BOOK REVIEW – The Mind of Christ

With The Mind of Christ David Murry has given us a passionate declaration of Christ’s love for us, a powerful indictment of the American church, and a moving statement of his own experiences with God.

Written in a conversational style, The Mind of Christ examines these interrelated topics from a biblical perspective.

Murry begins by exploring the relationship believers have with God.  The author distinguishes between believers’ positional righteousness (earned for us at the cross), and our relational righteousness (the result of sanctification, and the depth of our communion with God).

Positional Righteousness

“We died to our sin nature.  We are new creatures in Him, with His mind, His righteousness, and the greatest gift of all, His raging river of love…”

-David Murry, The Mind of Christ

By the cross, we were given the mind of Christ and a new identity, as Murry puts it.  Our self-worth was established here.  It is separate from our function within the Body of Christ.

Relational Righteousness

“Relational righteousness, or said another way, a life lived seeking to walk in holiness is meant to be the natural response to the revelation of His love toward us.  We can only do this if we first understand our position in Christ.”

-David Murry, The Mind of Christ

As Murry explains, our self-worth is not dependent on the depth of our relationship with God.  We choose how far to allow God into our hearts and our lives.

God’s Unconditional Love

Throughout the book, David Murry emphasizes God’s boundless and unconditional love for us.

The author explains that if we do not turn to God and Kingdom truth, in any area of our lives, then we believe a lie about ourselves.  Murry goes so far as to say that:

“If in any way, an action of ours or an action of others, affects the way we view ourselves, it is an idol [1].”

-David Murry, The Mind of Christ

Murry, in this connection, explores fear of rejection and fear of failure, along with pride and mysticism.  He, also, discusses in the book manhood, as defined by the Bible, and the purpose of trials.

Impact of Sin

The author explains that God’s love never waivers.  Our sin does, however, grieve God’s heart, interfering with our relational righteousness.

Only “…when we begin to accept how much He loves us…[do] we begin to feel…His heart,” the author points out.  Ultimately, it is God’s love that transforms us, setting the captives free.

The Body of Christ

David Murry then turns his attention to the American church – criticizing its worldly attitude toward worship, temporal goals and concerns, materialism, compromise with sin, and failure to care adequately for the persecuted church abroad.  He pleads, in particular, for the needy.

“…the American Church as a whole, has lost the ability to walk in the heart, mind, and intention of the Lord.  We either speak of an angry God and His irreconcilable judgment upon this nation – or – We preach a message of excessive grace and spiritual & national pride from the false notion that a loving Father would not humble this nation (perhaps we have forgotten this country is not our home) – or – We speak of some twisted old covenant form of ‘revival’ as if the Holy Spirit is not already inside us…”

-David Murry, The Mind of Christ

Murry states, in no uncertain terms, that the course the church chooses to pursue will determine the fate of the nation.  He urges repentance, open opposition to sin, and a return to prayer (nowadays replaced by preaching and teaching).

Murry does not agree with the traditional concept of “revival”, since the Holy Spirit is already here in us [2].  Instead, the author places emphasis on the spiritual renewal of individual believers, as a means of releasing God’s love for the lost, hurt, and dying.

Visions/Dreams

Lastly, David Murry shares with readers some of his most personal experiences with God.  These are in the form of visions, dreams, and insights which facilitated prayer for those he encountered.

Murry stresses that all private revelation must be consistent with the written Word of God.  He allows that doctrine has its place, but maintains that nothing can substitute for extending God’s love to others as the Holy Spirit may move us.

In Sum

I highly recommend this book to other Christians.  The author’s humility, sincerity, and devotion are beyond question.  The text is readily accessible, explaining Scripture in clear, straightforward terms.  The message is biblical and uplifting.  We are, in short, loved.

Readers should not though expect The Mind of Christ to be unchallenging.  It calls for Christians to live and act out of love for Christ, because of His great love for us.  That kind of love requires a radical surrender of ourselves to God.

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[1]  Just to clarify, abuse victims are not guilty of idolatry for viewing themselves as worthless.  That lie was drilled into them while they were still vulnerable children, by predators who subjected them to endless horrors.  Little wonder, victims continue to see themselves this way.  To God, however, they are priceless.

[2]  Christians believe that the Holy Spirit, the third person in the Trinity and helper Christ had promised, descended to earth at Pentecost.

READERS CAN FIND MY VIEWS ON ABUSE AND ABUSE-RELATED ISSUES AT ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse  http://www.avoicereclaimed