90% of Christianity is Lived in Your Mind
I know what the preacher was trying to convey when he said, Ninety percent of Christianity is lived in the mind. I know he was just emphasizing the importance of memorizing the Word. I know he bringing to mind that at least part of the attacks on us happen in the mind. Things like jealousy, pride, or feelings of worthlessness. But to say most of Christianity, let alone 90%, is lived in the mind is simply misleading.
I don’t want to be overly critical of the preacher because he also often uses another cliché: , There are many things you can do by yourself; Christianity is not one of them. Christianity truly is a communal religion. Saying most of Christianity is lived in the mind deceives us into thinking we can follow Jesus outside of some form of communty. How can iron sharpen iron outside of a community? How can one be part of the family or part of the body without somehow connecting to the rest of it?
We need each other to encourage one another. We need each other to help each other understand God. Christianity practiced alone produces heretics. My myopic vision will only get me so far. I need others to inform my perspective of God.
The preacher’s statement encourages an already strong sense of self-actualization. Part of the glory of the gospel is the redemption of the individual, but I believe the greater glory is the redemption of the world. Part of the work of the Christian is developing the individual’s spiritual life, but the greater work is representing Christ to the world. You can’t do the “greater” part in your mind. You can’t have community in your mind.