"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.
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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."
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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."
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20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
By BenjieMMBC
Format:Paperback
Albert Einstein once said, "If most of us are ashamed of shabby clothes and shoddy furniture, let us be more ashamed of shabby ideas and shoddy philosophies." That idea is fleshed out from a Christian perspective by John Stott. He wrote to address a spirit of anti-intellectualism in Christian circles. Some point to their zeal and spirituality with pride, claiming that zeal is all you need, and knowledge is superfluous. Stott states plainly, "God's purpose is both, zeal directed by knowledge, knowledge fired with zeal." It's ludicrous to believe that Christians can have an impact in the world if they don't use their minds to understand their own faith and to interact effectively in the arena of ideas. Stott's book is very short, an easy read, and his argument is solid and effective. Definitely 5 stars!
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By Chris Lee
Format:Paperback
Okay, now I've caught your attention. John Stott and others like J. P. Moreland ("Love the Lord Your God with All Your Mind") seek to win back Christianity from its Fundamentalistic (and thus somewhat anti-intellectual) tendencies, and seek to state why the cognitive/intellectual side of faith is important. For the heart does not rejoice with which the mind does not agree upon! Prov. 19:2 "It is not good to have zeal without knowledge..."
Stott wishes to have Christians to be zeal guided by knowledge, both zeal and knowledge, even though sometimes we might set one against the other (e.g., zealous pietists vs. dead logical rationalists). Stott believes in the power of the truth (p.13), and that the rationality of man is sometimes seen as one of the aspects of being created in the image of God, and is basically taken for granted by many. Stott lays out how God's revelation is primarily to our minds, that it is through knowledge of God and God's will that we are to obey, and that we will be judged. Thus, Stott is trying to state how the intellectual sphere is will play an important role within Christian life.
Stott namely names spheres of worship, faith, holiness, guidance, evangelism, and ministry as areas where we will require the intellectual pursuits. For instance, true worship loves God with our minds. Stott then moves on to name what faith isn't: faith is not credulity, it is not blind, it is not optimism, and it isn't placed in oneself, but rather in God. Faith is a trust in the promises of God in His trustworthiness, based on one's walk with Him. Faith thus goes along with knowledge and thinking.
... Read more ›9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
In the same genre as J. P. Moreland's "Love God with Your Mind," Stott writes a much more pithy, brief overview of why Christian living must entail not only the emotions, but also the mind. In fact, as he writes, he rightly balances loving God with our soul (relationality), mind (rationality), will (volitionality), and emotions (emotionality). His work is a solid reminder of our need for a holistic approach to our walk with our God.
Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of "Soul Physicians," "Spiritual Friends," "Biblical Psychology," "Martin Luther's Counseling," and "Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction."
Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of "Soul Physicians," "Spiritual Friends," "Biblical Psychology," "Martin Luther's Counseling," and "Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction."
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Jesse
Format:Paperback
This book is really short - 61 pages. It is a transcript of a talk Stott gave to his students at the beginning of an acedemic year. I think it's a nice read. This book is much more consice than "Love Your God with all Your Mind" by Moreland, but discusses the same sorts of ideas.
He begins talking about how it's important to have zeal and knowledge. That one without the other is a problem. He's also against cold pragmatism: "The modern world breeds pragmatists whose first question about anything is not, "Is it true?" but "Does it work?""
Stott asks the question, why should Christians develop and use their minds? He gives answers such as,
- The ideas around us are potentially dangerous and false(i.e. think about "Mein Kampf" in the days of Hitler); and most certainly against the gospel.
- We're created to think
- God is a self-revealing God, who has thoughts to share with us
- We have a new redeemed mind, given to us by Christ
- We can use our minds to worship God, present the gospel to others, and utilize our gifts in the Body
Furthermore, Stott discusses having a reasonable faith. He shows how our minds can help guide us towards the Lord and spiritual growth. He ends suggesting that we depend on the Holy Spirit, but that doesn't mean we don't use our own minds as well. He brings up what God spoke to Daniel after Daniel had prayed: "Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your mind to understand and humbled yourself before God, your words have been heard..." Stott concludes, "Indeed, both the setting of the mind to understand and the self-humbling before God are tokens of a man's hunger for divine truth."
He begins talking about how it's important to have zeal and knowledge. That one without the other is a problem. He's also against cold pragmatism: "The modern world breeds pragmatists whose first question about anything is not, "Is it true?" but "Does it work?""
Stott asks the question, why should Christians develop and use their minds? He gives answers such as,
- The ideas around us are potentially dangerous and false(i.e. think about "Mein Kampf" in the days of Hitler); and most certainly against the gospel.
- We're created to think
- God is a self-revealing God, who has thoughts to share with us
- We have a new redeemed mind, given to us by Christ
- We can use our minds to worship God, present the gospel to others, and utilize our gifts in the Body
Furthermore, Stott discusses having a reasonable faith. He shows how our minds can help guide us towards the Lord and spiritual growth. He ends suggesting that we depend on the Holy Spirit, but that doesn't mean we don't use our own minds as well. He brings up what God spoke to Daniel after Daniel had prayed: "Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your mind to understand and humbled yourself before God, your words have been heard..." Stott concludes, "Indeed, both the setting of the mind to understand and the self-humbling before God are tokens of a man's hunger for divine truth."
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The picture is clear and so are the expectations of those following Christ.
Stott does a beautiful job at offering Scriptural support for the need and use of our minds as humans created in the image of God and, as Christians who are both submitting and using this rational mind.
Stott highlights 5 or 6 different areas of our Christian life where the mind has been absent and must be reinstated as it is essential. Read it, allow your mind to return to its rightful place and now use this God-given mind!
Stott does a beautiful job at offering Scriptural support for the need and use of our minds as humans created in the image of God and, as Christians who are both submitting and using this rational mind.
Stott highlights 5 or 6 different areas of our Christian life where the mind has been absent and must be reinstated as it is essential. Read it, allow your mind to return to its rightful place and now use this God-given mind!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic little book.
A lot of "love God with your mind" books try to lay some kind of all-around intellectual burden on Christians, telling us we all need to be driven by intellectual pursuit. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Rev. Dummy Gladhands
5.0 out of 5 stars
Your Mind Matters
This is a defense of rational disciplined use of the mind in addressing issues of Faith in orthodox Christian doctrine. Read more
Published 19 months ago by thomas j. zwemer
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Christian Mind-Indispenseable
There are large segments of 'Christendom' where experience is emphasized over doctrine and some denominations where the importance of Christian doctrine is either neglected or set... Read more
Published on February 28, 2007 by J. Adrian
2.0 out of 5 stars
Only Partially Convinced
I'm some what dissapointed that the author states his doubts and unbelief that God speaks to His children personally. Read more
Published on March 9, 2006 by R. C.
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