What do you Think?
Joe Slater

We don’t all think alike. That doesn’t bother me as much as the fact that we don’t all think! The religion of Christ requires us to think, to exercise our God-given capacity to deal with the facts in a logical fashion.

Jesus often asked people, “What do you think?” He asked Peter that question concerning the temple tax (Matt. 17:25). As he told the parable of the lost sheep, He asked His disciples, “What do you think?” (Matt. 18:12). The same question introduced His parable of the two sons (Matt. 21:28). After the parable of the “good Samaritan,” Jesus asked the lawyer what he thought (Lk. 10:36). In a discussion of two tragedies, Jesus twice asked people what they thought (Lk. 13:2, 4). When some hostile Jews failed to trap Jesus with their trick questions, He turned the tables and asked, “What do you think about the Christ?” (Matt. 22:42).

Jesus expected people to use their brains! Unfortunately, nowadays most brains are suffering from chronic unemployment. When it comes to food for thought, most folks are on a hunger strike! Even when we talk about spiritual matters, we tend to focus on how we *feel* rather than what we think. There is nothing wrong with having feelings (we all do); but they are a cheap substitute for thinking.

“How do you feel about . . . ?” (Fill in the blank with a Bible passage or topic). We ought to be asking, “What do you think about it?” If our thoughts are not in harmony with God’s word, then we need to change our minds – but we definitely need to think! As far as the Biblical record goes, Jesus never asked anyone how they “felt” about something.

Sometimes we ask, “How do you feel?” when we really mean, “What do you think?” But substituting “feel” for “think” betrays our tendency to rely on emotions rather than reason. How I feel about something may be far different than what I think about it. On April 15 you may feel rather irritated when you mail that substantial check to the IRS. But because you know your Bible, you will think (in fact you will know) that this is a duty to both God and man.

Both thinking and feeling are part of our being. Each serves a useful function, but the two are not interchangeable. Let’s resolve that in the coming year we will wear our thinking caps. What do you think?

The Florida School of Preaching
31st Annual Lectureship

"Do You Understand Restoration?"

January 16-19, 2006

Make Plans to Attend Now!

For more details visit
www.FSOP.net on the internet

Elders Meeting
The Elders request a meeting with the congregation next Sunday afternoon (Jan. 8th) at 5:00 PM. All members are asked to be present.

Daily Bible Readers
All members who participated and were at least 90% successful in the 2005 Daily Bible Reading Program, are asked to sign the sheet in the foyer.

New Carpet
The elders are thinking about replacing the carpet in the auditorium. If you have any thoughts, suggestions or objections, please see one of the elders or Frank Nabors.

When we live for God each day of the week there will be a reflection of God's image in us and the world will see that we are not hypocrites in our faith. And there will be no cause for them to point a finger and say we are "Monday morning pagans".