We are now living in the world of Artificial Intelligence, IQ (cognitive intelligence) and EQ (emotional intelligence) and more and more there is a move to enhance these forms of intelligence. However many have not given the thought of the importance of SQ (Spiritual Intelligence) and that it’s the true intelligence that can be achieved by everyone. What is SQ (spiritual Intelligence)? It is to have the “mind of Christ” which will control not only one part of the brain but all of our brain, mind, soul, spirit and body.
St Paul said in 1Corth 2:16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
And in Philippians 2:5 “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.”
There is wisdom that is received when we think like Christ and when Christ is in our minds and souls and we are focused on Christ in everything we do. God will therefore
give us a decerning mind between what is evil and what is good, as St Anthony mentions.
St Paul writes 1Corth 2:13-16 – And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
St Paul here is saying that spiritual wisdom is not taught but comes to those who are spiritual and have the mind of Jesus Christ who is the wisdom of God.
“The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”
So St Paul implies the safest and most powerful mind to have is the mind of Christ and no one can judge the mind of Christ.
When will look at the life of the late Pope Shenouda we see in him the best example of SQ at the highest level which he acquired through His years of living the mind of Christ through his spiritual Ascetic practices and living as a hermit for many years acquired the true spiritual Intelligence and the wisdom of God.
How can the mind of Christ be acquired?
A. Having our thoughts controlled not allowing any evil to enter the mind by deflecting the arrows of Satan and converting it to prayer either by Psalm verses or the Jesus Prayer recited. Control of receptivity of information from all sources around you, eg: media, people, dialogue, news, images, gossip, etc… Any interaction must be suitable and pleasing to the mind of Christ…
B. Having the mind of Christ by feeding the mind with the truth...
The word of God is very important for us to have the Mind of Christ.
Our daily bible readings and spiritual books and the early fathers bring the mind into the mind of Christ.
Out of all the spiritual weapons mentioned in Ephesians 6 the sword of truth, which is the word of God, is our only offensive weapon. Hebrews 4:12 tells us “…the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
God’s Word expels darkness, annihilates lies, destroys deception and transforms our thinking until our thoughts begin to resemble His.
C. To have the mind of Christ we need to spend as much time with Christ as possible.
The more we spend time with Christ, through, prayer, psalms, vigils, silence, tasbeha, liturgies and all our spiritual practices the more we enter into a deep intimate loving relationship with Christ and Christ will reveal more of himself on a different level and our minds become aligned with the mind of Christ, it is like two who love each other they develop a mind, heart and understanding of each other it is the same with our relationship with Christ.
In 1Corth 9-11 But as it is written:
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.”
May we all strive to seek SQ (spiritual Intelligence) by having the mind of Christ which can be by everyone willing to acquire it. SQ is the only intelligence we will take to Eternal heaven when we depart from this world.
2. Quarterly Church Cleaning Day – Tomorrow – Saturday 19 August
Please join us for the Quarterly Church Cleaning Day tomorrow: 12pm-5pm.
Even 1 hour will make the biggest difference!
