09/15/2024

A popular Christian magazine for many years had a recurring column where noted Christian leaders responded to the prompt “How my mind has changed.” Each leader explored changes in their thinking in important areas of life. Sometimes the changes were in areas of social concern. At other times there was broadening of ethical concerns, but the most common were changes in belief often in regard to specific theological ideas. A sub-theme frequently included areas which had not changed. In teaching university and seminary students, I asked for them to re-examine their beliefs. Some had fairly undeveloped ideas about God. This was revealed when they were challenged to explain the theological or religious terms they were using. The goal was not to tear down or damage their faith, but to help them think through their faith so that it might become their own faith rather than repeating what they had heard.  Most of us who have been long in the Christian faith have had those moments of new insight that we had not considered before. This may come as the result of a traumatic experience or it may come as the result of growing maturity. Things that we read, Sunday School lessons, Bible studies or sermons may prompt us to adjust our thinking. This is a normal part of growing in the faith. St. Paul talked about this with the metaphor of childhood moving from milk to an adult diet. It is not wrong that our earlier views may need adjustment. It certainly happens in other areas of life or we might still be expressing our affection by hitting the object of our interest with our bookbag as we might have done when we were seven years old. We learn and grow and sometimes that means that we change our minds.