Site
Contents
 |
General Information about the Area Office
North Indiana Conference Office
South Indiana Conference Office
Prayer Guides
(Courtesy of the NIC Prayer Team)
Area United Methodist
Foundation
For resources to assist your congregation in welcoming guests,
click here
Seashore District Volunteer Center VIM project -- Completed
Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodists together |
January 2006 |
Body, Mind & Spirit
Metanoia in this new year
By Todd Outcalt
Increasingly, as we sense that the church is becoming more deeply polarized in our various camps, holdouts and hang-ups, we may find ourselves longing for some center of reference - a place where we can find balance and yes, even change. Toward that end, may I suggest that we explore a biblical concept together? It is called metanoia - and it means literally, "mind transformation." In short - conversion.
We encounter this concept in Paul's letter to the Romans, where the apostle makes this grand appeal: "I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God - what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:1-2, emphasis mine).
Elsewhere, in Paul's letter to the Philippians, he also asks that the church have the same mind as Christ (2:5) and that, where differences may exist, that people sort out these difficulties through transformation of the mind (3:14-15).
The idea of mind transformation is central to the Gospel of Jesus and our walk as disciples. Jesus often asked people to think about the Kingdom of God differently, to see the world through new eyes, and to welcome those whom we might otherwise reject. Paul's letters to the churches are filled with this same message: metanoia - mind change!
Often, when you and I speak of conversion, we think of the changed heart (that's one of the grand contributions of our United Methodist heritage, to be people of the warmed heart). But Martin Luther often spoke of three stages of conversion. The first he called the changed heart, the second the changed mind, and the third stage he referred to as "the conversion of the pocketbook!"
It is not easy to change our minds, however. We so easily become slaves to our mindsets - our ways, methodologies and theologies tell us what we think and why we think it and therefore, how God must think, too! Rather than asking God to transform our minds, we so often pray that other people will see the light, get with the program or come around to seeing things our way.
But I think Jesus and Paul had something else in mind. Metanoia - mind transformation - has to do with our prayerful seeking of God. Metanoia is about conversation, fellowship, ownership and the continued struggle to set our minds on things above. In essence, God calls us to continually change our minds, to grow in our understanding of Christ, His church and the company of believers. Without mind transformation, we remain where we are.
Metanoia is the reason we believe Sunday school or other learning opportunities are important. It is why we teach, preach and publish. We hope that minds will not be wasted, but transformed by a higher call.
As we live in this new year, let us all pledge to seek this metanoia. Let's change our minds!
Todd Outcalt serves as senior pastor of Calvary United Methodist Church in Brownsburg, Ind.
Last updated on 25 Apr 2008