The Importance of the Mind

Recommended John Piper sermon : The Renewed Mind and How to Have It

"There are many who think that the only problem with the human mind is that
it doesn’t have access to all the knowledge it needs. So education becomes the
great instrument of redemption—personal and social. If people just got more
education they would not use their minds to invent elaborate scams, and
sophisticated terrorist plots, and complex schemes for embezzling, and
fast-talking, mentally nimble radio rudeness. If people just got more
education!
The Bible has a far more profound analysis of the problem. In
Ephesians 4:23 Paul uses a striking phrase to parallel Romans 12:2. He says, “Be
renewed in the spirit of your minds.” Now what in the world is that? “The spirit
of your mind.” It means at least this: the human mind is not a sophisticated
computer managing data, which it then faithfully presents to the heart for
appropriate emotional responses. The mind has a “spirit.” In other words, our
mind has what we call a “mindset.” It doesn’t just have a view, it has a
viewpoint. It doesn’t just have the power to perceive and detect; it also has a
posture, a demeanor, a bearing, an attitude, a bent. “Be renewed in the spirit
of your mind.”
The problem with our minds is not merely that we are finite,
and don’t have all the information. The problem is that our minds are fallen.
They have a spirit, a bent, a mindset that is hostile to the absolute supremacy
of God. Our minds are bent on not seeing God as infinitely more worthy of praise
than we are, or the things we make or achieve."