak does not make you intelligent.” 

I am talking, of course, about the respected Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn.

There’s an important connection between Qui-Gon’s words and those of another, less-fictional, spiritual master, the Apostle Paul. Just look at these words Paul wrote in Romans 12v2:

Paul knew that in order to become “intelligent” we need to be trained in what he called the “renewing of your mind”.

And how does one reach the mind?

Well, with none other than good teaching.

Jesus as Rabbi

This is why, when beginning His ministry, Jesus chose for Himself the role of rabbi.

Rabbi’s were Jewish teachers; and what is a teacher’s role? To point people to the truth and help them become wise and intelligent. They were to teach ideas that transformed the listener. 

I once heard it said that we don’t have ideas but, instead, ideas have us. Meaning that ideas are so powerful they can mold our very lives.

I think that’s accurate!

Ideas are roadmaps for reality. The ideas we believe lead us in certain directions that impact the person we become.

All this serves to illustrate a point: Ideas have importance and, I’d go as far to say, spiritual importance.

And that’s exactly why Jesus came as a rabbi, to spread spiritual ideas that transform the core part of our being.

Ideas Transform

For it’s the ideas we hold most true that have the greatest bearing on who we become.

And that is why, in the words of Paul, our minds/ideas must be renewed if we want to become like Christ.

Unfortunately, Jesus isn’t the only one spreading ideas. He’s got some nasty competition and, believe me, it’s pretty stiff.

We’ll get into that tomorrow.

For now, be blessed.

Jon,

Theophilus Newsletter