Spiritually Minded

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 12, 1870

Spiritually Minded.

“To be carnally minded,” says the apostle, “is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Rom. 8: 6. The word here rendered “minded,” is “that which one thinks or feels, i. e., thought, feeling, purpose, desire, will, &c.” The word for carnally, is, literally, “of the flesh;” and the word “spiritually,” is “of the spirit.” So that it might be rendered, “The thought, feeling, purpose, desire, &c., of the flesh, is death; but the thought, feeling, purpose, desire, &c., of the spirit, is life and peace.” This brings the idea more definitely before the mind. To let our thoughts, our feelings, our desires, run in the way of the flesh, is death. It is destructive of our spiritual life here, and will result in eternal death hereafter. To let our thoughts and desires follow the promptings of the Spirit of God, that will lead to peace and everlasting life. And what is it to be carnally minded or let our thoughts and desires follow the inclinations of the flesh? It is to love and do its works; and the works of the flesh are these: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, and such like. And to be spiritually minded, or to follow the things of the Spirit, is to bring forth its fruit, which is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. To follow in the one path is to walk in the way to everlasting life, to follow in the other, is to walk in the road to death.

And here there is no middle ground. To be not positively going forward in the way to life, is to be going in the road to death. To be on neither side, is to be on the wrong side. To be standing still, is to be going backward. We are abiding in the vine, drawing therefrom invigorating life, and bearing the fruit of the Spirit, or we are becoming unfruitful and dead.

And here is an unerring test of what is pleasing and right in the sight of God. Are you in doubt in regard to any movement? Look at its spirituality. Is it characterized by this feature? Does it foster or repress this element? Is it calculated to increase the spirituality of those engaged in it? If these questions can be answered in the affirmative, then we may safely conclude that the movement is right in the sight of God, that it is entitled to our confidence, our sympathy, and our hearty co-operation. If it lacks these features we may well stand in doubt of it; nay, we may at once reject it. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. We cannot, then, seek too earnestly for this frame of mind, nor can we too industriously avail ourselves of every means which will promote it.

In the light of this principle we now ask the reader to look at a question which is a subject of no little controversy—the question of spiritual gifts, or, more definitely, the manifestation of the spirit of prophecy among us.

Look, first, at the works published, entitled Spiritual Gifts, and Testimonies to the Church. What is their character? Do they not maintain throughout a lofty tone of spirituality? Do they not counsel to all that is noble, and elevating, and active, and energetic in this respect? Do they not constantly warn against the carnal mind and its deadly evil? Will not the person who will live out their teaching be spiritually minded in a most eminent degree? These questions admit of no dispute.

Look, secondly, at the persons whom Providence is using in this work. Are they not in a marked sense, spiritual? Are they not persons of piety and prayer? In consecration to God, in devotion to the work, are they not examples to the flock?

Look, thirdly, at those who most closely follow the teachings of spiritual gifts. We ask you to look at these study the Bible more earnestly, and follow its teaching more fully? Do not these manifest more of the fruit of the Spirit in their work and conversation? Do they not occupy a higher plane of spiritual life? Are they not more spiritually minded? Are not the effects, as seen in them, good, and only good?

Look, fourthly, at those who oppose this work. Do we find them to be spiritually minded persons? Do we find with them, in any noticeable degree, the fruit and work of the Spirit? Do we not, on the other hand, find enmity, malignity, bitterness, hate, strife, and misrepresentation?

Now, fifthly, imagine for a moment the two sides reversed. Imagine that on the side of spiritual gifts there was this marked lack of spirituality, and the prominent manifestation of so many evil traits, while on the side of the opposition there was devotion, piety, consecration to the truth, and the manifestation of the Spirit and power of God. What effect would this have on your mind toward determining which was the side that God could approve? This, as it looks to us, is a point worthy of serious reflection. Nor do we see how any right-minded person, who possesses any degree of spiritual discernment, can long hesitate in regard to his decision.

And remember that he who follows the things of the Spirit, will sympathize with the work of the Spirit, wherever manifested, and in whatever way, and by whatever means. He will be in harmony with its work, not in part only, but wholly.

Our decision is for that which bears the plainest impress of the Spirit of God. Our advice to all others is to cleave closest to that. This is the path of safety, of peace and life.