Church Brain? Excuse Me...Baby, Jesus Had a Brain Too.... Since When Did Being a Christian Mean Culturally Dumb? Signed Unapologetically Christian AND Intelligent

 

Let’s talk about this thing called “church brain.” And we know what they mean.... Although we certainly don't want to be an overthinker.   👀  👀

Somebody says, “I’m a Christian,” and suddenly people assume they left their common sense at the church door.

Baby, what?

Since when did following Jesus mean we stopped thinking?

There is this strange misconception that you can either be Christian or intelligent. 

But you can't be both.

You can be educated, intellectual, analytical, successful, and curious...

but once you say, “I believe in Jesus Christ,” somebody wants to assume you aren't thinking for yourself.

And the crazy part? It has made people so embarrassed to be associated with Christianity that they’ll claim to be everything except Christian.

Meanwhile, the Bible says:

“Love the Lord your God… with all your mind.”

— Matthew 22:37

Your mind, honey. Your MIND!

God didn't ask you to check your brain at the church entrance.

And let's talk about Jesus for a minute.

Baby, the Bible didn't tell me to lose my mind when I became a Christian.

And no, I don't need to choose between faith and intelligence. I have a mind and Scripture tells me to have the mind of Christ.

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 2:5

Now let's really think about this.

How is that different from anyone else who has a belief system, religion, philosophy, or set of principles that guides their life?

It isn't unusual for people to allow their beliefs to influence their decisions. That's literally what convictions are for.

If you are a person of faith, your faith becomes one of your guiding forces.

If you live by certain principles, those principles influence how you make decisions.

If you follow a particular philosophy, worldview, or moral framework, you allow that framework to help determine what you will and won't do.

Everybody is being guided by something. That's an important distinction.

So why is it that when a Christian says, “My faith guides my decisions,” suddenly people hear, “She can't think for herself”?

No ma'am. No sir...

Having a governing belief system doesn't mean you don't have a brain.

And Jesus Was Intelligent. Very Intelligent.

Have they forgotten who we're following? Jesus wasn't walking around giving everybody cute little inspirational quotes. He was strong and intelligent in God. Jesus could debate.

At twelve years old, He was in the temple sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking questions, and the people who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. 

Luke 2:46–47.

And when religious leaders tried to trap Him with questions, Jesus didn't panic. He didn't need to dumb Himself down to prove He had faith.

He answered them.

He challenged their assumptions.
He exposed contradictions.
He used Scripture.
He asked questions right back.

Sometimes Jesus answered a question with another question.

And if that is “church brain.”.... Then I want it. 

Because that's critical thinking with a Kingdom assignment.

Jesus wasn't afraid of intelligent conversations.  He wasn't threatened by educated people. He wasn't afraid to challenge religious traditions.

And He certainly wasn't afraid to say, “You have heard it said… but I say to you…”

(Matthew 5)

Baby, Jesus was not intellectually intimidated.

He was the standard.

He could sit in the temple among religious teachers and amaze them with His understanding and His answers (Luke 2:46–47). He could take a question designed to trap Him and turn it into a lesson. He challenged religious leaders when their traditions contradicted the heart of God's Word.

Jesus was intellectually strong because He was rooted in God.

“But You're Just a Follower.”

Okay… and?

Everybody follows somebody.

You follow professors.
You follow CEOs.
You follow financial experts.
You follow influencers.
You follow trends.
You follow algorithms that somehow know exactly what you want to buy.

So let's stop acting like following automatically means you're incapable of leading.

Jesus Himself said:  “Follow me.” — Matthew 4:19

The question isn't whether you follow.

The question is WHO you follow.

And following Jesus doesn't mean turning your brain off.

And again we're called to examined the scriptures ourselves to see whether teachings are true. Acts 17:11.

That's called discernment.

So yes, listen to your pastor. Learn from your spiritual leaders. And receive instructions.

But don't confuse spiritual leadership with intellectual slavery.

A mature Christian should be able to hear something, study it, question it, pray about it, search Scripture, and come to an informed conclusion.

That's wisdom.

I can have faith and ask questions.

I can believe Scripture and study history.

I can listen to my pastor and open my Bible.

I can follow Christ and lead people.

I can be spiritual, a Christian, and intellectual.

Because apparently somebody forgot to tell them that Christians have brains.

Baby, God gave us one. And Jesus is still Lord.

Being a Christian doesn't mean becoming less intelligent. It means learning how to use the mind God gave you under the authority of Christ.

Question for the Culture:

Why have we allowed Christianity to be associated with unintelligence when Jesus Himself demonstrated wisdom, knowledge, discernment, and intellectual depth?

Maybe the problem isn't that Christians don't think for themselves. Maybe the problem is that we think too much according to the Word of God. And that's what makes people uncomfortable.